Landing gear
Wheels, tires, brakes, struts and the retraction system. Gear collapses and brake failures are among the most common events in the failure reports, and often the cheapest to prevent.
Operators and repair shops have filed 64,293 failure reports about this system since 1995, 12,711 of them in the last ten years. The FAA has issued 1,790 airworthiness directives on it, the most recent November 2, 2026. The part most often named in the reports is the tire. Among model families, the Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ appears most often in the last ten years; taking fleet size into account, the Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ has the highest rate among sizeable fleets, about 12.8 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 | 2,854 |
| 96 | 3,460 |
| 97 | 3,050 |
| 98 | 2,830 |
| 99 | 2,469 |
| 00 | 2,725 |
| 01 | 2,397 |
| 02 | 2,432 |
| 03 | 2,440 |
| 04 | 2,189 |
| 05 | 2,346 |
| 06 | 2,047 |
| 07 | 2,448 |
| 08 | 2,221 |
| 09 | 2,147 |
| 10 | 1,924 |
| 11 | 2,612 |
| 12 | 2,156 |
| 13 | 2,050 |
| 14 | 1,812 |
| 15 | 1,613 |
| 16 | 1,360 |
| 17 | 1,299 |
| 18 | 1,285 |
| 19 | 1,623 |
| 20 | 829 |
| 21 | 1,096 |
| 22 | 1,277 |
| 23 | 1,285 |
| 24 | 1,486 |
| 25 | 1,427 |
| 26 | 1,104 |
Models most often named last ten years
Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ2,116Boeing 7371,628Airbus A320752Airbus A319716Airbus A321581Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175576Embraer EMB-145 ERJ 145538Boeing 767508Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign and Latitude457Boeing 757393Cessna 560 Citation V, Ultra, Encore and Excel340Airbus A300317
Model families most named, as a table
Highest rate, fleets of 500 or more reports a year per 100 aircraft registered
Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ 12.8Airbus A320 9.5Boeing 767 8.7Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175 7.6Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign and Latitude 6.6Airbus A321 6.2Boeing 737 5.6Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 3.4Cessna 560 Citation V, Ultra, Encore and Excel 2.5Bombardier BD-100 Challenger 300 and 350 1.2
Parts most often named
Tire767Landing Gear631Brake571Actuator523Warning Message447Sensor412Proximity Sensor387Strut327Control Unit305Brake Assy304Selector Valve275Wheel200
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Tire | 767 |
| Landing Gear | 631 |
| Brake | 571 |
| Actuator | 523 |
| Warning Message | 447 |
| Sensor | 412 |
| Proximity Sensor | 387 |
| Strut | 327 |
| Control Unit | 305 |
| Brake Assy | 304 |
| Selector Valve | 275 |
| Wheel | 200 |
Who made the parts named last ten years, as the reports code them
The Bf Goodrich CO316Cessna Aircraft CORP300The Boeing CO248Group Economique Airbus Industrie195Eldec CORP142Beech Aircraft CORP111Piper Aircraft CORP103Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA96Meggitt Plc, Uk85Messier-Hispano84
Part makers most named, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| The Bf Goodrich CO | 316 |
| Cessna Aircraft CORP | 300 |
| The Boeing CO | 248 |
| Group Economique Airbus Industrie | 195 |
| Eldec CORP | 142 |
| Beech Aircraft CORP | 111 |
| Piper Aircraft CORP | 103 |
| Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA | 96 |
| Meggitt Plc, Uk | 85 |
| Messier-Hispano | 84 |
What was wrong with them the condition reported
Failed1,934Faulted1,105Malfunctioned1,094Faulty623Defective614Inoperative585Damaged531Corroded464False Activation411Broken380
Conditions most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Failed | 1,934 |
| Faulted | 1,105 |
| Malfunctioned | 1,094 |
| Faulty | 623 |
| Defective | 614 |
| Inoperative | 585 |
| Damaged | 531 |
| Corroded | 464 |
| False Activation | 411 |
| Broken | 380 |
Where in the system the FAA's codes
wheels and brakes 2,518gear position indicating 2,241landing gear retraction 2,020Landing gear 767steering 737Landing gear 570main landing gear 525Landing gear 510nose or tail landing gear 506Landing gear 417Landing gear 403Landing gear 399
What the NTSB found accidents and incidents since 2008 in which the NTSB's findings named this system
In 1,778 cases since 2008 the NTSB named landing gear as a cause (992 of them) or a contributing factor; 33 of those were fatal accidents. The part most often named is the landing gear system › gear extension and retract sys. 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
Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys445Landing gear system › Brake320Landing gear system › Main landing gear291Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear218Landing gear system › (general)115Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck113Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system98Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec77Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator63Landing gear system › Landing gear selector53
Parts the NTSB named, as a table
| cases | |
|---|---|
| Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys | 445 |
| Landing gear system › Brake | 320 |
| Landing gear system › Main landing gear | 291 |
| Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear | 218 |
| Landing gear system › (general) | 115 |
| Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck | 113 |
| Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system | 98 |
| Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec | 77 |
| Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator | 63 |
| Landing gear system › Landing gear selector | 53 |
What was wrong last ten years · share of 14,071 reports that say
a warning light or message5,826 (41%)a false warning1,296 (9%)vibration or buffeting457 (3%)no warning when there should have been241 (2%)other systems affected227 (2%)over temperature171 (1%)smoke, fumes, odours or sparks147 (1%)more than one failure91 (0.6%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a warning light or message | 5,826 | 41% |
| a false warning | 1,296 | 9% |
| vibration or buffeting | 457 | 3% |
| no warning when there should have been | 241 | 2% |
| other systems affected | 227 | 2% |
| over temperature | 171 | 1% |
| smoke, fumes, odours or sparks | 147 | 1% |
| more than one failure | 91 | 0.6% |
When it was found last ten years · share of 14,071 reports that say
climb3,939 (28%)inspection or maintenance2,027 (14%)landing1,557 (11%)taxiing or ground handling1,537 (11%)approach1,431 (10%)take-off1,325 (9%)cruise727 (5%)descent419 (3%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| climb | 3,939 | 28% |
| inspection or maintenance | 2,027 | 14% |
| landing | 1,557 | 11% |
| taxiing or ground handling | 1,537 | 11% |
| approach | 1,431 | 10% |
| take-off | 1,325 | 9% |
| cruise | 727 | 5% |
| descent | 419 | 3% |
What the crew did last ten years · share of 14,071 reports that say
an unscheduled landing3,845 (27%)an aborted take-off652 (5%)a return to the gate600 (4%)an emergency descent323 (2%)fuel dumped32 (0.2%)an engine shut down21 (0.1%)the fire extinguisher used15 (0.1%)oxygen masks deployed1 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an unscheduled landing | 3,845 | 27% |
| an aborted take-off | 652 | 5% |
| a return to the gate | 600 | 4% |
| an emergency descent | 323 | 2% |
| fuel dumped | 32 | 0.2% |
| an engine shut down | 21 | 0.1% |
| the fire extinguisher used | 15 | 0.1% |
| oxygen masks deployed | 1 | 0.0% |
Who filed the report last ten years · share of 14,071 reports that say
an airline (Part 121)10,082 (72%)a charter or commuter operator (Part 135)2,501 (18%)a repair station (Part 145)426 (3%)a foreign carrier (Part 129)360 (3%)a mechanic192 (1%)a private or corporate operator (Part 91)136 (1.0%)the FAA129 (0.9%)a non-certificated international operator112 (0.8%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an airline (Part 121) | 10,082 | 72% |
| a charter or commuter operator (Part 135) | 2,501 | 18% |
| a repair station (Part 145) | 426 | 3% |
| a foreign carrier (Part 129) | 360 | 3% |
| a mechanic | 192 | 1% |
| a private or corporate operator (Part 91) | 136 | 1.0% |
| the FAA | 129 | 0.9% |
| a non-certificated international operator | 112 | 0.8% |
How it was found last ten years · share of 14,071 reports that say
a visual inspection2,393 (17%)a functional check237 (2%)dye penetrant15 (0.1%)ultrasound10 (0.1%)eddy current6 (0.0%)a magnified visual inspection5 (0.0%)magnetic particle4 (0.0%)borescope3 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a visual inspection | 2,393 | 17% |
| a functional check | 237 | 2% |
| dye penetrant | 15 | 0.1% |
| ultrasound | 10 | 0.1% |
| eddy current | 6 | 0.0% |
| a magnified visual inspection | 5 | 0.0% |
| magnetic particle | 4 | 0.0% |
| borescope | 3 | 0.0% |
FAA orders 1,790 airworthiness directives · newest first
2026-11-022026-19-04 · Hydraulic Power
2026-10-012026-17-04 · Landing Gear
2026-09-182026-18-03 · Wings
2026-09-032026-15-09 · Landing Gear
2026-07-202026-14-08 · Landing Gear Actuator
2026-05-082026-07-01 · Landing gear
2026-03-272026-05-12 · Wings
2026-03-092026-02-07 · Landing Gear
2026-02-242026-01-03 · Main Landing Gear
2026-01-162025-24-10 · Landing gear
2026-01-022025-22-01 · Landing Gear
2026-01-022025-21-05 · Landing Gear
All 1,790 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):
Mabs-Danville Assembly and Distribution Center 18Honeywell Aerospace US LLC 10Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation (Mabs) 8Bridgestone Corporation 7Dunlop LTD. 6Goodrich Aircraft Wheels & Brakes 6Goodrich Corporation Aircraft Wheels & Brakes 6Michelin Aircraft Tire Corporation 6Parker Hannifin CORP. Aircraft Wheel & Brake 6Goodrich Corporation 5Goodyear Tire & Rubber CO. 5Goodyear Tire & Rubber CO. Goodyear Technical Center 5
Approved modifications 1,461 · the companies holding the most
Aviation Products, INC 63Kaman Corporation Aircraft Wheel and Brake LLC 53Appalachian Accessories 45F Atlee Dodge Aircraft Service 39Schneider Richard J 32Engineering Plating & Processing, INC. 30Granville Lasseter/Dba Granville'S Aircraft Strut Sealant 27F.Atlee Dodge Aircraft Services 25Airglas INC. 18Skybound Manufacturing INC. 17
Engine series most often named last ten years
General Electric CT7-9B 67Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A 44Pratt & Whitney PT6A series 44CFM International CFM56-5B4/3 25Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P 14Lycoming O-360-A4M 13Rolls-Royce RB-211 series 13International Aero Engines V2527-A5 12Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A 10Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B 8Williams International FJ44-3A 8CFM International CFM56 series 7
Safety bulletins 54 · advice, not orders
2026-10-232026-18 · NOSE/TAIL LANDING GEAR, Installation of AeroControlex STC ST01255CH may allow water to leak and...
2026-08-252026-14 · Rudder Control System, Brake
2026-03-192026-07 · MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACH SECTION, Trunnion Pins
2023-11-142023-14 · Landing Gear Retract/Extend System
2023-03-032023-02 · Landing Gear System
2022-05-27AIR-22-13 · Landing Gear Components
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/landing-gear.json.