# Engine (reciprocating)

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0105) › Engine (reciprocating)
- NTSB code: 010585
- Cases: 1226
- In the probable cause: 1144
- Fatal cases: 176
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010585/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010585/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010585

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 56 / 65
- 2009: 69 / 74
- 2010: 76 / 80
- 2011: 81 / 88
- 2012: 68 / 76
- 2013: 60 / 66
- 2014: 57 / 60
- 2015: 66 / 67
- 2016: 56 / 59
- 2017: 59 / 64
- 2018: 60 / 61
- 2019: 68 / 69
- 2020: 52 / 59
- 2021: 63 / 72
- 2022: 81 / 88
- 2023: 91 / 93
- 2024: 65 / 68
- 2025: 13 / 14
- 2026: 3 / 3

## Findings

- [Engine (reciprocating), general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): 497 cases, 444 in the probable cause
- [Recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): 373 cases, 361 in the probable cause
- [Recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): 233 cases, 220 in the probable cause
- [Recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): 131 cases, 122 in the probable cause
- [Recip eng rear section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540): 42 cases, 42 in the probable cause
- [Recip eng liquid cooling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570): 17 cases, 13 in the probable cause
- [Recip eng front section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058510): 13 cases, 12 in the probable cause
- [Recip eng supercharger](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058560): 12 cases, 12 in the probable cause
- [Recip eng wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058597): 8 cases, 7 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 580 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 275 cases
- [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 142 cases
- [Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000): 75 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 53 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 11 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 10 cases
- [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 10 cases
- [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 8 cases
- [Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193): 6 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 25 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 20 cases
- [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200): 19 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 19 cases
- [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 18 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 17 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 16 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 11 cases
- [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a): 10 cases
- [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg): 10 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 168 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 105 cases
- [Oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020) (Aircraft): 96 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 83 cases
- [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 69 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 64 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 52 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 51 cases
- [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 50 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 39 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA348), Sep 20, 2026: Hopwood Joseph R Zodiac (N601LL), Stockton, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a missing exhaust clamp bolt and subsequent oil loss due to a damaged engine oil return line, which resulted in the pilot’s decision to perform an off-airport…
- [NTSB ERA26LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA176), Apr 15, 2026: Icon A5 (N558BA), Levittown, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: An oil line separation at a barbed fitting in an experimental airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
- [NTSB CEN26LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA144), Mar 18, 2026: Mooney M20 (N1374W), Northlake, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel management which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB WPR26LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA072), Dec 23, 2025: Zenith 750 (N186BG), Yacolt, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA26LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA002), Oct 4, 2025: Maule M-7-260 (N368FS), Parkland, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to retract the amphibious airplane’s landing gear before conducting a forced landing on the water, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB CEN25LA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA401), Sep 7, 2025: CubCrafters CCK-2000 (N40DT), Thompsonville, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to a lack of ignition resulting from a fractured alternator ring terminal and the builder’s incorrect installation of the wire connecting to the alternator.…
- [NTSB CEN25LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA322), Aug 14, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N476SM), Joliet, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN25LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA243), Jul 8, 2025: Stinson 108 (N97577), Seguin, TX, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to turn off the magneto switch before repositioning the propeller by hand which resulted in an inadvertent engine start.
- [NTSB ERA25LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA238), Jun 24, 2025: Cessna 310 (N5045Q), Fayetteville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with known discrepancies.
- [NTSB ERA25FA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA230), Jun 19, 2025: Mooney M20F (N9573M), Beverly, MA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering to return to the airport which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the improperly installed…

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.

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