# NTSB investigations, AZ: Emergency descent

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR25LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA189.md): American Eurocopter AS350B3 · San Luis, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 25, 2025 · N3951A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to properly recover the helicopter during an autorotative landing and the instructor pilot’s failure to intervene, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA183.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Maricopa, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 6, 2024 · N7514V · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s unstabilized approach during an autorotation that resulted in hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR22LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA359.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Mesa, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 26, 2022 · N252SC · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter’s rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR21LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA109.md): MD Helicopter 369 · Mesa, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 8, 2021 · N7032V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper pitch attitude for landing and the inadequate supervision of the flight instructor, resulted in the main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.
- [NTSB WPR18LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA030.md): Vanderark RV-10 · Sun Lakes, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 12, 2017 · N917VA · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fractures of the upper and lower alternator attachment bolts, which decreased the common drive belt tension and resulted in the subsequent in-flight separation of an alternator drive belt, the overheating of the engine, and the subsequent total…
- [NTSB WPR17IA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17IA198.md): Enstrom F 28F · Glendale, AZ · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Aug 22, 2017 · N52PD · No damage
  > An internal failure of the turbo-compressor, which resulted in oil leaking into the turbo-compressor’s exhaust.
- [NTSB WPR17LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA099.md): Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG · Goodyear, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 20, 2017 · N154BY · Substantial damage
  > Loss of engine power due to the installation of an improper air induction hose, which failed and prevented sufficient air intake to the turbocharger.
- [NTSB WPR16LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA156.md): Robinson R22 · Prescott, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 2, 2016 · N22UH · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action to address a low rotor rpm condition, which resulted in an excessive descent rate and a subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR15CA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA043.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Prescott, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 15, 2014 · N32VH · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control during the autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.
- [NTSB WPR13LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA266.md): Eurocopter EC 130 B4 · Grand Canyon, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2013 · N130PH · Substantial damage
  > A loss of throttle control movement during a practice autorotation that was planned to terminate with a power recovery for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal…
- [NTSB WPR13LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA099.md): Goetz Helicycle · Mesa, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 22, 2013 · N143PG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to properly install and secure the wire connecting the electronic speed controller unit to the fuel controller actuator motor, which resulted in the wire’s disconnection in flight and the resultant partial loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR12LA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA408.md): Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Grand Canyon, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 9, 2012 · N5745Y · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during descent for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examinations and testing revealed no evidence of an anomaly that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB WPR12LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA267.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Scottsdale, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 2012 · N808WH · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR11CA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA243.md): Bell 206B3 · Glendale, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 27, 2011 · N59383 · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during the autorotation.
- [NTSB WPR11CA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA031.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Prescott, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 29, 2010 · N844SH · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain the proper airspeed and the certificated flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and rollover.
- [NTSB WPR09CA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA360.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Jerome, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 21, 2009 · N747ER · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm's, and the certified flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight.
- [NTSB LAX08CA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA298.md): Robinson R22B · Prescott, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 11, 2008 · N227GH · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action.
- [NTSB LAX06CA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA001.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Tucson, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 3, 2005 · N926SH · Substantial damage
  > the student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, and the instructor's failure to adequately monitor the maneuver, which resulted in a hard landing and roll over.
- [NTSB LAX91FA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA209.md): Universal Globe GC-1B · Chandler, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 12, 1991 · N42WW · Destroyed
  > The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed in a forced landing resulting in an in flight loss of control, stall, and subsequent in flight colliison with terrain. Factor related to the accident was the pilot's improper procedure which restuled in a…
- [NTSB LAX87LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA104.md): Schweizer SGS 2-33 · Marana, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 31, 1987 · N5727S · Substantial damage
  > During a winch tow, the cable prematurely released the glider at approximately 100 to 150 feet. The glider remained in a nose high attitude momentarily then began a shallow descending right turn. At approximately 75 feet the roll, pitch, and descent rate…
- [NTSB LAX86LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA197.md): Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus · Benson, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 28, 1986 · N5RM · Substantial damage
  > A Schempp-Hirth standard Cirrus glider collided with rocks on landing roll in an open field. The pilot stated he was competing in an air meet. While enroute he lost altitude and was unable to regain it. He selected an open field to land in, but did not see…
- [NTSB LAX86LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA026.md): Grumman American AA-5A · Flagstaff, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 25, 1985 · N26714 · Substantial damage
  > The plt reported that while sight-seeing in the vicinity of the grand canyon, he became disoriented and lost. The fuel in the left tank was exhausted and the right fuel tank contained minimum fuel. The pilot negotiated a precautionary landing on the hard…
- [NTSB LAX84LA423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA423.md): Grumman G-164B · Maricopa, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 1984 · N6689Q · Substantial damage
  > The plt added fuel and chemicals for a total of about 230 gallons of cargo. The temperature was 87 degrees and the arpt elevation is 1100 ft. the density alt was not computed and performance not assessed. After takeoff in a crosswind turn the acft 'quit…
- [NTSB LAX81FUJ29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUJ29.md): Bell 206B · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Jan 15, 1981 · N5018K · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX79FA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA015.md): Piper PA-28 · Peach Springs, AZ · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Dec 1, 1978 · N15899 · Destroyed

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
WITH phase_names(main, name) AS (VALUES (100, 'Prior to flight'), (150, 'Standing'), (200, 'Pushback/towing'), (250, 'Taxi'), (300, 'Takeoff'), (350, 'Initial climb'), (400, 'Enroute'), (450, 'Maneuvering'), (500, 'Approach'), (550, 'Landing'), (600, 'Emergency descent'), (650, 'Uncontrolled descent'), (700, 'Post-impact'), (750, 'After landing'), (800, 'Other'), (990, 'Unknown')),
  crosswalk(code, main, name) AS (VALUES (500, 150, 'Standing'), (501, 150, 'Standing - pre-flight'), (502, 150, 'Standing - starting engine(s)'), (503, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) operating'), (504, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) not operating'), (505, 150, 'Standing - idling rotors'), (510, 250, 'Taxi'), (511, 200, 'Taxi - pushback/tow'), (512, 250, 'Taxi - to takeoff'), (513, 250, 'Taxi - from landing'), (514, 250, 'Taxi - aerial'), (520, 300, 'Takeoff'), (521, 300, 'Takeoff - roll/run'), (522, 350, 'Takeoff - initial climb'), (523, 300, 'Takeoff - aborted'), (530, 400, 'Climb'), (531, 400, 'Climb - to cruise'), (540, 400, 'Cruise'), (541, 400, 'Cruise - normal'), (542, 400, 'Maneuvering - holding (IFR)'), (550, 400, 'Descent'), (551, 400, 'Descent - normal'), (552, 600, 'Descent - emergency'), (553, 650, 'Descent - uncontrolled'), (560, 500, 'Approach'), (561, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - downwind'), (562, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base turn'), (563, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base leg/base to final'), (564, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - final approach'), (565, 500, 'Go-around (VFR)'), (566, 500, 'Approach - IAF to FAF/outer marker (IFR)'), (567, 500, 'Approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR)'), (568, 500, 'Circling (IFR)'), (569, 500, 'Missed approach (IFR)'), (570, 550, 'Landing'), (571, 550, 'Landing - flare/touchdown'), (572, 550, 'Landing - roll'), (573, 550, 'Landing - aborted'), (574, 550, 'Emergency landing'), (575, 550, 'Emergency landing after takeoff'), (576, 600, 'Emergency descent/landing'), (580, 450, 'Maneuvering'), (581, 450, 'Maneuvering - aerial application'), (582, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction'), (583, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)'), (590, 450, 'Hover'), (591, 450, 'Hover - in ground effect'), (592, 450, 'Hover - out of ground effect'), (600, 800, 'Other'), (610, 990, 'Unknown')),
  current_codes AS (
    SELECT e.case_mkey, TRY_CAST(e."tier1Number" AS INTEGER) AS code,
      row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY e.case_mkey ORDER BY coalesce(e."isDefiningEvent", false) DESC, e.position) AS n
    FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e
    WHERE e.aircrafts_position = 1 AND e."tier1Number" GLOB '[1-9][0-9]*'
      AND (e."isDefiningEvent" OR e.case_mkey IN (SELECT "mKey" FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' WHERE "isPre1982"))
  ),
  phases AS (
    SELECT case_mkey, 'current' AS scheme, code, CASE WHEN code >= 990 THEN 990 ELSE code // 50 * 50 END AS main
    FROM current_codes WHERE n = 1
    UNION ALL
    SELECT o.case_mkey, 'older', o."phaseOfFlightCode", w.main
    FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o JOIN crosswalk w ON w.code = o."phaseOfFlightCode"
    WHERE o.aircrafts_position = 1 AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o.case_mkey NOT IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM current_codes)
  ),
  case_phases AS (
    SELECT p.*, c."eventDate", c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AS fatal, a.aircraft_model_code
    FROM phases p JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c."mKey" = p.case_mkey
    LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = p.case_mkey AND a.position = 1
    WHERE c."eventDate" >= DATE '1962-01-01' AND p.main IN (SELECT main FROM phase_names)
  )
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AZ' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 600)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600/cases?state=AZ

---
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.