# Ground equipment - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030220) › Ground equipment - NTSB code: 03022050 - Cases: 52 - In the probable cause: 36 - Fatal cases: 2 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2009: 1 / 1 - 2010: 1 / 1 - 2011: 1 / 2 - 2012: 3 / 3 - 2013: 1 / 3 - 2014: 1 / 4 - 2015: 0 / 2 - 2016: 2 / 5 - 2017: 4 / 4 - 2018: 2 / 5 - 2019: 3 / 3 - 2020: 5 / 6 - 2021: 1 / 2 - 2022: 2 / 2 - 2023: 4 / 4 - 2024: 2 / 2 - 2025: 1 / 1 - 2026: 2 / 2 ## Defining events in these cases - [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 10 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 9 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 5 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 3 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 3 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 3 cases - [External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480): 2 cases - [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 2 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 2 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 2 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 3 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 3 cases - [Bell 206-L4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4): 3 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases - [Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-mbb-bk-117-c-2): 2 cases - [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4): 2 cases - [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3): 2 cases - [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d): 1 cases - [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 12 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 11 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 5 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 3 cases - [Use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 3 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA285), Jul 29, 2026: Bell 206L-3 (N29AE), Tuscumbia, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to keep the tail rotor clear of an obstacle while attempting to land. - [NTSB ERA26LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA141), Mar 5, 2026: Cessna 180 (N2648Y), Charleston, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a helicopter dolly during taxi. - [NTSB WPR25LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA103), Feb 21, 2025: Amazon.Com Services MK30 (N265PA), Pendleton, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The unmanned aircraft system’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. - [NTSB CEN24LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA259), Jul 8, 2024: Bell 206L-3 (N206WX), Thorntown, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that the load hose was disconnected from the helicopter before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control after liftoff and a hard landing. - [NTSB ANC24FA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA038), May 28, 2024: Schweizer G-164B (N3629Y), Richvale, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a trailer located on the edge of the runway during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the location of the trailer on the side of the runway. - [NTSB WPR24LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA069), Dec 23, 2023: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N43415), Whitefish, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the airport authorities to renew the airport closure NOTAM for the airport. Contributing to the accident, was the pilot’s inability to see the runway closure sign. - [NTSB DCA24LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA034), Nov 30, 2023: Boeing 717 (N494HA), Kahului, HI, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The captain did not verify that the tow tractor had exited the area in front of the airplane before taxiing for departure. Contributing factors were the dark conditions and the absence of an… - [NTSB ANC23LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA085), Sep 16, 2023: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N297SH), Johnson River, AK, no damage. Probable cause: The ground crew’s failure to remain clear of a tag line during sling load operations, resulting in his entanglement. - [NTSB CEN23LA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA385), Aug 27, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206 (N19BH), Hibbing, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The ground crew’s failure to secure the backpack at the landing zone (LZ), that resulted in the tail rotor impacting the backpack during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s… - [NTSB CEN22LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA319), Jul 10, 2022: Schleicher ASW-19B (N53JC), Elbert, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s misidentification of the runway during the visual approach which resulted in an off runway landing and impact with a trailer. 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.