Fatal NTSB investigations: Lycoming VO-435 series

6 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Lycoming VO-435 series, where the first occurrence was “In flight collision with object”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19832026

Fatal NTSB investigations: Lycoming VO-435 series per year, 1983–2026: 6 cases
1983	1
1988	1
1991	1
1994	1
2002	1
2003	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with 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 x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41525') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 220)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "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 x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41525')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 220))
  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.

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 x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41525')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 220))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB MIA04FA008Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2A-1 · Balm, FLThe pilot's intentional buzzing and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance which resulted in an in-flight collision with a building.Oct 21, 2003 · N73979 · Destroyed NTSB FTW02LA264Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2 · Edmondson, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the high voltage power lines.Sep 25, 2002 · N5193B · Destroyed NTSB LAX94LA199Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Brawley, CAFailure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude, while maneuvering to land after completing aerial application. Factors related to the accident were: darkness and the lack of visual cues for the pilot to detect the obstruction (power line).Apr 22, 1994 · N9061T · Destroyed NTSB CHI91FA294Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell-K Copter 47D1 · Laurie, MOPoor judgement of the pilot, due to impairment from consumption of alcoholic beverage before flight, his intentional buzzing, and his inadequate visual lookout (failure to see-and-avoid power lines).Sep 15, 1991 · N7768 · Destroyed NTSB CHI88DEX11Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportContinental Copters MK-5 · Redkey, INPhysical impairment of the pilot due to drugs which resulted in a misjudged approach and subsequent contact with trees during the approach to an aerial application swath run.Aug 10, 1988 · N25561 · Destroyed NTSB NYC83FA106Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2 · Waymart, PAThis was an introductory instructional flt. Witnesses observed the helicopter flying straight & level prior to the accident. The helicopter had impacted a 60-FT tree at about the 40-FT level. No preimpact failure/falfunction of either the airframe or engine…Apr 30, 1983 · N2829B · Destroyed