Engine
The engine and everything bolted to it: ignition, fuel metering, exhaust, oil and turbochargers. Engine problems are the biggest single group in both the failure reports and the FAA's orders.
Operators and repair shops have filed 114,835 failure reports about this system since 1995, 29,478 of them in the last ten years. The FAA has issued 4,744 airworthiness directives on it, the most recent December 1, 2026. The part most often named in the reports is the engine. 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 87.9 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 | 4,656 |
| 96 | 5,304 |
| 97 | 5,324 |
| 98 | 4,956 |
| 99 | 4,399 |
| 00 | 4,029 |
| 01 | 4,171 |
| 02 | 4,158 |
| 03 | 4,002 |
| 04 | 3,505 |
| 05 | 3,572 |
| 06 | 3,336 |
| 07 | 3,297 |
| 08 | 3,023 |
| 09 | 3,229 |
| 10 | 3,292 |
| 11 | 3,945 |
| 12 | 3,842 |
| 13 | 3,814 |
| 14 | 3,276 |
| 15 | 3,386 |
| 16 | 2,841 |
| 17 | 2,843 |
| 18 | 3,300 |
| 19 | 3,800 |
| 20 | 2,416 |
| 21 | 3,140 |
| 22 | 3,064 |
| 23 | 3,299 |
| 24 | 2,650 |
| 25 | 2,857 |
| 26 | 2,109 |
Models most often named last ten years
Boeing 7377,673Boeing 7675,143Airbus A3212,138Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ1,718Airbus A3201,652Boeing 7571,354Airbus A3191,339Airbus A330996Embraer EMB-145 ERJ 145714Airbus A300575Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175436Boeing 747394
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
Engine3,263Apu1,506Oil System867Blade597Sensor552Seal530Warning Message526Actuator523Eec489Bleed Valve473Starter387Wire Harness387
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3,263 |
| Apu | 1,506 |
| Oil System | 867 |
| Blade | 597 |
| Sensor | 552 |
| Seal | 530 |
| Warning Message | 526 |
| Actuator | 523 |
| Eec | 489 |
| Bleed Valve | 473 |
| Starter | 387 |
| Wire Harness | 387 |
Who made the parts named last ten years, as the reports code them
Honeywell International INC (Engine)870Cfm International, SA679General Electric CO563Teledyne Continental Motors465The Boeing CO464Honeywell INC454Lycoming Div Avco CORP399Rolls Royce LTD360Pratt Whitney Aircraft Div United Ac325International Aero Engines297
Part makers most named, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Honeywell International INC (Engine) | 870 |
| Cfm International, SA | 679 |
| General Electric CO | 563 |
| Teledyne Continental Motors | 465 |
| The Boeing CO | 464 |
| Honeywell INC | 454 |
| Lycoming Div Avco CORP | 399 |
| Rolls Royce LTD | 360 |
| Pratt Whitney Aircraft Div United Ac | 325 |
| International Aero Engines | 297 |
What was wrong with them the condition reported
Failed3,051Leaking2,972Damaged2,118Cracked2,110Faulted1,825Malfunctioned1,777Faulty1,329False Activation849Inoperative771Worn755
Conditions most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Failed | 3,051 |
| Leaking | 2,972 |
| Damaged | 2,118 |
| Cracked | 2,110 |
| Faulted | 1,825 |
| Malfunctioned | 1,777 |
| Faulty | 1,329 |
| False Activation | 849 |
| Inoperative | 771 |
| Worn | 755 |
Where in the system the FAA's codes
turbine engine 3,969thrust reverser 2,381engine fuel controlling 1,704Auxiliary power unit 1,523Turbine engine 1,288turbine engine air inlet 1,186Auxiliary power unit 1,141turbine engine compressor 1,075Auxiliary power unit 929Auxiliary power unit 882reciprocating engine cylinder section 729Engine air 637
What the NTSB found accidents and incidents since 2008 in which the NTSB's findings named this system
In 2,749 cases since 2008 the NTSB named engine as a cause (1,534 of them) or a contributing factor; 391 of those were fatal accidents. The part most often named is the engine (reciprocating) › (general). 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
Engine (reciprocating) › (general)520Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section450Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section290Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor217Power plant › (general)204Fluids › Oil186(general) › (general)156Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys155Ignition system › Magneto/distributor113Engine controls › Power lever104
Parts the NTSB named, as a table
| cases | |
|---|---|
| Engine (reciprocating) › (general) | 520 |
| Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section | 450 |
| Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section | 290 |
| Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor | 217 |
| Power plant › (general) | 204 |
| Fluids › Oil | 186 |
| (general) › (general) | 156 |
| Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys | 155 |
| Ignition system › Magneto/distributor | 113 |
| Engine controls › Power lever | 104 |
What was wrong last ten years · share of 32,319 reports that say
a warning light or message7,142 (22%)smoke, fumes, odours or sparks1,936 (6%)partial loss of power1,693 (5%)a false warning1,366 (4%)vibration or buffeting845 (3%)over temperature452 (1%)engine stopped447 (1%)foreign object damage417 (1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a warning light or message | 7,142 | 22% |
| smoke, fumes, odours or sparks | 1,936 | 6% |
| partial loss of power | 1,693 | 5% |
| a false warning | 1,366 | 4% |
| vibration or buffeting | 845 | 3% |
| over temperature | 452 | 1% |
| engine stopped | 447 | 1% |
| foreign object damage | 417 | 1% |
When it was found last ten years · share of 32,319 reports that say
inspection or maintenance11,663 (36%)climb4,212 (13%)taxiing or ground handling3,932 (12%)cruise3,749 (12%)take-off1,773 (5%)descent1,562 (5%)landing655 (2%)approach483 (1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| inspection or maintenance | 11,663 | 36% |
| climb | 4,212 | 13% |
| taxiing or ground handling | 3,932 | 12% |
| cruise | 3,749 | 12% |
| take-off | 1,773 | 5% |
| descent | 1,562 | 5% |
| landing | 655 | 2% |
| approach | 483 | 1% |
What the crew did last ten years · share of 32,319 reports that say
an unscheduled landing5,074 (16%)an engine shut down1,631 (5%)an aborted take-off1,339 (4%)a return to the gate1,156 (4%)an emergency descent375 (1%)the fire extinguisher used83 (0.3%)fuel dumped23 (0.1%)an autorotation16 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an unscheduled landing | 5,074 | 16% |
| an engine shut down | 1,631 | 5% |
| an aborted take-off | 1,339 | 4% |
| a return to the gate | 1,156 | 4% |
| an emergency descent | 375 | 1% |
| the fire extinguisher used | 83 | 0.3% |
| fuel dumped | 23 | 0.1% |
| an autorotation | 16 | 0.0% |
Who filed the report last ten years · share of 32,319 reports that say
an airline (Part 121)25,381 (79%)a charter or commuter operator (Part 135)2,541 (8%)a repair station (Part 145)2,182 (7%)a foreign carrier (Part 129)603 (2%)a mechanic566 (2%)a private or corporate operator (Part 91)306 (0.9%)a non-certificated international operator306 (0.9%)the FAA133 (0.4%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an airline (Part 121) | 25,381 | 79% |
| a charter or commuter operator (Part 135) | 2,541 | 8% |
| a repair station (Part 145) | 2,182 | 7% |
| a foreign carrier (Part 129) | 603 | 2% |
| a mechanic | 566 | 2% |
| a private or corporate operator (Part 91) | 306 | 0.9% |
| a non-certificated international operator | 306 | 0.9% |
| the FAA | 133 | 0.4% |
How it was found last ten years · share of 32,319 reports that say
a visual inspection9,491 (29%)a functional check441 (1%)borescope221 (0.7%)dye penetrant70 (0.2%)eddy current53 (0.2%)magnetic particle43 (0.1%)ultrasound38 (0.1%)a magnified visual inspection6 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a visual inspection | 9,491 | 29% |
| a functional check | 441 | 1% |
| borescope | 221 | 0.7% |
| dye penetrant | 70 | 0.2% |
| eddy current | 53 | 0.2% |
| magnetic particle | 43 | 0.1% |
| ultrasound | 38 | 0.1% |
| a magnified visual inspection | 6 | 0.0% |
FAA orders 4,744 airworthiness directives · newest first
2026-12-012026-21-07 · Wings
2026-12-012026-21-08 · Wings
2026-11-272026-21-11 · Turbine Engine Compressor Section
2026-11-232026-21-06 · Engine Fuel and Control
2026-11-232026-20-16 · Powerplant
2026-11-232026-20-15 · Pneumatic
2026-11-232026-21-04 · Engine (Turbine/Turboprop)
2026-11-172026-20-11 · Turbine Engine Compressor Section
2026-11-022026-19-03 · Engine (Turbine/Turboprop)
2026-10-232026-20-12 · Turbine Section
2026-10-162026-18-04 · Turbine Engine Compressor Section
2026-10-142026-20-02 · Air
All 4,744 orders on this system
Orders by decade
Who makes and modifies it
Companies the FAA has approved to make equipment for this system (technical standard order authorisations):
Rockwell Collins 47Astronautics CORP. of America 41Rockwell International Avionics Group 39Honeywell Aerospace US LLC 24Xerion Avionix, LLC 12Garmin International 10Innovative Solutions and Support, INC. 9Electronics International INC 8Moritz Corporation 7S-Tec Corporation 7Jp Instruments 6Ultra Electronic Flightline Systems 5
Approved modifications 3,795 · the companies holding the most
Ram Aircraft Limited Partnership 79Petersen Aviation INC 62Continental Motors, INC. 55Talco Aviation 44Winslow Aerofilter CORP 40Pats Aircraft LLC 39Shadin Avionics 37Signature Flight Support Corporation 36Heliarc Welding Service INC. 28Champion Aerospace LLC 27
Engine series most often named last ten years
CFM International CFM56-7B27 1,213CFM International CFM56-7B27E 1,038CFM International CFM56 series 712Rolls-Royce RB-211 series 678General Electric CF6-80C2B6F 635International Aero Engines V2533-A5 418International Aero Engines PW1133GA-JM 386General Electric CF6-80C2B7F 342General Electric CF6-80C2B6 311CFM International LEAP-1B28 series 293Continental TSIO-520-VB 292International Aero Engines V2527-A5 283
Safety bulletins 249 · advice, not orders
2026-06-082026-11 · Theft of Turbofan Engine Parts before Mutilation
2026-06-02HQ-14-16R2 · Standard Hardware, AN, MS and NAS Fasteners
2025-12-10HQ-14-16R1 · Restricted Category Type Certificate Holder Responsibilities
2025-09-082025-09 · INSTRUMENT PANEL, Potential Installation of Lockwire on Switch Guards that May Restrict Access...
2025-07-282025-07 · Reciprocating Engine Supercharger
2025-05-08NE-11-56R5 · Engine Fuel and Control - Semi-Synthetic Jet Fuel
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/engine.json.