Abstract: Virtual testability test has many advantages, such as low cost, high efficiency, small risk, and little restricted. The fault sample size is almost unlimited in virtual testability test. It can effectively compensate for the shortcomings of physical testability test. However, fault sample generation method needs to be changed and improved. A novel approach for fault sample generation based on nonhomogeneous Poisson process and statistical simulation is presented. It is pointed out that faults occurrence process is stochastic process. This process is mathematical described by parametric nonhomogeneous Poisson process, such as linear model, power law model and log-linear model. The procedure of fault sample generation is put forward. Probability distribution function of the interarrival time is established. Fault sample is generated by random number generation and inverse transformation method. The proposed method is applied to a gyro. The example indicates that the fault samples generated by the proposed method are valid. The proposed method can be applied to guide fault injection in virtual testability test

Key words: Fault sample, Nonhomogeneous Poisson process, Statistical simulation, Virtual testability test