Enable FS2004 aircraft system failures, schedule faults, reset them, and fix add-on aircraft that ignore the built-in failure menu.
FS2004 (FS9) has a built-in failure menu for standard aircraft systems. During a flight, open Aircraft > Failures, choose the instrument, radio, engine or system, then mark it failed immediately or arm its failure timer. Confirm the dialog and continue flying; clear the same item there to restore it.
How do I set a failure in FS2004?
You enable a failure from the in-flight Aircraft menu; there is no separate global failure switch.
- Load the aircraft and flight you want to use. We recommend saving a clean flight before introducing electrical or engine faults.
- Open the menu bar. Press Alt if the menus are hidden in full-screen mode, then select Aircraft > Failures.
- Choose a category and component. FS2004 separates standard faults into areas such as instruments, radios, engines and aircraft systems.
- Set the failure. Select the failure checkbox for an immediate fault, or use the timing controls shown in the dialog to arm it for later.
- Confirm and resume the flight. Watch the cockpit indications rather than expecting an on-screen announcement.
The realism sliders and crash settings do not arm component failures. A selected fault also does not guarantee smoke or visible damage; FS2004 changes the relevant system state, and the aircraft panel must contain gauges or warning lights that represent it.
Useful FS2004 failures for practice
The most useful failures are those with recognisable indications and a clear recovery procedure. Introduce one at a time until you understand its effects.
| Failure | Typical indications | Training value |
|---|---|---|
| Pitot or static source | Airspeed, altimeter or vertical-speed indications become unreliable, depending on the failed source | Practise pitch-and-power flying and instrument cross-checks |
| Vacuum system | Vacuum-driven gyros may drift, topple or stop responding correctly | Practise partial-panel instrument flight |
| Electrical or alternator system | Battery power falls and dependent radios, lights or avionics eventually stop | Practise load shedding and an early landing decision |
| Engine | Loss of power or thrust, with different handling effects on multi-engine aircraft | Practise forced landings or asymmetric flight |
| Navigation or communication radio | The selected receiver stops providing usable information | Practise backup navigation and radio planning |
| Gear, flap or brake system | The selected system does not operate normally | Practise abnormal approaches and longer landing distances |
Some effects are delayed. For example, an alternator failure may leave the avionics operating from the battery until its remaining charge is exhausted.
Can FS2004 generate random aircraft failures?
FS2004 can time an individually selected failure, but its stock system is not a persistent, one-click random-failure mode covering the entire aircraft. Where timing controls are available, arm the chosen component rather than forcing it to fail immediately.
This is enough for surprise training, especially if somebody else configures the fault. For cascading failures, wear modelling or a larger pool of random scenarios, use an aircraft with its own system. Our Douglas DC-3C add-on with more than 64 failure scenarios is an example of a model that goes well beyond FS2004's standard menu.
Why does a failure not work in an add-on aircraft?
An add-on aircraft can ignore FS2004's standard failure variables when its custom gauges and systems use separate programming. The failure may be active internally while the custom panel continues displaying normal information.
- Load the final aircraft before arming the failure; changing aircraft can reset or remap the selected components.
- Check that the chosen item exists. Failing engine two on a single-engine aircraft, or a gauge the panel does not use, will produce no useful result.
- Try the same fault in a default FS2004 aircraft. If it works there, the add-on's custom systems are the likely cause.
- Look for a failure, maintenance or instructor panel supplied with the aircraft. Custom faults normally need to be armed and reset there.
- If a separate failure utility relies on FSUIPC but does not operate, follow our steps for resolving FS2004 FSUIPC module errors.
How do I clear or reset FS2004 failures?
Reopen Aircraft > Failures, select each armed component and clear its failed or timed state. Confirm the dialog to remove the underlying fault.
Clearing a failure does not always reverse everything that happened afterwards. A stopped engine may still need restarting, switches may need resetting, and a depleted battery will not instantly recover. If the cockpit remains in an unusable state, reload the clean flight saved before the exercise. Failures created by a custom add-on must instead be reset through that aircraft's own panel or controls.