# Debris/dirt/foreign object

- 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) › Debris/dirt/foreign object
- NTSB code: 03022055
- Cases: 101
- In the probable cause: 59
- Fatal cases: 3
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055

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

- 2008: 3 / 4
- 2009: 3 / 5
- 2010: 1 / 3
- 2011: 2 / 4
- 2012: 4 / 4
- 2013: 4 / 5
- 2014: 1 / 16
- 2015: 6 / 10
- 2016: 3 / 5
- 2017: 5 / 9
- 2018: 2 / 4
- 2019: 4 / 4
- 2020: 4 / 6
- 2021: 3 / 6
- 2022: 4 / 5
- 2023: 0 / 1
- 2024: 6 / 6
- 2025: 3 / 3
- 2026: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 20 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 11 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 9 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 8 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 7 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 5 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 5 cases
- [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 4 cases
- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 3 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 3 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 4 cases
- [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d): 4 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 3 cases
- [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a): 3 cases
- [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec-135-p2-plus): 2 cases
- [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h): 2 cases
- [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-helicopters-ec-130-t2): 2 cases
- [Yakovlev YAK 52](https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-yak-52): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 1 cases
- [Thrush S2R-G10](https://openairdocs.org/model/thrush-s2r-g10): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 28 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 24 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 15 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 7 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 5 cases
- [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 5 cases
- [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 5 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 4 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA187), May 12, 2026: Cirrus Design SR20 (N806DM), Sedona, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control due to a plastic foreign object jammed in the rudder pedals, while landing with a gusting left crosswind.
- [NTSB WPR26LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA015), Oct 4, 2025: Cessna 172S (N103VK), Lathrop, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inflight collision with a bird.
- [NTSB WPR25LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA231), Jul 11, 2025: Gary Weaver CCK-1865 (N817GD), Wahsatch, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control following a collision with a boulder during an off airport precautionary landing.
- [NTSB WPR25LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA093), Feb 13, 2025: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 (N3WL), Moab, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inflight collision with debris during takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN25LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA054), Dec 1, 2024: American AA-1B (N6242L), Brenham, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to an obstructed induction system from a mud dauber nest.
- [NTSB WPR25LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA047), Nov 23, 2024: Cessna A185F (N9533H), Lewistown, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent impact with a rock during a landing on a grass strip.
- [NTSB CEN25LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA020), Oct 17, 2024: Starship Enterprise (N903SC), Addison, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Foreign object debris damage to the ventral stabilizer.
- [NTSB CEN24LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA239), Jun 17, 2024: Thrush S2R (N529KC), Hebron, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: Foreign object debris in the Negative Torque Sensing (NTS) system check valve, which impeded the flow of oil to the NTS system and the propeller governor (PG) reset piston, resulting in a total loss…
- [NTSB CEN24LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA227), Jun 11, 2024: Beech D55 (N321N), Colorado Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The deflated right main landing gear tire due to a sidewall puncture made by an unknown object, which led to the pilot’s loss of directional control and the landing gear collapse during landing roll.
- [NTSB ANC24LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA040), Jun 1, 2024: Cessna 180H (N91224), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to recognize and avoid an obstacle on the runway environment during takeoff roll. Contributing was flat light conditions.

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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