Definition
In-flight failures or abnormalities in the airplane's electrical generating, distribution, or storage components — including the alternator or generator, battery, voltage regulator, wiring, and associated circuits — that reduce or eliminate electrical power to instruments, avionics, lighting, and other electrically driven systems.
Plain English
Something has gone wrong with the airplane's electrical power. The part that makes electricity, the battery, or the wiring is no longer working properly, so things that need electricity may stop working or behave strangely.
Context Anchor
Encountered in emergency training when discussing how to handle airplane problems that may affect radios, lights, instruments, flaps, landing gear, or other equipment powered by electricity.
Derivation
“Malfunction” comes from “mal,” meaning “bad” or “wrong,” and “function,” meaning “to work.” That fits the aviation meaning: part of the electrical system is working badly, wrongly, or not at all.
Why Pilots Care
These failures disable navigation, communication, and flight instruments, requiring immediate load shedding and transition to backup references to complete a safe landing.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an electrical system malfunction always means the engine has failed. In many small airplanes, the engine may keep running while electrically powered equipment stops working or becomes unreliable.
Example Sentence 1
After the low-voltage light came on, the pilot suspected an electrical system malfunction and turned off nonessential equipment to conserve battery power.
Example Sentence 2
During the emergency approach practice, the instructor simulated electrical system malfunctions to force reliance on the magnetic compass and visual references.