# Spark plugs/igniters - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0105) › [Ignition system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010574) › Spark plugs/igniters - NTSB code: 01057421 - Cases: 38 - In the probable cause: 37 - Fatal cases: 7 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 2 / 2 - 2009: 2 / 2 - 2010: 5 / 5 - 2011: 2 / 2 - 2012: 1 / 1 - 2013: 2 / 2 - 2014: 4 / 4 - 2015: 1 / 1 - 2016: 2 / 2 - 2017: 1 / 1 - 2019: 1 / 1 - 2020: 4 / 4 - 2021: 2 / 3 - 2022: 1 / 1 - 2023: 4 / 4 - 2024: 3 / 3 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 22 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 9 cases - [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 4 cases - [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 1 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 1 cases - [Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 3 cases - [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65): 2 cases - [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c): 2 cases - [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120): 2 cases - [Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1): 1 cases - [Stinson VULTEE V-77](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-vultee-v-77): 1 cases - [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151): 1 cases - [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k): 1 cases - [Helton LARK 95](https://openairdocs.org/model/helton-lark-95): 1 cases - [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 7 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 5 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 4 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 2 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA25LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA052), Nov 19, 2024: Cessna 172S (N951JA), Chattanooga, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a fouled spark plug in engine’s the No. 4 cylinder. Contributing was the flight instructor’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted go-around… - [NTSB ERA24LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA230), May 26, 2024: Piper PA-28-151 (N33563), Hope Mills, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine performance due to carbon fouling of three spark plugs that, when combined with the airplane’s high gross weight condition, resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. - [NTSB ANC24LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA025), Apr 21, 2024: Cessna 120 (N77032), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A degraded ignition system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the ignition system. - [NTSB CEN23LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA313), Jul 19, 2023: Pietenpol Aircamper (N34KP), Gardner, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to lead fouling of a spark plug. - [NTSB ERA23LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA225), May 6, 2023: Mooney M20K (N262MK), Hillsborough Township, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to maintenance personnel’s failure to ensure that the ignition harnesses were properly secured and the pilot’s inappropriate pitch control inputs, which resulted… - [NTSB ERA23FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA188), Apr 11, 2023: Miller Glenn F RV-12 (N543GM), Climax, NC, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The airplane owner/builder’s inappropriate use of a lower grade fuel than that required by the airplane and engine operations manual, which resulted in engine detonation and the degradation and… - [NTSB ERA23LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA120), Jan 28, 2023: Mooney M20C (N5587Q), Calhoun, GA, destroyed. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to an improperly installed spark plug. - [NTSB CEN22LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA334), Jul 22, 2022: Van's RV-10 (N4400K), Beaver Dam, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improperly secured spark plug boot that resulted in smoke in the cockpit and a subsequent off-airport landing. - [NTSB WPR21LA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA316), Aug 12, 2021: Beech 77 (N3873Y), Stanley, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine performance due to lead fouling of the lower spark plugs, which resulted in an off airport forced landing. - [NTSB ANC21LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA068), Aug 2, 2021: Stinson 108-1 (N8656K), Sterling, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Insufficient available power as a result of low compression in three engine cylinders. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to takeoff with a slight quartering tailwind. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.