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Ignition system wiring

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system

All 16 cases15 in the probable cause
Cases
16
In the probable cause
15 (94%)
Fatal cases
2
NTSB code
01057497

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

When and where

In green, cases where NTSB made it part of the probable cause; in gray, a factor or other finding. Findings are coded with the final report, often a year or more after the event, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\") AS in_probable_cause
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = f.case_mkey
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01057497') AND c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '2000-01-01'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

In the same cases

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH matched AS (SELECT DISTINCT case_mkey, aircrafts_position FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' WHERE starts_with(\"findingCode\", '01057497'))
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Defining event' AS kind, e.\"tier2Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier2Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e ON e.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = f.aircrafts_position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\"
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" <> ''
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND a.position = f.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Other finding', left(g.\"findingCode\", 8), max(g.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT g.case_mkey)
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' g
  WHERE g.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM matched) AND NOT starts_with(g.\"findingCode\", '01057497') AND g.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Newest cases · 16

NTSB ANC24LA025Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Talkeetna, AKA 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.Apr 21, 2024 · N77032 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA231Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCharles D Walker Walker Curtiss JN4D · Greenville, KYThe separation of an electrical wire that powered the ignition module, rendering the ignition system inoperative, and resulting in the total loss of engine power.May 15, 2023 · N8262 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA152Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV6 · Goldsby, OKThe engine electronic ignition system became disconnected, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.Apr 8, 2023 · N48PS · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA335Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRutan Varieze · Columbia, CAThe pilot’s improper maintenance of the ignition system, which led to an ignition system failure and a loss of engine power.Sep 5, 2022 · N10EZ · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA262Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMaule M-5-235C · Three Forks, MTA loss of engine power due to degraded and incorrectly maintained ignition system components. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delay in turning the airplane towards the runway when the engine began to lose power.Jul 20, 2022 · N6224M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA322Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV10 · Palatka, FLTotal loss of engine power due to the improper installation of an electronic ignition system connector plug.Jul 18, 2022 · N910BW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA273Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportTony Dubeansky RV10 · Fort Worth, TXA partial loss of engine power due to a separated electronic ignition system connector. Contributing to the accident was the location of the ignition boxes, which provided limited access to the connectors for visual inspection.Jun 16, 2021 · N878TD · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17FA339Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHickox Andy Andys Gyroplane · Umatilla, FLThe pilot's improper response to a total loss of engine power, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the rudder and vertical stabilizer, and a subsequent uncontrolled descent. The loss of engine power was due to the separation of the electrical…Sep 28, 2017 · N152AH · DestroyedNTSB WPR16LA129Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBurkes BR-1 · Brigham City, UTA loss of engine power as a result of a failure of the primary and backup ignition system.Jun 22, 2016 · N677DB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA15LA291Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSontonastaso Mosquito · Winchendon, MAA partial loss of engine power due to a faulty electrical wiring crimp in the engine’s ignition system.Jul 29, 2015 · N285XE · Substantial damage
See all 16 cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01057497'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.