One of the oldest and most trusted components of aircraft is magneto technology. While you may be unfamiliar with magnetos, for decades they have been an integral part of the aviation industry. An aircraft magneto is a self-contained generator that uses permanent magnets and coils to produce high voltage to start-up the aircraft spark plugs. The magnets spin within close proximity to a coil of wire, which generates a strong magnetic force that is contained by a primary coil. The moment contact points open, the magnetic flow produces a high voltage in the secondary coil, the spark plug is ignited, and the engine starts to run. While this may seem like a straightforward process, there are instances where this operation does not run as smoothly, causing the magneto to fail. For this reason, we will be covering the common faults with magnetos and troubleshooting methods in the case that a magneto fails.