What is a common critical use for castellated nuts?

Castellated nuts are specifically designed for critical applications where safety and reliability are paramount. Their unique design, featuring notches or slots around the circumference, allows for a cotter pin or locking device to be used, which prevents the nut from loosening under vibration or stress. This is particularly important in environments like aviation, where failure of a component could lead to severe consequences.

In critical applications, the need for secure fastening of structural components, especially those subjected to dynamic forces, makes the use of castellated nuts essential. They are commonly used in various critical systems where failure could jeopardize safety, performance, or functionality. The effectiveness of castellated nuts in maintaining tension and securing vital assemblies is a key reason for their widespread adoption in aviation and other industries demanding high levels of reliability.