Aircraft Maintenance

FAR Part 23 – Airworthiness Standards

FAR 91.7 – Civil aircraft airworthiness

  • No person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in an airworthy condition
  • The pilot in command of a civil aircraft is responsible for determining whether that aircraft is in condition for safe flight
  • The pilot in command shall discontinue the flight when unairworthy mechanical, electrical, or structural conditions occur

Required Inspections

AVIATES

Annual / ADs FAR 91.409
12 cm / as req
VOR Check FAR 91.171
30 days – IFR
Inspections FAR 91.409
annual, 100 hour, progressive
Altimeter & Pitot-Static FAR 91.411
24 cm – IFR
Transponder FAR 91.413
24 cm
ELT FAR 91.207
12 cm / 1 hr use / <50% battery

Supplemental Type Certificate


Annual Inspection

  • Required for everyone

100 Hour Inspection

  • Required when operating for hire
  • Can be overflown by 10 hours if flying to maintenance

Progressive Inspection

  • 50 hours – light engine, airframe maintenance
  • 100 hours – heavy engine, medium airframe maintenance
  • 600 hours – complete checkup

Airworthiness Directives

FAR Part 39 – Airworthiness Directives

  • Propeller, airframe, powerplant each have separate logbooks and ADs

Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIBs)

  • Non-regulatory
  • Alerts, education and recommendations for aviation community

Preventative Maintenance

VOR Check

Recordkeeping

Owner/Operator vs PIC Responsibility