# Fluids - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Fluids/misc hardware](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0107) › Fluids - NTSB code: 010710 - Cases: 1931 - In the probable cause: 1842 - Fatal cases: 236 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010710/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010710/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010710 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 76 / 86 - 2009: 106 / 116 - 2010: 117 / 126 - 2011: 110 / 114 - 2012: 118 / 123 - 2013: 98 / 99 - 2014: 121 / 123 - 2015: 120 / 122 - 2016: 105 / 108 - 2017: 110 / 112 - 2018: 115 / 116 - 2019: 110 / 115 - 2020: 104 / 110 - 2021: 85 / 95 - 2022: 96 / 105 - 2023: 96 / 101 - 2024: 81 / 84 - 2025: 62 / 63 - 2026: 12 / 13 ## Findings - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): 1,695 cases, 1,630 in the probable cause - [Oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): 174 cases, 157 in the probable cause - [Hydraulic fluid](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015): 33 cases, 28 in the probable cause - [Water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030): 13 cases, 12 in the probable cause - [Fluids, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071000): 11 cases, 9 in the probable cause - [Grease](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071035): 6 cases, 6 in the probable cause - [Coolant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071025): 4 cases, 4 in the probable cause - [Fuel additive](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071040): 4 cases, 4 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 613 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 402 cases - [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 391 cases - [Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193): 185 cases - [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 71 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 59 cases - [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 42 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 34 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 26 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 12 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 36 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 33 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 29 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 27 cases - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 24 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 20 cases - [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c): 17 cases - [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l): 16 cases - [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 16 cases - [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 15 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030) (Personnel issues): 659 cases - [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 314 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 310 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 235 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 133 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 97 cases - [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 77 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 70 cases - [Fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823) (Aircraft): 70 cases - [Fuel system, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800) (Aircraft): 70 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA323), Sep 1, 2026: Mooney M-20 (N3706N), Stanfield, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately manage the available fuel onboard the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing on uneven terrain. - [NTSB CEN26LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA249), Jul 10, 2026: Cessna 150 (N3773J), Ellsworth, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete… - [NTSB CEN26LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA215), May 31, 2026: Eaa Acro Sport II (N23RA), Sheridan, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB CEN26LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA194), May 20, 2026: Lockwood AIR CAM (N32F), Hutchinson, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB CEN26LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA189), May 15, 2026: Mooney M20J (N201QM), Morris, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. - [NTSB ERA26LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA190), Apr 26, 2026: Piper PA-30 (N8432Y), Enterprise, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing into trees. - [NTSB WPR26LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA173), Apr 18, 2026: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer (N143AW), Salinas, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB ERA26LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA181), Apr 16, 2026: Aeroprakt Mfg SP Z O O A32 (N993CW), Lexington, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a forced landing to rough terrain. - [NTSB CEN26LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA165), Apr 14, 2026: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer (N495LP), Peyton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent forced landing to a field. - [NTSB ERA26LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA171), Apr 12, 2026: Cessna 150 (N6586S), Naples, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. 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.