Emergency equipment
Fire detection and extinguishing, oxygen, emergency locator beacons and whole-airframe parachutes.
Operators and repair shops have filed 26,522 failure reports about this system since 1995, 8,484 of them in the last ten years. The FAA has issued 451 airworthiness directives on it, the most recent November 5, 2026. The part most often named in the reports is the smoke detector. 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 24.3 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 | 497 |
| 96 | 688 |
| 97 | 892 |
| 98 | 785 |
| 99 | 697 |
| 00 | 795 |
| 01 | 898 |
| 02 | 776 |
| 03 | 904 |
| 04 | 738 |
| 05 | 636 |
| 06 | 713 |
| 07 | 1,049 |
| 08 | 1,115 |
| 09 | 624 |
| 10 | 899 |
| 11 | 1,061 |
| 12 | 910 |
| 13 | 1,108 |
| 14 | 731 |
| 15 | 701 |
| 16 | 821 |
| 17 | 976 |
| 18 | 942 |
| 19 | 938 |
| 20 | 708 |
| 21 | 956 |
| 22 | 886 |
| 23 | 675 |
| 24 | 769 |
| 25 | 873 |
| 26 | 761 |
Models most often named last ten years
Boeing 7371,612Boeing 7671,424Airbus A321945Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ780Airbus A320767Airbus A319573Airbus A330451Boeing 777293Boeing 747246Boeing 757227Embraer EMB-145 ERJ 145209Airbus A300205
Model families most named, as a table
Highest rate, fleets of 500 or more reports a year per 100 aircraft registered
Boeing 767 24.3Airbus A321 10.1Airbus A320 9.6Boeing 737 5.6Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ 4.7Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175 2.6Bombardier BD-100 Challenger 300 and 350 0.6Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign and Latitude 0.5Cessna 560 Citation V, Ultra, Encore and Excel 0.3Cessna 525 CitationJet (CJ series) 0.2
Parts most often named
Smoke Detector1,856Oxygen Mask1,158Fire Loop551Fire Detector431Fire Warning326Smoke Warning255Warning Message224Wire Harness212Fire Bottle155Circuit Card149Connector143Oxygen Bottle137
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Smoke Detector | 1,856 |
| Oxygen Mask | 1,158 |
| Fire Loop | 551 |
| Fire Detector | 431 |
| Fire Warning | 326 |
| Smoke Warning | 255 |
| Warning Message | 224 |
| Wire Harness | 212 |
| Fire Bottle | 155 |
| Circuit Card | 149 |
| Connector | 143 |
| Oxygen Bottle | 137 |
Who made the parts named last ten years, as the reports code them
Walter Kidde & CO INC260Meggitt Plc, Uk119Group Economique Airbus Industrie102The Boeing CO73Cessna Aircraft CORP28Rohr CORP25Fenwal INC Div Walter Kidde&Co23Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA20Honeywell International INC (Engine)15Thomas A Edison Div Mcgraw Edison10
Part makers most named, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Walter Kidde & CO INC | 260 |
| Meggitt Plc, Uk | 119 |
| Group Economique Airbus Industrie | 102 |
| The Boeing CO | 73 |
| Cessna Aircraft CORP | 28 |
| Rohr CORP | 25 |
| Fenwal INC Div Walter Kidde&Co | 23 |
| Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA | 20 |
| Honeywell International INC (Engine) | 15 |
| Thomas A Edison Div Mcgraw Edison | 10 |
What was wrong with them the condition reported
False Activation1,876Faulted552Failed494False Indication484Unwanted Deploy481Inoperative442Malfunctioned409No Test383Damaged333Faulty323
Conditions most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| False Activation | 1,876 |
| Faulted | 552 |
| Failed | 494 |
| False Indication | 484 |
| Unwanted Deploy | 481 |
| Inoperative | 442 |
| Malfunctioned | 409 |
| No Test | 383 |
| Damaged | 333 |
| Faulty | 323 |
Where in the system the FAA's codes
Fire protection 2,571Fire protection 2,074Oxygen 1,540Oxygen 832Fire protection 541Fire protection 381fire detection 369fire extinguishing 279Fire protection 221Fire protection 159Fire protection 108Oxygen 106
What the NTSB found accidents and incidents since 2008 in which the NTSB's findings named this system
In 13 cases since 2008 the NTSB named emergency equipment as a cause (6 of them) or a contributing factor; 6 of those were fatal accidents. The part most often named is the oxygen system › (general). Among model families, the Boeing 767 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.
Parts and problems named
Oxygen system › (general)5Oxygen system › Crew oxygen system2Fire protection system › (general)2Oxygen system › Passenger oxygen system1Fire protection system › Smoke, detection1Oxygen system › Oxygen sys wiring1Fire protection system › Fire prot sys wiring1Fire protection system › Detection system1Fire protection system › Fire bottle, portable1
Parts the NTSB named, as a table
| cases | |
|---|---|
| Oxygen system › (general) | 5 |
| Oxygen system › Crew oxygen system | 2 |
| Fire protection system › (general) | 2 |
| Oxygen system › Passenger oxygen system | 1 |
| Fire protection system › Smoke, detection | 1 |
| Oxygen system › Oxygen sys wiring | 1 |
| Fire protection system › Fire prot sys wiring | 1 |
| Fire protection system › Detection system | 1 |
| Fire protection system › Fire bottle, portable | 1 |
What was wrong last ten years · share of 9,305 reports that say
a false warning3,544 (38%)a warning light or message1,456 (16%)smoke, fumes, odours or sparks183 (2%)no warning when there should have been51 (0.5%)poor quality control43 (0.5%)over temperature24 (0.3%)flame or fire14 (0.2%)foreign object damage12 (0.1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a false warning | 3,544 | 38% |
| a warning light or message | 1,456 | 16% |
| smoke, fumes, odours or sparks | 183 | 2% |
| no warning when there should have been | 51 | 0.5% |
| poor quality control | 43 | 0.5% |
| over temperature | 24 | 0.3% |
| flame or fire | 14 | 0.2% |
| foreign object damage | 12 | 0.1% |
When it was found last ten years · share of 9,305 reports that say
inspection or maintenance3,042 (33%)cruise1,603 (17%)climb864 (9%)taxiing or ground handling644 (7%)descent309 (3%)approach181 (2%)take-off134 (1%)landing115 (1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| inspection or maintenance | 3,042 | 33% |
| cruise | 1,603 | 17% |
| climb | 864 | 9% |
| taxiing or ground handling | 644 | 7% |
| descent | 309 | 3% |
| approach | 181 | 2% |
| take-off | 134 | 1% |
| landing | 115 | 1% |
What the crew did last ten years · share of 9,305 reports that say
an unscheduled landing1,114 (12%)the fire extinguisher used160 (2%)an emergency descent99 (1%)an engine shut down99 (1%)a return to the gate88 (0.9%)an aborted take-off72 (0.8%)oxygen masks deployed18 (0.2%)fuel dumped9 (0.1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an unscheduled landing | 1,114 | 12% |
| the fire extinguisher used | 160 | 2% |
| an emergency descent | 99 | 1% |
| an engine shut down | 99 | 1% |
| a return to the gate | 88 | 0.9% |
| an aborted take-off | 72 | 0.8% |
| oxygen masks deployed | 18 | 0.2% |
| fuel dumped | 9 | 0.1% |
Who filed the report last ten years · share of 9,305 reports that say
an airline (Part 121)8,575 (92%)a charter or commuter operator (Part 135)529 (6%)a repair station (Part 145)79 (0.8%)a foreign carrier (Part 129)62 (0.7%)a mechanic13 (0.1%)a non-certificated international operator13 (0.1%)a private or corporate operator (Part 91)8 (0.1%)an air taxi (Part 125)4 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an airline (Part 121) | 8,575 | 92% |
| a charter or commuter operator (Part 135) | 529 | 6% |
| a repair station (Part 145) | 79 | 0.8% |
| a foreign carrier (Part 129) | 62 | 0.7% |
| a mechanic | 13 | 0.1% |
| a non-certificated international operator | 13 | 0.1% |
| a private or corporate operator (Part 91) | 8 | 0.1% |
| an air taxi (Part 125) | 4 | 0.0% |
How it was found last ten years · share of 9,305 reports that say
a visual inspection1,784 (19%)a functional check801 (9%)ultrasound1 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a visual inspection | 1,784 | 19% |
| a functional check | 801 | 9% |
| ultrasound | 1 | 0.0% |
FAA orders 451 airworthiness directives · newest first
2026-11-052026-20-03 · Placards and Markings
2026-11-022026-19-05 · Emergency locator beacon
2026-09-082026-15-18 · Emergency Locator Beacon
2026-07-092026-11-02 · Emergency Locator Beacon
2026-06-182026-09-14 · Oxygen
2026-06-172026-09-05 · Life Raft
2026-05-072026-08-06 · Oxygen
2026-05-012026-06-06 · Electrical system installation
2026-03-122026-03-09 · Oxygen
2026-01-142025-26-06 · Oxygen
2025-12-262025-21-04 · Life Raft
2025-12-242025-25-02 · Oxygen
Orders by decade
Who makes and modifies it
Companies the FAA has approved to make equipment for this system (technical standard order authorisations):
Acr Electronics INC. 8Strong Enterprises INC. 7Avox Systems INC. 6Air Cruisers Company 6B/E Aerospace 6Zodiac Aerotechnics 6Dayton-Granger INC. 5Ceis Tm 4Eastern Aero Marine 4Emergency Beacon CORP. 4Goodrich 4Kidde Aerospace 4
Approved modifications 832 · the companies holding the most
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 48Page Avjet CORP 26Lifeport LLC 21Textron Aviation INC 21Midcoast Aviation INC 18Goodrich Corporation 17Honeywell International INC. 16Learjet INC 16Learjet INC. 15Signature Flight Support Corporation 14
Engine series most often named last ten years
International Aero Engines PW1133GA-JM 96Rolls-Royce RB-211 series 29General Electric CT7-8A 12International Aero Engines PW1133G-JM 12Garrett (Honeywell) TFE731-2-2B 8General Electric CF6-80 series 8Pratt & Whitney PW2037 8CFM International CFM56-7B27 7Pratt & Whitney PT6A series 7Turbomeca (Safran) ARRIEL 1E2 6CFM International CFM56 series 5General Electric CF34-3B1 5
Safety bulletins 15 · advice, not orders
2022-03-03AIR-22-03 · Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22, R44, and R66 Helicopters; Emergency Locator Transmitter Retention
2019-06-18CE-19-12 · Equipment/Furnishings: Emergency Locator Beacon, G-Switch Failures
2019-02-25CE-19-04 · Crew Oxygen System: Full Face Mask/Smoke Goggle Visibility
2017-06-19NM-17-17 · Oxygen System
2014-02-24NE-14-10 · Emergency Locator Beacon
2013-05-30NE-13-35 · Parachute Reserve Systems Basik Air Concept
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/emergency.json.