1D Certificates and Documents - Aircraft Maintenance Requirements

Question 0

• DUPLICATE*

1. Who is responsible for ensuring that an aircraft is ­maintained in an airworthy condition? (14 CFR 91.403)

Answer 0

The owner or operator of an aircraft is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition.

Question 1

• DUPLICATE*
  2. After aircraft inspections have been made and defects have been repaired, who is responsible for determining that the aircraft is in an airworthy condition? (14CFR 91.7)

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

3. Can you legally fly an aircraft that has an inoperative flap position indicator?

Answer 2

Unless operations are conducted under 14 CFR §91.213, the regulations require that all equipment installed on an aircraft in compliance with either the Airworthiness Standards or the Operating Rules must be operative. If equipment originally installed in the aircraft is no longer operative, the Airworthiness Certificate is not valid until such equipment is either repaired or removed from that aircraft. However, the rules also permit the publication of a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) where compliance with these equipment requirements is not necessary in the interest of safety under all conditions.

Question 3

• DUPLICATE*
  4. Can an aircraft operator allow flight operations to be conducted in an aircraft with known inoperative equipment? (AC 91-67, 14 CFR 91.213)

Answer 3

Part 91 describes acceptable methods for the operation of an aircraft with certain inoperative instruments and equipment which are not essential for safe flight. These acceptable methods of operation are:

1. Operation of aircraft with a Minimum Equipment List (MEL), as authorized by 14 CFR §91.213(a).
2. Operation of aircraft without a MEL under 14 CFR §91.213(d).

Question 4

• DUPLICATE*

5. What are Minimum Equipment Lists? (AC 91-67)

Answer 4

The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is a precise listing of instruments, equipment, and procedures that allows an aircraft to be operated under specific conditions with inoperative equipment. The MEL is the specific inoperative equipment document for a particular make and model aircraft by serial and registration numbers; e.g., BE-200, N12345. The FAA-approved MEL includes only those items of equipment which the administrator finds may be inoperative and yet maintain an acceptable level of safety by appropriate conditions and limitations.

Question 5

6. If an aircraft is not being operated under a MEL, how can you determine which instruments and equipment on board can be inoperative and the aircraft still be legal for flight? (14 CFR 91.213)

Answer 5

A person may takeoff an aircraft in operations conducted under Part 91 with inoperative instruments and equipment without an approved Minimum Equipment List provided the inoperative instruments and equipment are not—

a. Part of the VFR-day type certification instruments and equipment prescribed in the applicable airworthiness regulations under which the aircraft was type certificated;
b. Indicated as required on the aircraft’s equipment list, or on the Kinds of Operations Equipment List, for the kind of flight operation being conducted;
c. Required by §91.205 or any other rule of this part for the specific kind of flight operation being conducted;
d. Required to be operational by an airworthiness directive.

Question 6

7. What is an aircraft equipment list, and where is it found? (FAA-H-8083-1)

Answer 6

Furnished with the aircraft is an equipment list that specifies all the required equipment, and all equipment approved for installation in the aircraft. The weight and arm of each item is included on the list, and all equipment installed when the aircraft left the factory is checked. It is usually found with the weight and balance data.

Question 7

8. What must happen if an AMT removes or installs a piece of equipment that is on the aircraft equipment list? (FAA-H-8083-1)

Answer 7

The AMT must change the weight and balance record to indicate the new empty weight and EWCG, and the equipment list is revised to show which equipment is actually installed. The AFM/POH for each individual aircraft includes an aircraft specific equipment list of the items from this master list. When any item is added to or removed from the aircraft, its weight and arm are determined in the equipment list and used to update the weight and balance record.

Question 8

9. What length of time can an aircraft be flown with inoperative equipment on board? (AC 91-67)

Answer 8

An operator may defer maintenance on inoperative equipment that has been deactivated or removed and placarded inoperative. When the aircraft is due for inspection in accordance with the regulation, the operator should have all inoperative items repaired or replaced. If an owner does not want specific inoperative equipment repaired, then the maintenance person must check each item to see if it conforms to the requirements of 14 CFR §91.213. The maintenance person must ensure that each item of inoperative equipment that is to remain inoperative is placarded appropriately.

Question 9

• DUPLICATE*
  10. What regulations apply concerning the operation of an aircraft that has had alterations or repairs which may have substantially affected its operation in flight? (14 CFR 91.407)

Answer 9

No person may operate or carry passengers in any aircraft that has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration that may have appreciably changed its flight characteristics or substantially affected its operation in flight until an appropriately-rated pilot with at least a private pilot certificate

a. flies the aircraft,
b. makes an operational check of the maintenance performed or alteration made, and
c. logs the flight in the aircraft records.

Question 10

• DUPLICATE*

11. How long does the Airworthiness Certificate of an aircraft remain valid? (14 CFR Part 21)

Answer 10

Standard Airworthiness Certificates are effective as long as the maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations are performed in accordance with Parts 43 and 91 and the aircraft is registered in the United States.

Question 11

12. Does an aircraft’s registration certificate have an expiration date? (14 CFR 47.40)

Answer 11

Yes; As of October 1, 2010, specific registration expiration dates have been established for all aircraft registered before October 1, 2010. Those aircraft require re-registration according to a specific schedule. All initial aircraft registrations issued on or after October 1, 2010, will expire three years after the last day of the month in which they were issued. The expiration date is clearly shown on the certificate and should be checked prior to departure.

Question 12

13. What are the required maintenance inspections for aircraft? (14 CFR 91.409)

Answer 12

a. Annual inspection—within the preceding 12 calendar months.
b. 100-hour inspection—if carrying any person (other than a crewmember) for hire or giving flight instruction for hire.
Note: If an aircraft is operated for hire, it must have a 100-hour inspection as well as an annual inspection when due. If not operated for hire, it must have an annual inspection only.

Question 13

14. Can a 100-hour inspection be substituted for an annual inspection? (14 CFR 91.409)

Answer 13

No, an annual inspection is acceptable as a 100-hour inspection, but the reverse is not true. The 100-hour inspection is generally the same as an annual inspection but is not considered as intense an inspection as the annual. Also, the 100-hour inspection can be signed off by an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A&P), but the annual inspection must be signed off by an Inspection Authorization (IA) Certificate holder.

Question 14

15. What types of aircraft inspections can be substituted for a 100-hour inspection? (14 CFR 91.409)

Answer 14

The following may replace a 100-hour inspection:

a. Aircraft inspected in accordance with an approved aircraft inspection program under Part 125 or 135.
b. Progressive inspections which provide for the complete inspection of an aircraft by specifying the intervals in hours and days when routine and detailed inspections will be performed during a 12-calendar month period.
c. Inspection programs approved by the Administrator for large aircraft, turbojet multi-engine airplanes, turboprop-powered multi-engine airplanes and turbine powered rotorcraft.

Question 15

16. If an aircraft, carrying passengers for hire, has been on a schedule of inspection every 100 hours, under what condition may it continue to operate beyond the 100 hours without a new inspection? (14 CFR 91.409)

Answer 15

The 100-hour limitation may be exceeded by not more than 10 hours while en route to reach a place where the inspection can be done. The excess time used to reach a place where the inspection can be done must be included in computing the next 100 hours of time in service.

Question 16

17. What are the required tests and inspections of aircraft and equipment to be legal for both VFR and IFR flights? (14 CFR 91.409, 91.403, 91.171, 91.411, 91.413, 91.207)

Answer 16

Annual inspection within preceding 12 calendar months (14 CFR 91.409)
Airworthiness Directives complied as required (14 CFR 91.403)
VOR check, if used for IFR, every 30 days; (14 CFR 91.171)
100-hour inspection, if used for hire or flight instruction (14 CFR 91.409)
Altimeter, altitude reporting equipment, and static pressure systems tested and inspected (for IFR ops), every 24 calendar months (14 CFR 91.411)
Transponder tests and inspections, every 24 calendar months (14 CFR 91.413)
Emergency locator transmitter, operation and battery condition inspected every 12 calendar months (14 CFR 91.207)
Note: Be capable of locating the last 100-hour/annual inspections in the aircraft and engine logbooks and be able to determine when the next inspections are due. Also, be capable of locating all required inspections for instruments/equipment necessary for legal VFR/IFR flight and determining that all ADs have been complied with.

Question 17

18. Define preventive maintenance. (FAA-H-8083-25)

Answer 17

“Preventive maintenance is considered to be simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations. Certificated pilots, excluding student pilots, sport pilots, and recreational pilots, may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft that is owned or operated by them provided that aircraft is not used in air carrier service. 14 CFR Part 43 identifies typical preventive maintenance operations which include such basic items as oil changes, wheel bearing lubrication, hydraulic fluid (brakes, landing gear system) refills. Any pilot who performs preventive maintenance must make an entry in the maintenance record of the aircraft that includes a description of the work, the date of completion, and the pilot’s name, signature, certificate number, and type of certificate held.

Question 18

19. What are Airworthiness Directives? (FAA-H-8083-25)

Answer 18

An “AD” is the medium used by the FAA to notify aircraft owners and other potentially interested persons of unsafe conditions that may exist because of design defects, maintenance, or other causes, and to specify the conditions under which the product may continue to be operated. They are either of an emergency nature requiring immediate compliance upon receipt, or a less urgent nature requiring compliance within a longer period of time. ADs are regulatory and compliance is mandatory, unless specific exemption is granted. All ADs and the AD Biweekly are free on the internet at http://rgl.faa.gov.

Question 19

20. Who is responsible for ensuring that all ADs have been complied with? (FAA-H-8083-25)

Answer 19

It is the aircraft owner or operator’s responsibility to assure compliance with all pertinent ADs. 14 CFR requires that a record be maintained showing the current status of applicable ADs, including the method of compliance, and the signature and certificate number of the repair station or mechanic who performed the work. ADs have varying compliance intervals and are usually tracked in a separate area of the appropriate airframe, engine, or propeller record.