# Fatal NTSB investigations: Rotor failure/malfunction

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 SEA05FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05FA019.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Arlington, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 2004 · N4029Q · Destroyed
  > The divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for an undetermined reason, resulting in rotor contact with the aircraft's left windscreen. The failure of the door pins to be installed was a factor.
- [NTSB LAX02FA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA276.md): Bell 222U · Nipton, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 7, 2002 · N417MA · Destroyed
  > The main rotor blade separation while maneuvering for unknown reasons. A factor was the dark night condition.
- [NTSB LAX00FA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00FA306.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Watsonville, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 19, 2000 · N8313Z · Destroyed
  > The divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for an undetermined reason, which resulted in mast bumping and rotor contact with the fuselage.
- [NTSB FTW99FA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99FA192.md): MBB BK-117-B2 · Fresno, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 17, 1999 · N110HH · Destroyed
  > the loss of control during approach due to the corrosion of the T-T strap which resulted in fatigue cracking and subsequent separation of the strap and main rotor blade from the helicopter.
- [NTSB CHI98FA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA313.md): Hiller FH-1100 · Dewitt, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 1998 · N8171U · Destroyed
  > The rotor failure/malfunction due to debonding of the tail rotor blade. Also causal was the inadequate maintenance inspection of the aircraft by the company and the improper maintenance procedure by other maintenance personnel.
- [NTSB IAD98FA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98FA092.md): Austin Revolution Mini 500 · Northampton, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 11, 1998 · N2XK · Destroyed
  > the improper maintenance adjustment and the failure to properly torque the pitch-change link barrel by the owner/builder which resulted in main rotor to tailboom contact and main rotor separation.
- [NTSB LAX98FA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA236.md): Sikorsky CH-54A · Yucca Valley, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 18, 1998 · N64KL · Destroyed
  > An in-flight main rotor blade spar separation as a result of the pilot-in-command's decision to continue to fly the aircraft after it had failed an AD directed BIM check. Factors were the failure of the operator's chief pilot to maintain proper supervision…
- [NTSB LAX98GA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98GA127.md): Bell 205A-1 · Los Angeles, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Final report · Mar 23, 1998 · N90230 · Destroyed
  > An excessive bending load applied to the tail rotor blade assembly of an undetermined origin which produced a fatigue crack, the separation of the assembly, and a forced landing. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain to perform a forced landing, the…
- [NTSB SEA97LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA117.md): Hiller UH-12E · Miltonfreewater, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 21, 1997 · N3005J · Substantial damage
  > The main rotor blade separated due to fatigue. Factors were: an Airworthiness Directive was not properly performed, and inadequate inspection of the main rotor blades.
- [NTSB LAX96LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA315.md): Bell 47-G4A · Guam · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 26, 1996 · N474GA · Destroyed
  > loss of tail rotor control due to improper maintenance.

## The whole list in SQL

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

```sql
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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 132)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?fatal=1&occurrence=132

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