# Recip eng rear section

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0105) › [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010585) › Recip eng rear section
- NTSB code: 01058540
- Cases: 42
- In the probable cause: 42
- Fatal cases: 3
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540

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

- 2009: 3 / 3
- 2010: 1 / 1
- 2011: 4 / 4
- 2012: 3 / 3
- 2013: 1 / 1
- 2014: 3 / 3
- 2015: 3 / 3
- 2017: 8 / 8
- 2018: 2 / 2
- 2019: 1 / 1
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2021: 2 / 2
- 2022: 5 / 5
- 2023: 2 / 2
- 2024: 1 / 1
- 2025: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 32 cases
- [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 5 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 2 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 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

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235): 4 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235): 2 cases
- [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 2 cases
- [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f): 2 cases
- [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3): 1 cases
- [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2): 1 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 8 cases
- [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 6 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 4 cases
- [Maintenance, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 3 cases
- [Oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA25LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA215), Jun 1, 2025: Piper PA32-300 (N2242Z), Branford, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel's improper installation and inspection of the crankshaft gear bolt during major overhaul, which resulted in the crankshaft gear disengaging from the accessory gears which led to…
- [NTSB CEN24LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA141), Mar 25, 2024: Cozy Mark IV (N20MN), Gonzales, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly torque the crankshaft idler gear hardware according to the engine manufacturer’s service instructions, which resulted in separation of the crankshaft idler…
- [NTSB CEN23LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA267), Jun 24, 2023: Cessna 421 (N123SM), Rockport, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the left engine starter adapter gear, which resulted in catastrophic damage to other engine components, and the subsequent loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR23LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA215), Jun 4, 2023: Piper J3C-65 (N77583), Belfair, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the crankshaft accessory drive gear.
- [NTSB ANC23LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA005), Oct 27, 2022: Piper PA-22-160 (N8119D), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Improper installation of the crankshaft drive gear by maintenance personnel, who failed to install all required hardware, resulting in an in-flight engine failure.
- [NTSB ERA23LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA037), Oct 23, 2022: Piper PA-28-235 (N8580N), Spartanburg, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial separation of the crankshaft gear/bolt, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR22LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA314), Aug 21, 2022: Beech F33A (N4133S), Wilder, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Catastrophic engine failure during the initial climb due to an incorrectly installed crankshaft counterweight retaining ring.
- [NTSB ERA22LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA333), Jul 23, 2022: Stinson 108 (N6020M), Batesburg, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the crankshaft gear, resulting in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR22LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA193), May 31, 2022: Vans RV-8 (N298DM), Galice, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight failure of the crankshaft gear’s alignment dowel as a result of the retaining bolt not being installed, which lead to a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR22LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA019), Oct 15, 2021: Lancair ES (N511ZZ), Fall Creek, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Total loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of the camshaft gear.

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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