Fault diagnosis for helicopter’s main gearbox based on vibration signals by experiments always requires high costs. To solve this problem,a helicopter’s planetary gear system is taken as an example. Firstly,a simulation model is established by McFadden,and analyzed under ideal condition. Then this model is developed and improved as the delay-time model of the vibration signal which determines the phase-change of sidebands when the system is running. The cause and change-rules of planetary gear system’s vibration signal are analyzed to establish the fault diagnosis model.At the same time,the vibration signal of fault condition is simulated and analyzed. This simulation method can provide a reference for fault monitoring and diagnosis for planetary gear system. Fault diagnosis for helicopter’s main gearbox based on vibration signals by involved always requires high costs. To solve this problem, a helicopter’s planetary gear system is taken as an example. First, a simulation is established by McFadden, and analyzed under ideal condition. Then this model is developed and improved as the delay-time model of the vibration signal which determines the phase-change of sidebands when the system is running. The cause and change-rules of planetary gear system’s vibration signal are analyzed to establish the fault diagnosis model .At the same time, the vibration signal of fault condition is simulated and analyzed. This simulation method can provide a reference for fault monitoring and diagnosis for planetary gear system.