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Turbocharging (recip only)

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NTSB finding section · Aircraft › Aircraft power plant

All 33 cases31 in the probable cause
Cases
33
In the probable cause
31 (94%)
Fatal cases
7
NTSB code
010581

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\", '010581') 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.

Subsections · 2

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 8) AS code, max(f.\"tier4Name\") AS name,
    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
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '010581') AND f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY cases DESC, code"

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\", '010581'))
  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\", '010581') 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 · 33

NTSB ERA25LA198Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG · Sanford, NCThe mechanic’s re-use of worm drive clamps, which resulted in a separation of the turbocharger air discharge duct and a partial loss of engine power during initial climb.May 7, 2025 · N499BW · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA051Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportJames A Gray Just Aircraft Highlander · Fountain Inn, SCA total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Nov 18, 2024 · N102XP · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA267Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28R-201T · Sacramento, CAA loss of engine power during the initial climb due to the detachment of the turbocharger’s inlet sleeve as a result of the installation of an incorrect sleeve clamp.Aug 4, 2024 · N135DG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA285Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDiamond DA40 · Yorktown Heights, NYA fatigue failure of the turbocharger housing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.Jun 29, 2023 · N44HH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23FA194Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportHolland Travis E Velocity · Andrews, NCThe pilot’s failure to engage the turbocharger for takeoff and his improper decision to continue the takeoff with partial power, rather than reject the takeoff.Apr 15, 2023 · N2357 · DestroyedNTSB ERA23LA183Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPeterson Mark G Peterson A600 · Foley, ALThe loss of engine power during the initial climb due to the disconnection of the turbocharger air intake hose and clamp, and the pilot’s inadequate servicing and preflight inspection of the turbocharger air intake clamp.Apr 6, 2023 · N272AM · DestroyedNTSB WPR23FA044Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGallagher XLT-RG · Banning, CAAn inflight engine fire for reasons that could not be determined that resulted in impact with terrain.Nov 23, 2022 · N101BH · DestroyedNTSB CEN22LA176Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Twin Lakes, COThe failure of the left turbocharger at FL230, which resulted in a rapid loss of manifold pressure and subsequent complete loss of engine power due to an overly rich fuel-air mixture setting. Contributing was the smoke in the cabin in IMC, which caused the…Apr 13, 2022 · N112TR · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA249Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M20F · Marion, MTThe pilot’s improper rotation during takeoff from a high-altitude airport and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper management of the turbocharger, which…Jun 27, 2021 · N9613M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21FA263Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Mercer, TNA partial loss of engine power due to foreign object debris contamination of the left turbocharger wastegate. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to divert to the nearest airport.Jun 21, 2021 · N333LZ · Substantial damage
See all 33 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\", '010581'))
  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.