NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Powerplant system or component failure was the top occurrence category in fatal accidents involving business aircraft during the second quarter. In fact, they accounted for two of the six fatal accidents—three in business turboprops, two in business jets, and one in a turbine helicopter—that killed 22 people over the three-month period.

NBAA’s review included 66 reportable events—42 incidents and 24 accidents—from April through June. Takeoff and landing accidents were the most common type, accounting for one fatal and four nonfatal accidents. This was followed by runway excursions and powerplant failures, each with three mishaps.

Incidents, not just accidents, can expose operational hazards worth addressing, according to NBAA. On this note, it pointed to the frequency of bird strikes and component failures as reasons for continued focus on wildlife-hazard awareness, maintenance discipline, and recognizing abnormal aircraft indications. 

Bird strikes were cited in 12 of the 66 events, with system or component failures other than the powerplant not far behind at 11. Powerplant-related failures accounted for nine of the events.

Mark Larsen, NBAA’s director of safety and flight operations, said the findings “reinforce the need for rigorous preflight preparation, disciplined takeoff and landing practices, runway-excursion prevention, and close attention to aircraft system and powerplant reliability.”

NBAA said its safety reports are meant to surface patterns for further attention, rather than assign probable causes.