# Water/moisture

- 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) › Water/moisture
- NTSB code: 03022057
- Cases: 10
- In the probable cause: 5
- Fatal cases: 0
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057

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

- 2009: 0 / 1
- 2013: 1 / 1
- 2014: 0 / 1
- 2016: 1 / 1
- 2017: 1 / 3
- 2019: 0 / 1
- 2025: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193): 4 cases
- [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 1 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 1 cases
- [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 1 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 1 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160): 1 cases
- [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c): 1 cases
- [Enstrom 280FX](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-280fx): 1 cases
- [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b): 1 cases
- [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g): 1 cases
- [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 1 cases
- [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 3 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 3 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 1 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA084), Dec 26, 2025: Cessna 172 (N172BX), Taylor, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in a loss of engine power due to water contamination.
- [NTSB WPR25LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA112), Mar 15, 2025: Enstrom 280FX (N402TA), Waterford, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water while operating at a low altitude.
- [NTSB GAA19CA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA325), Jun 9, 2019: Aviat A1 (N35AH), Pingree, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper rudder application during landing on a dirt airstrip, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and subsequent nose-over
- [NTSB ERA17LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA268), Aug 5, 2017: Cessna 140 (N89738), Mount Sterling, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB ERA17LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA254), Jul 20, 2017: Cessna 152 (N714UY), Tamarac, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to ensure that the airplane's fuel system was free of water contamination before departing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent forced…
- [NTSB ERA17CA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA208), Jun 16, 2017: Piper PA23 (N4317Y), Cedar Key, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to stop the airplane within the available runway after conducting the approach and landing with a tailwind.
- [NTSB ERA16LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA230), Jun 25, 2016: Piper PA28 (N9836W), Hollywood, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to water contamination.
- [NTSB WPR14LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA340), Aug 11, 2014: Hughes 269C (N7432F), Darrington, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to secure the throttle mount bracket during a recent engine installation, which resulted in the loss of throttle movement and an inability to control engine power.
- [NTSB ERA13IA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13IA114), Jan 13, 2013: Cessna 560XL (N662QS), Debary, FL, incident, no damage. Probable cause: An accumulation of debris in the airplane’s bilge drain holes that prevented accumulated moisture from properly draining; the accumulated moisture subsequently froze around the elevator control…
- [NTSB WPR10LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA083), Dec 15, 2009: Piper PA-22-160 (N9547D), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

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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