NTSB investigations: Lycoming VO-540 series

19 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Lycoming VO-540 series, where the first occurrence was “Loss of engine power”. 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.

Cases per year

19822026
NTSB investigations: Lycoming VO-540 series per year, 1982–2026: 19 cases
19822
19851
19861
19871
19881
19901
19912
19921
19932
19951
19962
19971
19982
20011

Latest cases

Query with SQL
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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41534', '41582')
      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\" = 350))
  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 LAX01LA245Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Blythe, CAThe selection by the pilot of an unsuitable precautionary landing site on soft, uneven terrain, which resulted in a rollover.Jul 13, 2001 · N9281P · Substantial damageNTSB MIA98FA229Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportBell 47G-4A · Carrollton, ALThe pilots failure to follow written instructions in the flight manual for an engine failure, and the improper use of flight controls (cyclic/collective) during an autorotation resulting in a hard landing, and collision of the main rotor blades with the…Aug 23, 1998 · N7162M · Substantial damageNTSB CHI98LA312Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Shelton, NEThe pilot mismanaged the fuel which led to fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.Aug 14, 1998 · N88782 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI98LA012Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Liberty, NEA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Oct 9, 1997 · N4027L · Substantial damageNTSB FTW96LA285Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH12 · Franklin, LAloss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM. A factor was the unsuitable terrain available for the precautionary landing.Jul 1, 1996 · N14637 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL96LA076Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH12-E · Huger, SCThe blocked fuel vent line that resulted in engine stoppage. A factor was tall trees that intervened the helicopter's flight path.Apr 3, 1996 · N14MQ · Substantial damageNTSB FTW95LA230Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Checotah, OKThe pilot allowing the helicopter to touchdown improperly. A factor was the erratic running engine.Jun 4, 1995 · N4254X · Substantial damageNTSB MIA94LA029Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Moore Haven, FLFailure of the pilot-in-command to maintain aircraft control following loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Nov 26, 1993 · N130HA · Substantial damageNTSB CHI94LA022Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH12E · Sioux Rapids, IAthe Pilot in Command failed to maintain clearance with the terrain while proceeding up an upslope.Oct 22, 1993 · N4026S · DestroyedNTSB CHI92DCD09Accident · No injuriesFinal reportHiller Hiller UH-12E · Dows, IAContaminated fuel resulting in a loss of engine power.Aug 21, 1992 · N527HA · Substantial damageNTSB LAX91LA388Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportTexas Helicopter M74 · Farmington, CALoss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors related to the accident were: the excessive gross weight of the helicopter, and the pilot's improper use of flight controls due to impairment from use of a drug (marijuanna).Sep 11, 1991 · N43921 · DestroyedNTSB LAX91LA249Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Huron, CAThat unknown pilot(s) impoperly used the throttle control which caused an overspeed condition. Contributing to this accident was the connecting rod bolt fatigue failure.Jun 7, 1991 · N507HA · Substantial damageNTSB BFO91LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47J2A · Matoaca, VAThe failure of four propeller retention and the pilot's misjudgement of the forced landing approach.Nov 23, 1990 · N8514P · Substantial damageNTSB NYC88LA170Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47J2 · Newburyport, MAThe helicopter departed runway 10 at plum island airport, turned left over the plum island river and shortly thereafter the engine quit. The pilot stated that no warning was noted and a check of the instruments indicated no problems. He further stated that…Jun 25, 1988 · N51711 · DestroyedNTSB MIA88LA014Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Union Church, MSAt an altitude of aprx 75 feet during an agricultural turn, the plt reported that the engine lost power. While executing a forced landing, the rotor blades contacted trees, after which, during the descent, the right skid collided with a stump & the helicopter…Oct 6, 1987 · N4029R · Substantial damageNTSB NYC86LA227Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47J-2A · Newburyport, MAThe plt experienced a total power loss of the acft eng while practicing autorotations. The helicopter landed hard, the main rotor flexed and severed the tail boom. Post accident inspection of the helicopter revealed the fuel selector was positioned on the…Aug 22, 1986 · N255PH · Substantial damageNTSB SEA85LA107Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Fall Creek, ORThe helicopter sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of power. According to the plt, the helicopter was refueled aprx 1 hr flt time prior to the accident. Cause of the power loss was not determined.May 5, 1985 · N28872 · Substantial damageNTSB MIA82DA181Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportBell 47G4 · Madison, FLThe eng did not respond when power was added beginning a swath run. The plt hit the dump button to jettison the load & collided with the ground. Eng teardown revealed no evidence of failure or malfunction prior to the accident.Sep 13, 1982 · N1151W · Substantial damageNTSB MKC82DA135Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 47J-2 · Chesterfield, MOThe pilot stated that he took off and was going through translational lift at about 15 to 20 ft AGL when he heard a loud bang. He said the loud bang was accompanied by a power loss. An immediate descent was made and the helicopter was landed hard with a…Jul 31, 1982 · N4070B · Substantial damage