Instruments and avionics
Flight instruments, GPS and navigation receivers, radios, the transponder that tells air traffic control where the aircraft is, autopilot computers and their software. Modern cockpits put most of this in a few boxes from a few makers.
Operators and repair shops have filed 39,675 failure reports about this system since 1995, 10,712 of them in the last ten years. The FAA has issued 599 airworthiness directives on it, the most recent August 14, 2026. The part most often named in the reports is the fmc. Among model families, the Boeing 737 appears most often in the last ten years; taking fleet size into account, the Boeing 767 has the highest rate among sizeable fleets, about 31.1 reports a year for every 100 aircraft.
Failure reports by year as filed with the FAA
Failure reports by year, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| 95 | 1,143 |
| 96 | 1,460 |
| 97 | 1,513 |
| 98 | 1,660 |
| 99 | 1,351 |
| 00 | 987 |
| 01 | 1,438 |
| 02 | 1,353 |
| 03 | 1,521 |
| 04 | 1,027 |
| 05 | 967 |
| 06 | 1,405 |
| 07 | 1,100 |
| 08 | 932 |
| 09 | 991 |
| 10 | 1,117 |
| 11 | 1,526 |
| 12 | 1,423 |
| 13 | 1,862 |
| 14 | 1,459 |
| 15 | 1,556 |
| 16 | 1,172 |
| 17 | 1,121 |
| 18 | 1,247 |
| 19 | 1,409 |
| 20 | 903 |
| 21 | 1,320 |
| 22 | 1,185 |
| 23 | 1,287 |
| 24 | 840 |
| 25 | 745 |
| 26 | 655 |
Models most often named last ten years
Boeing 7375,289Boeing 7671,822Boeing 757426Airbus A321405Airbus A320339Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ337Embraer EMB-145 ERJ 145327Airbus A330251Airbus A319216Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175189Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117178Boeing 747125
Model families most named, as a table
Highest rate, fleets of 500 or more reports a year per 100 aircraft registered
Parts most often named
Fmc1,276Warning Message885Transceiver687Display624Satcom451Radar367Warning Light278Computer243Antenna235Warning System230Control Panel219Indicator217
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Fmc | 1,276 |
| Warning Message | 885 |
| Transceiver | 687 |
| Display | 624 |
| Satcom | 451 |
| Radar | 367 |
| Warning Light | 278 |
| Computer | 243 |
| Antenna | 235 |
| Warning System | 230 |
| Control Panel | 219 |
| Indicator | 217 |
Who made the parts named last ten years, as the reports code them
Honeywell International INC (Engine)307Rockwell International198Thales Navigation,Inc.165Group Economique Airbus Industrie155Honeywell INC142Collins Radio CO108The Boeing CO98Rosemount INC86Garmin Intl69Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm61
Part makers most named, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Honeywell International INC (Engine) | 307 |
| Rockwell International | 198 |
| Thales Navigation,Inc. | 165 |
| Group Economique Airbus Industrie | 155 |
| Honeywell INC | 142 |
| Collins Radio CO | 108 |
| The Boeing CO | 98 |
| Rosemount INC | 86 |
| Garmin Intl | 69 |
| Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm | 61 |
What was wrong with them the condition reported
Malfunctioned2,122Failed1,838False Activation1,151Faulted927Inoperative869Faulty572Locked267Defective222Illuminated207Intermittent203
Conditions most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Malfunctioned | 2,122 |
| Failed | 1,838 |
| False Activation | 1,151 |
| Faulted | 927 |
| Inoperative | 869 |
| Faulty | 572 |
| Locked | 267 |
| Defective | 222 |
| Illuminated | 207 |
| Intermittent | 203 |
Where in the system the FAA's codes
flight management computing 2,383Navigation 1,470Instruments 1,259Communications 1,076Communications 805Instruments 486Navigation 469Navigation 422Navigation 289Navigation 232Instruments 196Navigation 193
What the NTSB found accidents and incidents since 2008 in which the NTSB's findings named this system
In 143 cases since 2008 the NTSB named instruments and avionics as a cause (19 of them) or a contributing factor; 53 of those were fatal accidents. The part most often named is the indicating/recording systems › instrument panel. Among model families, the Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow appears most often. A failure report (above) is a part that failed and was fixed; an NTSB finding is a part that the investigators decided helped cause an accident. The two measure different things, and both are here.
Cases by year
Parts and problems named
Indicating/recording systems › Instrument panel22Indicating/recording systems › Data recorders (flight/maint)19Indicating/recording systems › (general)18Navigation system › (general)15Navigation system › Ground proximity system10Indicating/recording systems › Central warning10Communications system › VHF communication system9Communications system › (general)9Navigation system › Airspeed/mach indicating7Navigation system › Pitot/static system7
Parts the NTSB named, as a table
| cases | |
|---|---|
| Indicating/recording systems › Instrument panel | 22 |
| Indicating/recording systems › Data recorders (flight/maint) | 19 |
| Indicating/recording systems › (general) | 18 |
| Navigation system › (general) | 15 |
| Navigation system › Ground proximity system | 10 |
| Indicating/recording systems › Central warning | 10 |
| Communications system › VHF communication system | 9 |
| Communications system › (general) | 9 |
| Navigation system › Airspeed/mach indicating | 7 |
| Navigation system › Pitot/static system | 7 |
What was wrong last ten years · share of 11,884 reports that say
a warning light or message4,002 (34%)a false warning1,706 (14%)smoke, fumes, odours or sparks641 (5%)no warning when there should have been289 (2%)more than one failure263 (2%)other systems affected165 (1%)flight controls affected149 (1%)flight attitude instruments68 (0.6%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a warning light or message | 4,002 | 34% |
| a false warning | 1,706 | 14% |
| smoke, fumes, odours or sparks | 641 | 5% |
| no warning when there should have been | 289 | 2% |
| more than one failure | 263 | 2% |
| other systems affected | 165 | 1% |
| flight controls affected | 149 | 1% |
| flight attitude instruments | 68 | 0.6% |
When it was found last ten years · share of 11,884 reports that say
cruise2,601 (22%)climb1,493 (13%)taxiing or ground handling1,080 (9%)inspection or maintenance979 (8%)take-off773 (7%)descent394 (3%)approach313 (3%)landing233 (2%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| cruise | 2,601 | 22% |
| climb | 1,493 | 13% |
| taxiing or ground handling | 1,080 | 9% |
| inspection or maintenance | 979 | 8% |
| take-off | 773 | 7% |
| descent | 394 | 3% |
| approach | 313 | 3% |
| landing | 233 | 2% |
What the crew did last ten years · share of 11,884 reports that say
an unscheduled landing2,286 (19%)an aborted take-off710 (6%)a return to the gate307 (3%)an emergency descent142 (1%)fuel dumped11 (0.1%)an engine shut down10 (0.1%)oxygen masks deployed5 (0.0%)the fire extinguisher used3 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an unscheduled landing | 2,286 | 19% |
| an aborted take-off | 710 | 6% |
| a return to the gate | 307 | 3% |
| an emergency descent | 142 | 1% |
| fuel dumped | 11 | 0.1% |
| an engine shut down | 10 | 0.1% |
| oxygen masks deployed | 5 | 0.0% |
| the fire extinguisher used | 3 | 0.0% |
Who filed the report last ten years · share of 11,884 reports that say
an airline (Part 121)10,471 (88%)a charter or commuter operator (Part 135)731 (6%)a repair station (Part 145)274 (2%)a foreign carrier (Part 129)232 (2%)a mechanic36 (0.3%)a non-certificated international operator34 (0.3%)a private or corporate operator (Part 91)30 (0.3%)a pilot19 (0.2%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an airline (Part 121) | 10,471 | 88% |
| a charter or commuter operator (Part 135) | 731 | 6% |
| a repair station (Part 145) | 274 | 2% |
| a foreign carrier (Part 129) | 232 | 2% |
| a mechanic | 36 | 0.3% |
| a non-certificated international operator | 34 | 0.3% |
| a private or corporate operator (Part 91) | 30 | 0.3% |
| a pilot | 19 | 0.2% |
How it was found last ten years · share of 11,884 reports that say
a visual inspection2,149 (18%)a functional check158 (1%)ultrasound2 (0.0%)magnetic particle1 (0.0%)a magnified visual inspection1 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a visual inspection | 2,149 | 18% |
| a functional check | 158 | 1% |
| ultrasound | 2 | 0.0% |
| magnetic particle | 1 | 0.0% |
| a magnified visual inspection | 1 | 0.0% |
FAA orders 599 airworthiness directives · newest first
2026-08-142026-14-05 · Communications
2026-07-142026-12-01 · Central Maint., Computer
2026-07-092026-11-03 · Flight Controls
2026-07-012026-13-02 · Navigation
2026-07-012026-13-15 · Navigation
2026-07-012026-13-16 · Navigation
2026-07-012026-13-10 · Navigation
2026-07-012026-13-14 · Navigation
2026-07-012026-13-11 · Navigation
2026-07-012026-13-17 · Navigation
2026-04-162026-05-01 · Navigation
2026-02-172026-02-11 · Navigation
Orders by decade
Who makes and modifies it
Companies the FAA has approved to make equipment for this system (technical standard order authorisations):
Honeywell Aerospace US LLC 225Garmin International INC. 122Avidyne Corporation 95Rockwell International Avionics Group 86Garmin International 69Alliedsignal Aerospace 65Universal Avionics Systems Corporation 57Dayton-Granger INC. 50Rockwell Collins 50Acron Aviation INC. 48Gables Engineering, INC. 45Garmin At, INC. 45
Approved modifications 6,380 · the companies holding the most
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 336Learjet INC 223Textron Aviation INC 201Honeywell International INC 185Duncan Aviation INC 158Rockwell Collins INC 129Learjet INC. 124Page Avjet CORP 114Delta Engineering 110Garrett Aviation Services 102
Engine series most often named last ten years
Pratt & Whitney PT6A series 19General Electric CF6-80C2B6F 13General Electric CFM56 series 13CFM International CFM56-5B4/3 12Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 11CFM International CFM56-7B27E 10International Aero Engines V2527-A5 10Allison (Rolls-Royce) 250-C47B 9CFM International CFM56-7B27 9CFM International LEAP-1B28 series 9General Electric CT7-9B 9Turbomeca (Safran) ARRIEL 2B1 9
Safety bulletins 67 · advice, not orders
2026-01-082026-01 · PITOT/STATIC ANTI-ICE SYSTEM
2025-02-262025-03 · Transponder System
2024-12-262024-07 · STALL WARNING SYSTEM, Angle of Attack Alerting Systems
2023-05-24AIR-21-18R3 · Risk of Potential Adverse Effects on Radio Altimeters
2022-10-18AIR-21-18R2 · Risk of Potential Adverse Effects on Radio Altimeters
2022-08-172022-16 · Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In Conflict Alerting
Sources: FAA service difficulty reports (yearly files since 1995, grouped by the FAA's four-digit system code into this site's fourteen systems), airworthiness directives, supplemental type certificates, technical standard order authorisations and special conditions from the FAA's Dynamic Regulatory System. Rates per 100 aircraft use today's register as the fleet; they show reporting as much as reliability, and commercial fleets report more. Connections as data: /graph/system/avionics.json.