Confidence in Every Flight
Your Expert Resource for in flight Magneto Checks
Magneto's don’t fail on the ground — they failed on your last flight, you just didn’t know it.
MagCheck continuously monitors the high-voltage output of each Magneto and delivers instant visual and audio alerts the moment a failure occurs.
Unlike traditional pre-flight checks that capture only a single moment in time, MagCheck watches your Magneto's every second of every flight.
The Problem
Magnetos remain a primary ignition source in the global piston aircraft fleet, yet:
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Magneto failures often do not trigger immediate, obvious cockpit indications
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Partial or intermittent failures can go unnoticed until:
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Engine roughness becomes severe
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Power loss occurs at a critical phase of flight
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A routine magneto check reveals the issue too late to prevent risk
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Existing engine monitoring systems (EGT/CHT-based) infer problems indirectly and may not detect failures early or clearly
As a result, pilots frequently lack timely, actionable information to make safer decisions when ignition issues arise.
The Solution
MagCheck is a dedicated magneto failure detection and alerting device that continuously monitors magneto performance and notifies the pilot immediately when a failure or abnormal condition is detected.
Key attributes of the solution:
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Real-time detection rather than post-event diagnosis
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Clear, unambiguous pilot alerts
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No interference with normal engine operation
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Designed for retrofit installation across a wide range of aircraft
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Supports both experimental and certified aviation markets
By providing early warning, the system allows pilots to:
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Diagnose issues sooner
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Make informed diversion or landing decisions
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Reduce the likelihood of power-loss events escalating into emergencies
Inflight Magneto check goes wrong when key break off in ignition
By NTSB August 16, 2024
The pilot, seated in the left seat, said that the instructor pilot, seated in the right seat, asked her to perform a magneto check inflight.
During the magneto check, she inadvertently turned the ignition key to the off position, resulting in a total loss of engine power to the Cessna 172.
As she turned the key to restart the engine, the head of the ignition key broke off.
The instructor pilot attempted to move the ignition key but was also unsuccessful.
The instructor pilot took the controls and performed an emergency landing onto a school football field near Gates Mills, Ohio.
The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the firewall, both wings, engine mount and fuselage. Both pilots sustained injuries in the crash.
Probable Cause: The instructor pilot’s decision to perform an inflight magneto check with no suitable area to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to correctly perform a magneto check that resulted in a total loss of engine power.
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