Fuel system
Tanks, lines, pumps, selectors and quantity gauges. Fuel that fails to reach the engine, whether because the tank ran dry or a part failed, is a leading cause of accidents.
Operators and repair shops have filed 16,639 failure reports about this system since 1995, 5,836 of them in the last ten years. The FAA has issued 572 airworthiness directives on it, the most recent November 18, 2026. The part most often named in the reports is the pump. 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 18.7 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 | 404 |
| 96 | 564 |
| 97 | 559 |
| 98 | 652 |
| 99 | 498 |
| 00 | 467 |
| 01 | 412 |
| 02 | 568 |
| 03 | 559 |
| 04 | 350 |
| 05 | 297 |
| 06 | 369 |
| 07 | 349 |
| 08 | 360 |
| 09 | 426 |
| 10 | 428 |
| 11 | 663 |
| 12 | 619 |
| 13 | 713 |
| 14 | 567 |
| 15 | 469 |
| 16 | 510 |
| 17 | 521 |
| 18 | 572 |
| 19 | 735 |
| 20 | 427 |
| 21 | 562 |
| 22 | 588 |
| 23 | 609 |
| 24 | 694 |
| 25 | 698 |
| 26 | 430 |
Models most often named last ten years
Boeing 7371,892Boeing 7671,092Airbus A319421Airbus A320410Airbus A321398Airbus A330214Boeing 757188Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ157Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11151Airbus A300121Embraer EMB-145 ERJ 14586Boeing 74784
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
Pump643Fuel Cap391Pressure Switch303Indicator297Probe234Warning Message222Fuel Sys205Actuator195Fuel Tank183Valve163Compensator159Relay149
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Pump | 643 |
| Fuel Cap | 391 |
| Pressure Switch | 303 |
| Indicator | 297 |
| Probe | 234 |
| Warning Message | 222 |
| Fuel Sys | 205 |
| Actuator | 195 |
| Fuel Tank | 183 |
| Valve | 163 |
| Compensator | 159 |
| Relay | 149 |
Who made the parts named last ten years, as the reports code them
Eaton CORP425Simmonds Precision Products INC142The Boeing CO138Group Economique Airbus Industrie126The Bf Goodrich CO58Douglas A/C CO Mcdonnel Douglas CORP46Parker Hannifin (Incl Clev Whl & Bk)44Cessna Aircraft CORP42Bell Helicopter CO. Div. Textron INC24Canadair LTD Sub General Dynamics24
Part makers most named, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Eaton CORP | 425 |
| Simmonds Precision Products INC | 142 |
| The Boeing CO | 138 |
| Group Economique Airbus Industrie | 126 |
| The Bf Goodrich CO | 58 |
| Douglas A/C CO Mcdonnel Douglas CORP | 46 |
| Parker Hannifin (Incl Clev Whl & Bk) | 44 |
| Cessna Aircraft CORP | 42 |
| Bell Helicopter CO. Div. Textron INC | 24 |
| Canadair LTD Sub General Dynamics | 24 |
What was wrong with them the condition reported
Failed685Faulted487Malfunctioned487Faulty440Inoperative439Leaking425Missing407False Activation264Corroded239Defective218
Conditions most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Failed | 685 |
| Faulted | 487 |
| Malfunctioned | 487 |
| Faulty | 440 |
| Inoperative | 439 |
| Leaking | 425 |
| Missing | 407 |
| False Activation | 264 |
| Corroded | 239 |
| Defective | 218 |
Where in the system the FAA's codes
fuel distribution 1,243Fuel 1,231fuel storage 1,201fuel indicating 944Fuel 520Fuel 429Fuel 228Fuel 221Fuel 138Fuel 73Fuel 48Fuel 40
What the NTSB found accidents and incidents since 2008 in which the NTSB's findings named this system
In 2,125 cases since 2008 the NTSB named fuel system as a cause (1,311 of them) or a contributing factor; 276 of those were fatal accidents. The part most often named is the fluids › fuel. 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
Fluids › Fuel1,947Fuel system › (general)196Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve192Fuel system › Fuel distribution160Fuel system › Fuel pumps77Fuel system › Fuel storage62Fuel system › Fuel filter62Fuel system › Fuel quantity indicator36Fuel system › Fuel indication system32Fuel system › Fuel pressure17
Parts the NTSB named, as a table
| cases | |
|---|---|
| Fluids › Fuel | 1,947 |
| Fuel system › (general) | 196 |
| Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve | 192 |
| Fuel system › Fuel distribution | 160 |
| Fuel system › Fuel pumps | 77 |
| Fuel system › Fuel storage | 62 |
| Fuel system › Fuel filter | 62 |
| Fuel system › Fuel quantity indicator | 36 |
| Fuel system › Fuel indication system | 32 |
| Fuel system › Fuel pressure | 17 |
What was wrong last ten years · share of 6,346 reports that say
a warning light or message2,279 (36%)a false warning554 (9%)no warning when there should have been124 (2%)smoke, fumes, odours or sparks99 (2%)other systems affected58 (0.9%)partial loss of power39 (0.6%)came apart in flight36 (0.6%)flight controls affected27 (0.4%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a warning light or message | 2,279 | 36% |
| a false warning | 554 | 9% |
| no warning when there should have been | 124 | 2% |
| smoke, fumes, odours or sparks | 99 | 2% |
| other systems affected | 58 | 0.9% |
| partial loss of power | 39 | 0.6% |
| came apart in flight | 36 | 0.6% |
| flight controls affected | 27 | 0.4% |
When it was found last ten years · share of 6,346 reports that say
inspection or maintenance1,696 (27%)cruise1,331 (21%)climb815 (13%)taxiing or ground handling583 (9%)descent176 (3%)take-off151 (2%)approach55 (0.9%)landing53 (0.8%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| inspection or maintenance | 1,696 | 27% |
| cruise | 1,331 | 21% |
| climb | 815 | 13% |
| taxiing or ground handling | 583 | 9% |
| descent | 176 | 3% |
| take-off | 151 | 2% |
| approach | 55 | 0.9% |
| landing | 53 | 0.8% |
What the crew did last ten years · share of 6,346 reports that say
an unscheduled landing1,111 (18%)a return to the gate146 (2%)an aborted take-off84 (1%)an engine shut down60 (0.9%)an emergency descent44 (0.7%)fuel dumped9 (0.1%)the fire extinguisher used1 (0.0%)oxygen masks deployed1 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an unscheduled landing | 1,111 | 18% |
| a return to the gate | 146 | 2% |
| an aborted take-off | 84 | 1% |
| an engine shut down | 60 | 0.9% |
| an emergency descent | 44 | 0.7% |
| fuel dumped | 9 | 0.1% |
| the fire extinguisher used | 1 | 0.0% |
| oxygen masks deployed | 1 | 0.0% |
Who filed the report last ten years · share of 6,346 reports that say
an airline (Part 121)5,521 (87%)a charter or commuter operator (Part 135)451 (7%)a repair station (Part 145)132 (2%)a foreign carrier (Part 129)73 (1%)a mechanic66 (1%)a private or corporate operator (Part 91)45 (0.7%)a non-certificated international operator21 (0.3%)the FAA19 (0.3%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an airline (Part 121) | 5,521 | 87% |
| a charter or commuter operator (Part 135) | 451 | 7% |
| a repair station (Part 145) | 132 | 2% |
| a foreign carrier (Part 129) | 73 | 1% |
| a mechanic | 66 | 1% |
| a private or corporate operator (Part 91) | 45 | 0.7% |
| a non-certificated international operator | 21 | 0.3% |
| the FAA | 19 | 0.3% |
How it was found last ten years · share of 6,346 reports that say
a visual inspection1,661 (26%)a functional check138 (2%)eddy current5 (0.1%)borescope2 (0.0%)dye penetrant1 (0.0%)ultrasound1 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a visual inspection | 1,661 | 26% |
| a functional check | 138 | 2% |
| eddy current | 5 | 0.1% |
| borescope | 2 | 0.0% |
| dye penetrant | 1 | 0.0% |
| ultrasound | 1 | 0.0% |
FAA orders 572 airworthiness directives · newest first
2026-11-182026-20-09 · Wings
2026-09-032026-15-08 · Aircraft Fuel System
2026-09-012026-15-02 · Fuel
2026-07-242026-15-04 · Aircraft Fuel System
2026-06-082026-10-19 · Fuel
2026-04-302026-06-03 · Hoses and tubes
2026-01-122025-24-05 · Aircraft fuel filter/strainer
2025-01-062024-23-05 · Fuel
2024-11-072024-21-01 · Wings
2024-10-212024-15-10 · Fuel Storage
2024-08-222024-10-12 · Fuel system wiring
2024-08-132024-10-13 · Aircraft fuel filter/strainer
Orders by decade
Who makes and modifies it
Companies the FAA has approved to make equipment for this system (technical standard order authorisations):
Olympic Aero Services, INC 2Aerospace Group 1Engineered Fabrics Corporation 1Floats and Fuel Cells (Ffc) 1Gkn Aerospace Services Limited, T/A Fpt Industries 1Liquid Measurement Systems INC. 1Meggitt 1Meggitt INC 1Meggitt Sensing Systems 1Parker Hannifin Corporation 1Vibro-Meter Corporation 1
Approved modifications 562 · the companies holding the most
Rogerson Ats 21Pats Aircraft LLC 18Aircraft Tank Service INC 14Leading Edge Group LLC, the 13Hartwig Aircraft Fuel Cell Repair 11Simmonds Precision Products INC 11Cameron Balloons US 10F Atlee Dodge Aircraft Service 10Michael Bauwens 10Sierra Industries LTD. 10
Engine series most often named last ten years
Allison (Rolls-Royce) 250-C47B 18Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 16Pratt & Whitney PT6A series 14Turbomeca (Safran) ARRIEL 1E2 14Rolls-Royce RB-211 series 12Lycoming IO-360-L2A 10Austro Engine E4P(series 9Turbomeca (Safran) ARRIEL 1D1 8International Aero Engines V2522-A5 7International Aero Engines V2527-A5 6Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A 6Allison (Rolls-Royce) 250-C30P 5
Safety bulletins 19 · advice, not orders
2025-12-17SW-17-31R4 · Fuel System
2019-12-05SW-17-31R3 · Fuel System
2019-12-05SW-17-31R2 · Fuel System
2019-07-15SW-17-23R2 · Fuel System
2018-12-03SW-17-31R1 · Fuel System
2018-03-02SW-17-23R1 · Fuel System
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/fuel.json.