Airframe structure
The airframe itself: fuselage, wings, tail, doors and windows. Problems here are usually cracks, corrosion and worn attach fittings found at inspection, and the FAA's orders tell owners where to look and how often.
Operators and repair shops have filed 986,079 failure reports about this system since 1995, 373,660 of them in the last ten years. The FAA has issued 3,415 airworthiness directives on it, the most recent November 23, 2026. The part most often named in the reports is the skin. 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 464.1 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 | 17,604 |
| 96 | 17,846 |
| 97 | 20,380 |
| 98 | 22,343 |
| 99 | 20,287 |
| 00 | 27,094 |
| 01 | 22,537 |
| 02 | 18,502 |
| 03 | 17,102 |
| 04 | 20,602 |
| 05 | 22,028 |
| 06 | 26,607 |
| 07 | 27,720 |
| 08 | 28,288 |
| 09 | 30,185 |
| 10 | 35,187 |
| 11 | 42,786 |
| 12 | 40,216 |
| 13 | 44,003 |
| 14 | 37,852 |
| 15 | 36,471 |
| 16 | 36,779 |
| 17 | 32,780 |
| 18 | 33,916 |
| 19 | 40,073 |
| 20 | 34,567 |
| 21 | 41,808 |
| 22 | 38,799 |
| 23 | 38,453 |
| 24 | 41,053 |
| 25 | 41,844 |
| 26 | 30,367 |
Models most often named last ten years
Boeing 737134,355Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ60,254Boeing 75723,185Boeing 76720,442Airbus A32020,304Airbus A31917,805Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E17516,568Mcdonnell Douglas MD-1115,632Airbus A32115,602Airbus A30013,040Embraer EMB-145 ERJ 14510,154Boeing 7478,969
Model families most named, as a table
Highest rate, fleets of 500 or more reports a year per 100 aircraft registered
Boeing 737 464.1Bombardier CL-600 Challenger and CRJ 364.1Boeing 767 349.4Airbus A320 255.4Embraer ERJ 170 E170 and E175 215.7Airbus A321 166.9Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign and Latitude 26.2Bombardier BD-100 Challenger 300 and 350 7.3Cessna 560 Citation V, Ultra, Encore and Excel 4.8Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 4.7
Parts most often named
Skin34,008Seat Track22,214Floor Panel21,843Floor Support16,143Frame14,985Angle14,141Floorbeam12,554Intercostal10,323Stringer9,886Fitting9,162Support7,333Web7,096
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Skin | 34,008 |
| Seat Track | 22,214 |
| Floor Panel | 21,843 |
| Floor Support | 16,143 |
| Frame | 14,985 |
| Angle | 14,141 |
| Floorbeam | 12,554 |
| Intercostal | 10,323 |
| Stringer | 9,886 |
| Fitting | 9,162 |
| Support | 7,333 |
| Web | 7,096 |
Who made the parts named last ten years, as the reports code them
The Boeing CO86,945Group Economique Airbus Industrie42,279Canadair LTD Sub General Dynamics28,935Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA19,660Douglas A/C CO Mcdonnel Douglas CORP16,362Bombardier Aerospace5,791Ratier Forest4,175Aerospatiale1,611Cessna Aircraft CORP1,496Lockheed Aircraft CORP1,064
Part makers most named, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| The Boeing CO | 86,945 |
| Group Economique Airbus Industrie | 42,279 |
| Canadair LTD Sub General Dynamics | 28,935 |
| Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA | 19,660 |
| Douglas A/C CO Mcdonnel Douglas CORP | 16,362 |
| Bombardier Aerospace | 5,791 |
| Ratier Forest | 4,175 |
| Aerospatiale | 1,611 |
| Cessna Aircraft CORP | 1,496 |
| Lockheed Aircraft CORP | 1,064 |
What was wrong with them the condition reported
Corroded155,535Cracked112,880Damaged24,457Delaminated11,540Dented9,141Worn8,024Low Pressure6,841Gouged5,198Chafed5,129Broken4,261
Conditions most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Corroded | 155,535 |
| Cracked | 112,880 |
| Damaged | 24,457 |
| Delaminated | 11,540 |
| Dented | 9,141 |
| Worn | 8,024 |
| Low Pressure | 6,841 |
| Gouged | 5,198 |
| Chafed | 5,129 |
| Broken | 4,261 |
Where in the system the FAA's codes
fuselage miscellaneous structure 97,342Fuselage 26,539Doors 25,476Fuselage 24,434fuselage main structure 20,640Fuselage 20,233Fuselage 17,216Fuselage 13,387Fuselage 13,180wing plates and skin 11,288Wings 10,000Wings 7,134
What the NTSB found accidents and incidents since 2008 in which the NTSB's findings named this system
In 652 cases since 2008 the NTSB named airframe structure as a cause (342 of them) or a contributing factor; 209 of those were fatal accidents. The part most often named is the doors › passenger/crew doors. 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
Doors › Passenger/crew doors97(general) › (general)77Windows › windshield system66Wing structure › Spar (on wing)58Wing structure › (general)54Wing structure › Trailing edge flaps34Fuselage › Seat/cargo attach fitting32Wing structure › Attach fittings (on wing)25Empennage structure › Horizontal stabilizer24Fuselage › Fuselage main structure24
Parts the NTSB named, as a table
| cases | |
|---|---|
| Doors › Passenger/crew doors | 97 |
| (general) › (general) | 77 |
| Windows › windshield system | 66 |
| Wing structure › Spar (on wing) | 58 |
| Wing structure › (general) | 54 |
| Wing structure › Trailing edge flaps | 34 |
| Fuselage › Seat/cargo attach fitting | 32 |
| Wing structure › Attach fittings (on wing) | 25 |
| Empennage structure › Horizontal stabilizer | 24 |
| Fuselage › Fuselage main structure | 24 |
Models most often named
Cessna 172 Skyhawk 34Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 23Boeing 737 15Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 13Piper PA-46 Malibu, Mirage, Matrix and M-Class 13Bell UH-1 Huey (Iroquois) 10Cessna 182 Skylane 10Beechcraft V35 Bonanza 9Mooney M-20 9Piper PA-31 Navajo and Chieftain 8
What was wrong last ten years · share of 410,439 reports that say
a warning light or message3,405 (0.8%)a false warning1,941 (0.5%)poor quality control792 (0.2%)smoke, fumes, odours or sparks759 (0.2%)vibration or buffeting439 (0.1%)foreign object damage428 (0.1%)significant failure424 (0.1%)no warning when there should have been402 (0.1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a warning light or message | 3,405 | 0.8% |
| a false warning | 1,941 | 0.5% |
| poor quality control | 792 | 0.2% |
| smoke, fumes, odours or sparks | 759 | 0.2% |
| vibration or buffeting | 439 | 0.1% |
| foreign object damage | 428 | 0.1% |
| significant failure | 424 | 0.1% |
| no warning when there should have been | 402 | 0.1% |
When it was found last ten years · share of 410,439 reports that say
inspection or maintenance383,789 (94%)taxiing or ground handling4,119 (1%)cruise2,328 (0.6%)climb2,292 (0.6%)take-off703 (0.2%)descent482 (0.1%)landing381 (0.1%)approach241 (0.1%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| inspection or maintenance | 383,789 | 94% |
| taxiing or ground handling | 4,119 | 1% |
| cruise | 2,328 | 0.6% |
| climb | 2,292 | 0.6% |
| take-off | 703 | 0.2% |
| descent | 482 | 0.1% |
| landing | 381 | 0.1% |
| approach | 241 | 0.1% |
What the crew did last ten years · share of 410,439 reports that say
an unscheduled landing2,517 (0.6%)an aborted take-off523 (0.1%)an emergency descent294 (0.1%)a return to the gate292 (0.1%)fuel dumped32 (0.0%)oxygen masks deployed22 (0.0%)the cabin depressurised14 (0.0%)an engine shut down8 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an unscheduled landing | 2,517 | 0.6% |
| an aborted take-off | 523 | 0.1% |
| an emergency descent | 294 | 0.1% |
| a return to the gate | 292 | 0.1% |
| fuel dumped | 32 | 0.0% |
| oxygen masks deployed | 22 | 0.0% |
| the cabin depressurised | 14 | 0.0% |
| an engine shut down | 8 | 0.0% |
Who filed the report last ten years · share of 410,439 reports that say
an airline (Part 121)391,298 (95%)a repair station (Part 145)12,842 (3%)a charter or commuter operator (Part 135)4,312 (1%)a mechanic666 (0.2%)a foreign carrier (Part 129)621 (0.2%)a private or corporate operator (Part 91)143 (0.0%)a non-certificated international operator128 (0.0%)an air taxi (Part 125)123 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| an airline (Part 121) | 391,298 | 95% |
| a repair station (Part 145) | 12,842 | 3% |
| a charter or commuter operator (Part 135) | 4,312 | 1% |
| a mechanic | 666 | 0.2% |
| a foreign carrier (Part 129) | 621 | 0.2% |
| a private or corporate operator (Part 91) | 143 | 0.0% |
| a non-certificated international operator | 128 | 0.0% |
| an air taxi (Part 125) | 123 | 0.0% |
How it was found last ten years · share of 410,439 reports that say
a visual inspection231,472 (56%)eddy current5,546 (1%)a functional check2,484 (0.6%)ultrasound577 (0.1%)thermal imaging264 (0.1%)X-ray231 (0.1%)borescope172 (0.0%)a magnified visual inspection60 (0.0%)
As a table
| reports | share | |
|---|---|---|
| a visual inspection | 231,472 | 56% |
| eddy current | 5,546 | 1% |
| a functional check | 2,484 | 0.6% |
| ultrasound | 577 | 0.1% |
| thermal imaging | 264 | 0.1% |
| X-ray | 231 | 0.1% |
| borescope | 172 | 0.0% |
| a magnified visual inspection | 60 | 0.0% |
FAA orders 3,415 airworthiness directives · newest first
2026-11-232026-20-14 · Stabilizers
2026-11-052026-20-05 · Stabilizers
2026-11-052026-20-04 · Fuselage
2026-10-222026-18-08 · Fuselage
2026-10-012026-17-01 · Fuselage
2026-10-012026-17-02 · Wings
2026-09-182026-17-09 · Wings
2026-09-182026-16-07 · Stabilizers
2026-09-172026-16-06 · Wings
2026-09-032026-15-06 · Vertical stabilizer structure
2026-09-032026-15-10 · Wings
2026-08-312026-16-12 · Horizontal stabilizer structure; Horizontal stabilizer miscellaneous structure; Vertical stabilizer structure
All 3,415 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):
Arconic Fastening Systems & Rings 35Bristol Industries 11Sps Technologies, INC. Aerospace Fasteners Group 6Aerocet, INC. 2Air Cargo Containers, LLC 2Airglas Engineering Co.Inc. 2Baumann Floats LLC 2Cherry Aerospace LLC 2Edo-Aire 2Ki Holdings CO., LTD. 2Pk Floats, INC. 2Shur-Lok Corporation 2
Approved modifications 3,251 · the companies holding the most
Atlantic Aviation Corporation 72Bell Helicopter Textron INC. 64Micro Aerodynamics INC 59Devore Aviation Corporation of America, A New Mexico Corporation 55Signature Flight Support Corporation 39Avcon Industries INC 34Staggerwing Museum Foundation INC. 32Wipaire INC 30American Eurocopter Corporation 28The Nordam Group LLC 28
Engine series most often named last ten years
International Aero Engines V2527-A5 202Turbomeca (Safran) ARRIEL 2B1 142General Electric CF6-80C2B1F 137International Aero Engines V2522-A5 107Pratt & Whitney PW4056 104CFM International CFM56-7B27 86General Electric CT7-9B 75Lycoming O-360-A4M 67General Electric CF6-80C2B6 47Turbomeca (Safran) ARRIEL 2D 41General Electric CF34-8C5 36Pratt & Whitney PW4060 36
Safety bulletins 75 · advice, not orders
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/structure.json.