Are Those ‘Smoking Rivets’ on an Airplane a Safety Risk?

It’s important to understand fretting and when it’s time to call a mechanic.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

‘Smoking rivet’ on the belly of a Cessna 180 [Credit: Mike Beckett]

Key Takeaways:

The black rings around rivets, known as "smoking rivets," are caused by rivet fretting (slight movement in the rivet hole) and are distinct from corrosion.
While a single smoking rivet suggests movement in the aircraft structure, it does not automatically indicate a serious structural problem.
A row of smoking rivets, especially on structural joints or highly loaded areas, warrants a closer and immediate inspection by a qualified maintenance technician.

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Question: I just started flying at the local flight school. They have two airplanes—a 1978 Cessna 172 and a 1975 Cessna 150. Both airplanes are parked on the ramp and have black rings around the rivets on top of the wings, which makes me wonder if this is corrosion and how bad it has to get before the aircraft are grounded. I asked my CFI, and he said it was nothing to worry about. Is this corrosion or something worse?

Answer: What you are describing is rivet fretting more commonly called a “smoking rivet.” It is caused by the rivet moving slightly in the rivet hole due to aircraft movement. Over time the rivet gets smaller and the hole wider, resulting in the rivet rattling or vibrating more, creating a black- or rust-colored ring around the rivet and sometimes a streak of black or rust coming off the rivet.