This paper proposes a novel idea that classifies faults into two different kinds: serious faults and small faults, and treats them with different strategies respectively. A kind of artificial neural network (ANN) is proposed for detecting serious faults, and variable structure (VS) model-following control is constructed for accommodating small faults. The proposed framework takes both advantages of qualitative way and quantitative way of fault detection and accommodation. Moreover, the uncertainty case is investigated and the VS controller is modified. Simulation results of a remotely piloted aircraft with control actuator failures illustrate the performance of the developed algorithm. This paper proposes a novel idea that classifies faults into two different kinds: serious faults and small faults, and treats them with different strategies respectively. A kind of artificial neural network (ANN) is proposed for detecting serious faults, and variable structure (VS) model-following control is constructed for accommodating small faults. The proposed framework takes both advantages of qualitative way and quantitative way of fault detection and accommodation. Moreover, the uncertainty case is investigated and the VS controller is modified. Simulation results of a remotely piloted aircraft with control actuator failures illustrate the performance of the developed algorithm.