Diamond DA40 accident near Yorktown Heights, New York, June 29, 2023
On June 29, 2023 at about 4:22 pm local time, a 2017 Diamond DA40, registered N44HH, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Yorktown Heights, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fatigue failure of the turbocharger housing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2023 · about 4:22 pm local time
- Place
- Yorktown Heights, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond DA40 NG, built 2017
- Registration
- N44HH · registry record · serial 40.NC001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot intended to fly his airplane to an airport for an annual inspection. During the flight, while climbing to cruise altitude, the engine began to lose power. The pilot subsequently attempted a forced landing to a school field. During the forced landing, the airplane was in a steep right bank when the wingtip struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage. The postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the diesel engine’s turbocharger induction housing was fractured in half and exhibited signs of an existing fracture surface. Further metallurgical examination revealed that the turbocharger housing separated consistent with fatigue cracking. The fatigue cracking emanated from the outer surface of the housing and proceeded circumferentially. Steps on the fracture surface indicated that fatigue cracking on multiple planes had coalesced into one main fatigue crack. The remainder of the fracture surface had macro features consistent with overstress. Based on this information, it is likely that failure of the turbocharger housing resulted in a reduced quantity of intake air being available to the engine and resulted in the partial loss of engine power described by the pilot.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Turbocharging (recip only) › Turbocharger › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,206 hours in all; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,206 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,888 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Austro Engines E4 (piston); 740 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPN White Plains NY at 4:15 pm
- Destination: MGJ Montgomery NY
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:22 pm from HPN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on July 5, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Manual Excerpt (Turbocharger Inspection Checks 100/300 Hr.) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N44HH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.