# Engine controls - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0105) › Engine controls - NTSB code: 010576 - Cases: 189 - In the probable cause: 180 - Fatal cases: 17 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010576/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010576/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010576 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 20 / 21 - 2009: 27 / 27 - 2010: 9 / 9 - 2011: 19 / 21 - 2012: 14 / 14 - 2013: 11 / 12 - 2014: 10 / 10 - 2015: 3 / 5 - 2016: 4 / 4 - 2017: 12 / 13 - 2018: 7 / 7 - 2019: 4 / 5 - 2020: 4 / 4 - 2021: 7 / 7 - 2022: 8 / 8 - 2023: 6 / 7 - 2024: 8 / 8 - 2025: 6 / 6 - 2026: 1 / 1 ## Findings - [Power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): 95 cases, 89 in the probable cause - [Engine controls, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): 51 cases, 50 in the probable cause - [Mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): 41 cases, 38 in the probable cause - [Eng cntl sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057697): 4 cases, 4 in the probable cause - [Emergency shutdown system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057620): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 44 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 36 cases - [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 29 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 15 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 12 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 11 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 6 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 5 cases - [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 5 cases - [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 4 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 7 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 5 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 4 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 4 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 3 cases - [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a): 2 cases - [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1): 2 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 2 cases - [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 34 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 29 cases - [Conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030) (Environmental issues): 20 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 20 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 19 cases - [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 18 cases - [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 14 cases - [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 10 cases - [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 9 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 9 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA092), Jan 9, 2026: Cessna 172P (N96493), Flemington, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent manipulation of the mixture control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb and a subsequent forced lading. - [NTSB WPR26LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA049), Nov 20, 2025: Zenair Stol CH 701 (N43AH), Shady Cove, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper throttle input during an approach, which resulted in a rapid descent, hard landing and runway excursion. - [NTSB ERA25LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA235), Jun 23, 2025: Cessna R182 (N262AL), Milton, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Separation of the throttle cable sleeve during takeoff, which resulted an uncommanded engine power reduction and the pilot’s inability to control the engine throttle, and resulted in a forced landing. - [NTSB CEN25LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA168), May 4, 2025: Cessna 172N (N75775), Longmont, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disconnected throttle control that resulted in a loss of engine power due to improper maintenance. - [NTSB WPR25LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA135), Apr 8, 2025: Martin Uav Vbat (N443VA), Douglas, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction of the throttle servo which resulted in the complete loss of engine power. - [NTSB CEN25LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA100), Feb 17, 2025: Cessna 180 (N597JC), Breckenridge, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The mechanic’s failure to properly install the throttle cable hardware resulting in a separation of the cable and loss of engine throttle control. - [NTSB WPR25LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA091), Feb 9, 2025: Cessna 182N (N92467), Auburn, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper use of throttle and brakes during engine start that resulted in a loss of control and impact with a hangar. - [NTSB WPR25LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA070), Dec 22, 2024: Vans RV-7A (N1FB), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A disconnection of the mixture control linkage during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the inadequate inspection of the mixture control arm… - [NTSB CEN25LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA021), Oct 17, 2024: Mooney M20K (N231MW), Elizabeth, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to set the engine fuel mixture to the required setting, which resulted in reduced engine power during a go-around and subsequent impact with trees. Contributing to the accident,… - [NTSB WPR25LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA011), Oct 8, 2024: Air Tractor AT502 (N243LA), Corcoran, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper manipulation of the condition lever during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing. 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.