Ol Shy & Bashful wrote:

Anyone want to hazard a guess at the major number of engine failure
causes?
Ol S&B

I would say fuel starvation or fuel mismanagement would be the #1.

But given that a lapse of following procedures and/or FAA regulations
was the precipitating factor, the next thing in line is bad decision
making and problem resolution skills. Too often an emergency that
is survivable becomes a fatal accident because the pilot was not
prepared in skill set or mindset to deal with it.

But this is why we train and continue to train so we have the skills
and methods firmly ingrained to deal with emergencies. Most accidents
are due to some sort of pilot error (poor decision making?) or failure
to maintain control of the aircraft (cockpit management?).