Aviation Maintenance: Regulation and Publication

A certificated Aviation Mechanic who holds an Airframe and Powerplant rating.

A certificated A&P mechanic who holds an Inspection Authorization.

No, a certificated mechanic must personally perform the inspection.

Only the manufacturer of the engine or a facility approved by the manufacturer.

14 CFR §91.417 specifies you must keep records of maintenance, preventive maintenance, major repairs and alterations, and 100-hour, annual, and progressive inspections.

They are mandatory.

An aircraft mechanic holding an Inspection Authorization.

The holder of a pilot certificate that flies that particular aircraft.

The manufacturer of the engine or a facility approved by the manufacturer.

A certificated Aviation Mechanic holding an Airframe rating.

18 years.

Airframe and Powerplant.

30 months.

A certificate of completion from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school.

Practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes, or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought.

The written knowledge tests.

The oral and practical tests.

An Aviation Mechanic certificate with both Airframe and Powerplant ratings.

An Aviation Mechanic certificate with an Inspection Authorization.

Within 30 days.

No. Only 100-hour inspections. Inspection Authorization is required to perform an annual inspection.

The mechanic must have satisfactorily performed the work concerned at an earlier date.

Yes, this does not constitute a repair to an instrument.

No, a mechanic is not allowed to make any repairs or alterations to an aircraft instrument.

At least 6 months.

By working under supervision for 6 months, or if the Administrator has found that they are able to do the work.

An entry must be made in the aircraft maintenance records stating that the AD has been complied with. This entry must include the AD number and revision date, the date of compliance, the aircraft total time in service, the method of compliance, and whether or not this is a recurring AD. If it is a recurring AD, the time of next compliance must be noted.

All maintenance entries at a minimum must include a description of the work performed, references to data acceptable to the Administrator, the date the work was completed, the name and certificate number of the person performing the work, and, if different, the signature and certificate number of the person approving the aircraft for return to service.

An entry must be made in the aircraft maintenance records that describes the type, the extent, and the date of the inspection; the aircraft total time in service; and the signature, certificate type, and number of the person approving or disapproving the aircraft for return to service.

In 14 CFR §43.11.

The aircraft maintenance records must indicate that the aircraft has been inspected and found to be in an unairworthy condition because of certain discrepancies. A signed and dated list of these discrepancies must be given to the owner or lessee of the aircraft.

For one year or until the next 100-hour inspection is completed.

An FAA Form 337 must be completed for the repair, and a record must be made in the aircraft maintenance records referencing the Form 337 by its date.

At least two copies must be made. The original signed form goes to the aircraft owner, and a copy goes to the FAA district office.

A copy of all Form 337s must be kept for the life of the aircraft.

Malfunction and Defect Reports (FAA Form 8010-4) are a voluntary reporting mechanism to report unusual problems or weakness not associated with expected wear.

In 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D.

An inspection that is approved by the FAA FSDO in which an aircraft is inspected according to an approved schedule. This schedule allows the complete inspection to be conducted over a period of time without having to keep the aircraft out of service as long as would be necessary to perform the entire inspection at one time.

Permanent maintenance records are kept for the life of the aircraft and are transferred when a change in ownership occurs. Permanent records include: total time in service of the airframe, engines, propellers, and rotors; the status of life-limited parts; time since overhaul on items with specified time limits; current inspection status; current AD status including AD numbers, revision dates, recurrence dates, and methods of compliance; and copies of any form 337.

It describes maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration of certificated aircraft.

Preventive maintenance is limited to the list of items given in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A, and may not include any complex assemblies. A person holding at least a Private Pilot Certificate may approve the aircraft for return to service and must make an entry in the aircraft maintenance records.

The lists of the types of repairs and alterations that are considered major are listed in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A.

It is considered minor if it is not listed in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A, as a major repair or alteration.

These maintenance records must be transferred with the aircraft when it is sold.

The TCDS is a formal description of the aircraft, engine, or propeller. It lists limitations and information required for type certification including airspeed limits, weight limits, thrust limitations, and so forth.

Documents that include basically the same information as the TDS but are issued for aircraft, engines, and propellers certificated under the Air Commerce Regulations.

The TCDS for that airplane.

The TCDS for that airplane.

The TCDS includes the specifications required for the aircraft to maintain its airworthy status.

AC 43-3, Nondestructive Testing in Aircraft.

It provides guidance and information to owners and operators of aircraft informing them of the discovery of a condition that prevents the aircraft from continuing to meet its conditions for airworthiness.

A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is published in the Federal Register.

It is printed and distributed by first class mail to the registered owners and certain known operators of the products) affected.

ADs of an urgent nature are issued as immediately adopted rules without prior notice.

By first-class mail, telegram, or other electronic method.

On the FAA's website under the Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS).

Contact FAA, Manufacturing Standards Section (AFS-613), PO Box 26460, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0460.

91—This AD was issued in 1991. 08—This AD was issued in the eighth biweekly period (15th or 16th week) of 1991. 07—This is the seventh AD issued during this period. R1-This is the first revision of this AD.

No, this information is advisory in nature.

14 CFR Part 43.

No, it is acceptable, but not necessarily approved data.

They contain information gleaned from Malfunction and Defect Reports to warn maintenance personnel of problems that have been reported.

They are not allowed to deviate from the AD unless they submit the process to the Administrator as an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC), and the AMOC is approved.

It is issued by the manufacturer and used to outline procedures to make the product operate more efficiently and/or safer.

No. An aircraft maintenance manual contains repair data acceptable to the FAA for minor repairs only. If approved data is needed for a major repair, consult the aircraft manufacturer's FAA-approved Structural Repair Manual, an FAA DER (Designated Engineering Representative), or in some cases, AC43.13-1.

In the overhaul manual for that engine.

The structural repair manual for the aircraft.

The illustrated parts catalog

The aircraft wiring diagram manual.

In the aircraft weight and balance records.

An MEL permits operations with certain inoperative items of equipment for the minimum period of time necessary until repair or replacement can be accomplished.

A document approved by the FAA that lists the minimum operative instruments and equipment required for safe flight in that aircraft type in each authorized operating environment.

On the FAA's Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) website.

In the Maintenance Manual and Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.

In the Maintenance Manual and Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.

nthe aircraft manufacturer's maintenance manual and Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, and in advisory circulars (including AC 43.13-1 and AC 43.13-2).

FAA "approved data" is required for major repairs and alterations, and "acceptable data" is required for minor repairs and alterations.

FAA Order 8110.54A, Appendix I, defines Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) as documentation that gives instructions and requirements for the maintenance that is essential to the continued airworthiness of an aircraft, engine, or propeller, including appliances, components, or modifications.

Required documents that must be carried in an aircraft that detail the operating limitations specific to that aircraft and its engines.

The definitions for these words are found at the beginning of the manuals that they are used in, usually in Chapter 1.

14 CFR §91.213.

Through the use of "Useable On" or effectivity codes.

In the manufacturer's parts manual or Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC).

Within 30 days.

Either through the mail with the FA's office in Oklahoma City, or online through the FAA's Airmen Services.

Incomplete or inaccurate aircraft records lead to incorrect maintenance history and understanding of the status of the aircraft, which can cause unairworthy and possibly unsafe conditions.

To promote safe working conditions for personnel and prevent damage to aircraft components caused by the improper use of materials and chemicals.

Complacency during the documentation phase can cause incomplete records and uncertainty of aircraft and component status.

Failure to follow warnings, cautions, and notes can lead to unsafe conditions and damage to the aircraft, aircraft components, and other aircraft and injury to personnel.

When looking up a part in the aircraft's Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC), it is important to understand aircraft configuration as listed in the aircraft Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) and to know the specific serial number of the aircraft. In addition, the aircraft records should be checked for approved modifications or repairs as shown in AD records and in Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) in the aircraft maintenance records.