NTSB investigations, 2017

14 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19622026
NTSB investigations, 2017 per year, 1962–2026: 507 cases
19632
19645
19654
196610
19673
19686
19693
19706
19713
19722
19737
19744
19756
19763
19774
197810
19795
19804
19813
19821
19832
19848
198510
198611
19879
19884
19893
19904
19918
19924
19935
19945
19953
19963
19973
19988
19996
20005
20015
200211
20036
20045
200510
20067
20072
200814
200931
201016
201118
201218
201316
201417
201516
201615
201714
201811
20195
202010
202112
20229
202314
202415
202513
20265

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 2017
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 600)
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB WPR18LA041Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Truckee, CAThe flight instructor’s failure to execute a power recovery from a non-stabilized autorotative descent, which resulted in a hard landing.Nov 30, 2017 · N47WH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA030Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVanderark RV-10 · Sun Lakes, AZThe 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…Nov 12, 2017 · N917VA · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA030Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Las Vegas, NVThe student pilot’s tension on the flight control at a low level during an autorotation, which did not allow sufficient time for the flight instructor to correct and recover control before the hard landing.Oct 6, 2017 · N878MC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA010Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 17-30A · Sweetwater, TXThe loss of engine power during a precautionary approach for landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.Oct 6, 2017 · N8234R · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17LA211Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Long Beach, CAThe student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the crosswind landing approach and his subsequent improper decision to initiate an autorotation instead of applying corrective control inputs after the helicopter experienced normal airframe vibration.…Sep 20, 2017 · N7514S · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17FA317Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchweizer 269C · Medford, NJThe pilot's early entry into and failure to maintain rotor rpm during a forced landing autorotation after performing an engine shutdown in flight, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent. Contributing to the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel…Sep 8, 2017 · N204HF · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17IA198Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportEnstrom F 28F · Glendale, AZAn internal failure of the turbo-compressor, which resulted in oil leaking into the turbo-compressor’s exhaust.Aug 22, 2017 · N52PD · No damageNTSB WPR17FA166Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36TC · Ogden, UTA loss of control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined.Jul 26, 2017 · N60WB · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA434Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Bozeman, MTThe flight instructor’s unstabilized autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.Jul 21, 2017 · N28VH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17LA156Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSimmons Gary F Stol CH 701 · Kenwood, CAFailure of the flywheel drive assembly, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing to uneven terrain.Jul 15, 2017 · N422ES · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17WA245Accident · No injuriesForeign investigationBell 204 · Alpbach, AustriaJun 22, 2017 · OE-XRK · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17LA099Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG · Goodyear, AZLoss of engine power due to the installation of an improper air induction hose, which failed and prevented sufficient air intake to the turbocharger.Apr 20, 2017 · N154BY · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA218Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · La Verne, CAThe pilot’s early increased application of the collective during a simulated hovering autorotation, which resulted in a loss of rotor rpm and subsequent main rotor blade strike of the tailboom.Apr 6, 2017 · N206SA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17LA126Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 · San Juan, PRThe flight instructor's incorrect manipulations of the twist grip throttle control during a practice autorotation, which resulted in an engine overspeed and subsequent fire.Feb 21, 2017 · N413LP · Substantial damage