Electrical power
The alternator or generator, the battery, wiring, lights and switches. Failures here usually cost instruments and radios rather than the flight itself.
Operators and repair shops have filed 274,385 failure reports about this system since 1995, 85,556 of them in the last ten years. The FAA has issued 754 airworthiness directives on it, the most recent October 20, 2026. The part most often named in the reports is the light. Among model families, the Boeing 737 appears most often in the last ten years; taking fleet size into account, the Boeing 737 has the highest rate among sizeable fleets, about 128.7 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 | 4,218 |
| 96 | 5,806 |
| 97 | 7,272 |
| 98 | 7,059 |
| 99 | 6,604 |
| 00 | 6,302 |
| 01 | 6,760 |
| 02 | 5,593 |
| 03 | 5,690 |
| 04 | 5,391 |
| 05 | 5,046 |
| 06 | 7,107 |
| 07 | 9,186 |
| 08 | 9,671 |
| 09 | 10,990 |
| 10 | 12,151 |
| 11 | 14,969 |
| 12 | 15,678 |
| 13 | 12,556 |
| 14 | 11,256 |
| 15 | 10,004 |
| 16 | 9,520 |
| 17 | 12,398 |
| 18 | 9,109 |
| 19 | 8,286 |
| 20 | 6,530 |
| 21 | 7,477 |
| 22 | 8,627 |
| 23 | 8,226 |
| 24 | 8,764 |
| 25 | 9,127 |
| 26 | 7,012 |
Models most often named last ten years
Boeing 73737,249Boeing 7776,341Airbus A3215,972Airbus A3205,085Boeing 7575,085Boeing 7674,877Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ4,661Embraer EMB-145 ERJ 1454,107Airbus A3194,039Airbus A3302,591Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E1751,937Boeing 7471,343
Model families most named, as a table
Highest rate, fleets of 500 or more reports a year per 100 aircraft registered
Boeing 737 128.7Boeing 767 83.4Airbus A320 64.0Airbus A321 63.9Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ 28.2Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175 25.5Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign and Latitude 12.3Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 9.5Cessna 560 Citation V, Ultra, Encore and Excel 1.4Bombardier BD-100 Challenger 300 and 350 1.2
Parts most often named
Light17,835Battery Pack16,897Battery8,407Lens8,170Power Supply6,379Lamp4,681Sign4,107Connector2,686Cover2,509Bulb2,506Wire2,295Charger1,577
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Light | 17,835 |
| Battery Pack | 16,897 |
| Battery | 8,407 |
| Lens | 8,170 |
| Power Supply | 6,379 |
| Lamp | 4,681 |
| Sign | 4,107 |
| Connector | 2,686 |
| Cover | 2,509 |
| Bulb | 2,506 |
| Wire | 2,295 |
| Charger | 1,577 |
Who made the parts named last ten years, as the reports code them
Diehl Aerospace5,007The Bf Goodrich CO802The Boeing CO717Group Economique Airbus Industrie704General Electric CO412Dme Corporation335Hamilton Sunstrand CORP309Bruce Industries244Grimes Mfg CO231C&D Aerospace230
Part makers most named, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Diehl Aerospace | 5,007 |
| The Bf Goodrich CO | 802 |
| The Boeing CO | 717 |
| Group Economique Airbus Industrie | 704 |
| General Electric CO | 412 |
| Dme Corporation | 335 |
| Hamilton Sunstrand CORP | 309 |
| Bruce Industries | 244 |
| Grimes Mfg CO | 231 |
| C&D Aerospace | 230 |
What was wrong with them the condition reported
Inoperative31,582No Test7,380Failed6,302Broken6,026Missing5,918Discharged5,180Damaged3,724Loose3,218Detached2,945Faulted1,797
Conditions most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Inoperative | 31,582 |
| No Test | 7,380 |
| Failed | 6,302 |
| Broken | 6,026 |
| Missing | 5,918 |
| Discharged | 5,180 |
| Damaged | 3,724 |
| Loose | 3,218 |
| Detached | 2,945 |
| Faulted | 1,797 |
Where in the system the FAA's codes
Lights 82,552Lights 6,152Electrical power 1,564Lights 741Lights 674electrical power wiring 563Electrical power 545Electrical power 323DC generation 272Lights 238Lights 222Electrical power 221
What the NTSB found accidents and incidents since 2008 in which the NTSB's findings named this system
In 199 cases since 2008 the NTSB named electrical power as a cause (86 of them) or a contributing factor; 19 of those were fatal accidents. The part most often named is the electrical power system › (general). Among model families, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk 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
Electrical power system › (general)50Electrical power system › Electrical pwr sys wiring50Electrical power system › Battery/charger40Electrical power system › Alternator29Electrical power system › AC generator16Electrical power system › DC power distribution system14Lighting system › Exterior lighting9Electrical power system › DC generation system6Lighting system › Flight compartment lighting5Electrical power system › DC generator5
Parts the NTSB named, as a table
| cases | |
|---|---|
| Electrical power system › (general) | 50 |
| Electrical power system › Electrical pwr sys wiring | 50 |
| Electrical power system › Battery/charger | 40 |
| Electrical power system › Alternator | 29 |
| Electrical power system › AC generator | 16 |
| Electrical power system › DC power distribution system | 14 |
| Lighting system › Exterior lighting | 9 |
| Electrical power system › DC generation system | 6 |
| Lighting system › Flight compartment lighting | 5 |
| Electrical power system › DC generator | 5 |
What was wrong last ten years · share of 95,076 reports that say
a warning light or message2,667 (3%)smoke, fumes, odours or sparks1,268 (1%)poor quality control367 (0.4%)a false warning298 (0.3%)no warning when there should have been286 (0.3%)more than one failure131 (0.1%)over temperature100 (0.1%)vibration or buffeting59 (0.1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a warning light or message | 2,667 | 3% |
| smoke, fumes, odours or sparks | 1,268 | 1% |
| poor quality control | 367 | 0.4% |
| a false warning | 298 | 0.3% |
| no warning when there should have been | 286 | 0.3% |
| more than one failure | 131 | 0.1% |
| over temperature | 100 | 0.1% |
| vibration or buffeting | 59 | 0.1% |
When it was found last ten years · share of 95,076 reports that say
inspection or maintenance73,818 (78%)taxiing or ground handling4,030 (4%)cruise1,853 (2%)climb679 (0.7%)take-off307 (0.3%)descent253 (0.3%)approach220 (0.2%)landing216 (0.2%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| inspection or maintenance | 73,818 | 78% |
| taxiing or ground handling | 4,030 | 4% |
| cruise | 1,853 | 2% |
| climb | 679 | 0.7% |
| take-off | 307 | 0.3% |
| descent | 253 | 0.3% |
| approach | 220 | 0.2% |
| landing | 216 | 0.2% |
What the crew did last ten years · share of 95,076 reports that say
an unscheduled landing1,238 (1%)a return to the gate297 (0.3%)an aborted take-off262 (0.3%)an emergency descent78 (0.1%)an engine shut down53 (0.1%)fuel dumped12 (0.0%)the fire extinguisher used7 (0.0%)oxygen masks deployed3 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an unscheduled landing | 1,238 | 1% |
| a return to the gate | 297 | 0.3% |
| an aborted take-off | 262 | 0.3% |
| an emergency descent | 78 | 0.1% |
| an engine shut down | 53 | 0.1% |
| fuel dumped | 12 | 0.0% |
| the fire extinguisher used | 7 | 0.0% |
| oxygen masks deployed | 3 | 0.0% |
Who filed the report last ten years · share of 95,076 reports that say
an airline (Part 121)91,672 (96%)a charter or commuter operator (Part 135)2,589 (3%)a repair station (Part 145)356 (0.4%)a mechanic153 (0.2%)a foreign carrier (Part 129)131 (0.1%)a non-certificated international operator58 (0.1%)a private or corporate operator (Part 91)40 (0.0%)an air taxi (Part 125)20 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an airline (Part 121) | 91,672 | 96% |
| a charter or commuter operator (Part 135) | 2,589 | 3% |
| a repair station (Part 145) | 356 | 0.4% |
| a mechanic | 153 | 0.2% |
| a foreign carrier (Part 129) | 131 | 0.1% |
| a non-certificated international operator | 58 | 0.1% |
| a private or corporate operator (Part 91) | 40 | 0.0% |
| an air taxi (Part 125) | 20 | 0.0% |
How it was found last ten years · share of 95,076 reports that say
a functional check34,551 (36%)a visual inspection23,911 (25%)ultrasound3 (0.0%)a magnified visual inspection3 (0.0%)magnetic particle1 (0.0%)thermal imaging1 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a functional check | 34,551 | 36% |
| a visual inspection | 23,911 | 25% |
| ultrasound | 3 | 0.0% |
| a magnified visual inspection | 3 | 0.0% |
| magnetic particle | 1 | 0.0% |
| thermal imaging | 1 | 0.0% |
FAA orders 754 airworthiness directives · newest first
2026-10-202026-17-11 · Windshield/Door Rain/Ice Removal
2026-08-142026-14-02 · Indication/Recording System
2026-07-162026-13-05 · Air conditioning
2026-07-132026-14-11 · Air Conditioning
2026-04-202026-05-15 · Lights
2026-04-022026-04-03 · Electrical Power System Wiring
2025-11-062025-19-07 · Electrical system installation
2025-10-292025-18-12 · Battery/Charger System
2025-08-142025-13-11 · Flight Controls
2025-07-082025-10-02 · Electrical Connectors; and Electrical Power System Wiring
2025-06-182025-09-09 · Communications
2025-05-132025-09-01 · Auto Flight System
Orders by decade
Who makes and modifies it
Companies the FAA has approved to make equipment for this system (technical standard order authorisations):
Aspen Avionics 6Arconic Fastening Systems & Rings 5Mid-Continent Instrument CO. INC. 5Whelen Engineering Company, INC. 4Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting 3Grimes Aerospace 3Hoskins/Bfgoodrich A Division of Sheldahl 3Marathonnorco Aerospace INC. 3Midland-Ross Corporation Grimes Division 3S-Tec Corporation 3Whelen Aerospace Technologies, INC. 3Acr Electronics INC. 2
Approved modifications 1,964 · the companies holding the most
Aviation Specialties Unlimited INC. 87Bf Goodrich Aerospace 77Devore Aviation Corporation of America, A New Mexico Corporation 54Teledyne Battery Products 52Textron Aviation INC 50Concorde Battery Corporation 46American Eurocopter Corporation 43Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 38Honeywell International INC. 34Signature Flight Support Corporation 33
Engine series most often named last ten years
General Electric CT7-9B 160Pratt & Whitney PW4056 94International Aero Engines V2527-A5 75CFM International CFM56-7B27 68Pratt & Whitney PW4090 56Pratt & Whitney PW4060 50Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 49International Aero Engines V2522-A5 42Rolls-Royce RB-211 series 25General Electric GE90 series 18CFM International CFM56 series 17General Electric CF6-80C2B1F 17
Safety bulletins 31 · advice, not orders
2026-08-142026-13 · Light-Sport Category Aircraft Continued Airworthiness
2026-03-122026-06 · Light-Sport Category Aircraft Continued Airworthiness
2024-02-132024-01 · Installation of TCW Technologies Integrated Back-up Battery System
2021-03-22NM-18-32R1 · Electrical Power - Direct Current Power Center
2021-01-28AIR-21-03 · Electrical Power System; Ameri-King RFI DC Filter Smoke/Fire
2020-04-13NM-20-06 · Electrical Power System: Lug Terminal Tracks
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/electrical.json.