Ultimate load

In aerospace engineering, the ultimate load is a statistical figure used in calculations, and should (hopefully) never actually occur.

Strength requirements are specified in terms of limit loads (the maximum loads to be expected in service) and ultimate loads (limit loads multiplied by prescribed factors of safety). With respect to aircraft structure and design, ultimate load is the amount of load applied to a component beyond which the component will fail. The chance that it will occur is, however, not zero, and, if it were to occur, then the relevant structure in the aircraft would stand a large chance of fracture.