What Should You Know About Aircraft Bearing Failures and Maintenance?

Which Bearing Types Are Commonly Used in Aviation?

Aviation bearings are typically required to endure demanding environmental and mechanical conditions while meeting stringent airworthiness standards for strength, weight, and durability. To achieve these objectives, engineers routinely employ multiple bearing types across aerospace assemblies, including:

• Ball Bearings: These versatile bearings are designed to handle most radial and limited axial loads, making them suitable for control-surface linkages, auxiliary mechanisms, and other installations.
• Roller Bearings: Cylindrical roller bearings are commonly used where high radial load capacity is necessary, such as in accessory gearboxes and transmission assemblies.
• Tapered Roller Bearings: Engineered to manage combined radial and thrust forces, these bearings are frequently integrated into landing-gear wheel hubs and axle interfaces.
• Needle Bearings: Featuring elongated rolling elements that enable compact yet durable construction, needle bearings are consistently employed in flap tracks, actuators, and other mechanisms that demand reliable movement within tight clearances.
• Thrust Bearings: Designed to sustain axial loads, thrust bearings are typically installed in turbine engines and propeller hubs, where they counter forward and rearward shaft movement during operation.

What Causes Bearings to Fail in Aircraft Systems?

Even if they feature robust designs and specialized materials, aviation bearings can gradually degrade when subjected to demanding operational and environmental conditions. Several factors may contribute to bearing wear or failure conditions, including:

• Lubrication Breakdown: Direct metal-to-metal contact may occur between rolling elements and raceways when lubricant films become depleted or chemically degraded, leading to accelerated frictional wear and surface spalling.
• Contamination Ingress: The intrusion of moisture, particulates, or corrosive agents can roughen bearing surfaces, initiating pitting fatigue that weakens structural integrity.
• Excessive Heat: Sustained or cyclical temperature exposure may alter lubricant viscosity or distort bearing geometry, reducing load-carrying capacity and increasing susceptibility to fatigue.
• Misalignment Stress: Improper shaft or housing alignment can result in uneven load distribution across bearings, elevating localized stress and promoting premature fatigue damage.
• Vibration and Shock Loads: Repeated vibration or abrupt impact forces can induce surface brinelling or micro-fractures within bearings, gradually impairing smooth operation and shortening service life.

How Can Maintenance Tasks Enhance Aircraft Bearing Lifespan?

When supported by structured maintenance programs, aviation bearings are more likely to reach their intended service intervals despite demanding operating environments. As such, technicians should implement a range of preventive measures to extend their use and minimize early degradation.

• Lubrication Scheduling: For bearings that rely on periodic lubrication, technicians should apply approved oils or greases at intervals specified by the manufacturer to reduce the risk of frictional wear and maintain consistent operating performance.
• Periodic Inspections: Scheduled visual and non-destructive evaluations enable technicians to identify early signs of pitting, corrosion, or seal deterioration before major bearing damage develops.
• Contamination Control: Technicians should handle and install bearings in clean, debris-free conditions to prevent contamination that can cause surface pitting, lubricant degradation, or premature wear.
• Alignment Verification: Routine shaft and housing alignment checks for bearing installations promote uniform load distribution and reduce localized fatigue stresses in a wide variety of aircraft applications. 
• Proper Storage Practices: Bearings should be stored in clean, humidity-controlled conditions to minimize moisture exposure and prevent corrosion before they are installed.

Explore Our Collection of Dependable Aircraft Bearings

Owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, ASAP Fasteners is a one-stop shop where you can access a vast selection of reliable aircraft bearings, pins, and more. With a strong supplier network, our market intelligence, and purchasing power, we are in a position to bring customers highly competitive pricing and timely shipping options on countless quality-assured offerings. Bearing our commitments in mind, kick off the procurement process for the items that you require to see why so many professionals choose our website as their trusted fulfillment hub.

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1. henry anderson
2. Posted on February 12, 2026
bearings

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