Airworthiness Considerations

Question 1

What is the definition of Airworthiness according to the FAA?

Answer 1

Airworthiness is the condition in which an aircraft meets the standards required for safe operation, as specified by the FAA regulations.

Question 2

Does an Airworthiness Certificate ever expire?

Answer 2

The Airworthiness Certification remains valid as long as the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation, maintenance, and preventative maintenance are performed and up to date.

Question 3

What documents must be onboard an aircraft for it to be considered airworthy?

Answer 3

• Airworthiness Certificate
• Registration Certificate
• Operating Limitations (POH or aircraft flight manual)
• Weight and Balance Data
• Radio Station License (if flying internationally)

Question 4

Who or what states that we have to follow the POH?

Answer 4

FAR 91.9 states; no person may operate a civil aircraft without complying with the operating limitations specified in the aircraft manual.

Question 5

Who is responsible for ensuring an aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What are the required inspections on the airplane?

Answer 6

Annual – every 12 calendar months (91.409)
VOR – every 30 days for IFR (91.171)
100 hour if airplane is being operated for hire
Altimeter/ static – 24 calendar months; required for IFR flight (91.411)
Transponder – 24 calendar months (91.413)
ELT – 12 calendar months or after 1 hour cumulative use or half of battery life (91.207)

Question 7

What is an Airworthiness Directive? Is it mandatory?

Answer 7

An Airworthiness Directive (AD) is a mandatory notification issued by the FAA to address safety issues identified in specific aircraft, engines, or components. It requires corrective action to ensure continued airworthiness.

Question 8

What different kinds of AD’s are there?

Answer 8

Emergency – These require immediate compliance before flight.

One Time – After the AD is complied with once, there is no further need to address the specified issue.

Recurring – This AD must be complied with at the specified interval.

Question 9

Can you over fly an annual? 100 hour?

Answer 9

The only way to overfly an annual is to obtain a special flight permit from the FSDO.
A 100 hour inspection may be overflown by no more than 10 hours and only if enroute to the place where the inspection will be done.

Question 10

Can an Annual Inspection replace a 100 hour inspection and vice versa?

Answer 10

An annual inspection can be substituted for the 100 hour however, a 100 hour cannot substitute an annual inspection.

Question 11

What is an ELT?

Answer 11

ELTs are emergency transmitters that are carried aboard most general aviation aircraft in the U.S. In the event of an aircraft accident, these devices are designed to transmit a distress signal on 121.5 and 243.0 MHz frequencies, and for newer ELTs, on 406 MHz.

Question 12

Under what circumstances can a plane be flown without and ELT?

Answer 12

According to (14 CFR 91.207) only if:

a) the airplane is being taken from the place it was possessed to the place where it’s going to be installed.

b) the airplane is being taken with an inoperative ELT from a place where repairs or replacements cannot be made to a place where they can be made.

c) training sessions within 50NM radius of the home airport

d) flight operations incidental to design and testing

e) new aircraft incidental to their manufacture, preparation and delivery.

Question 13

When does an ELT battery have to be replaced or recharged?

Answer 13

12 calendar months
1 Hour cummulative use
1/2 of the battery life

Question 14

What equipment and instruments do you need to have in the airplane for today’s flight? (VFR DAY)

Answer 14

According to 14 CFR 91.205 (b):

Altimeter
Tachometer
Oil temperature gauge
Magnetic compass
Airspeed Indicator
Temperature gauge (for liquid cooled engines)
Oil pressure
Fuel quantity gauge
Landing gear position indicator (for retractable landing gear)
Anti-collision lights – Aviation red or white (e.g. red rotating beacon or white strobes)
Manifold pressure gauge (for airplanes with a constant speed propeller)
ELT
Seatbelts

Question 15

What equipment and instruments do you need to have in the airplane for today’s flight? (VFR NIGHT)

Answer 15

According to 14 CFR 91.205 (c)

*Fuses/ Circuit Breakers
*Landing light if airplane is being flown for hire (including flight training)
*Anti-collision lights
*Position lights – Also called navigation lights – red on the left side, green on the right and white
on the tail
*Source of electricity – Battery or alternator

Question 16

What would you do if you found that the landing light was inoperative?

Answer 16

Cannot fly at night per the FARs – During the day you would deactivate or remove the component and placard it inoperative (deactivating could be as simple as pulling the circuit breaker out)

Question 17

Can you fly an airplane with known inoperative equipment?

Answer 17

Would have to follow the steps to determine if the equipment is required by any regulations, if the plane has an MEL or KOEL then I would have to check if the instrument or equipment is required, if not listed then also check the AD’s and the last step would be to check the Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin

Question 18

What is an MEL?

Answer 18

An FAA approved list of equipment that can be inoperative

Question 19

Do we have an MEL? What do we have?

Answer 19

No, we adhere to the regulations in 91.205, 91.213 (d) and AD’s.

Question 20

Can an aircraft owner change an MEL?

Answer 20

If a change is sought, a letter and a proposed MEL that is based off of the Master MEL must be sent to the FAA for approval.

Question 21

What is a KOEL?

Answer 21

A list of equipment installed in an aircraft that specifies for which kinds of operations a specific piece of equipment is required.

Question 22

Who performs a 100 hour inspection and who performs an Annual inspection?

Answer 22

An A&P mechanic can perform the 100 hour inspection but no the annual, a mechanic with an IA can perform a 100 hours inspection and an Annual inspection.

Question 23

What is a 100-hour inspection, and who is required to perform it?

Answer 23

A 100-hour inspection is an inspection required for aircrafts used for hire or flight instruction. It must be performed every 100 hours of flight time by an FAA-certified mechanic.

Question 24

What is a TCDS?

Answer 24

A Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) is a document that contains information about a civilian aircraft, engine, or propeller that has been certified by the FAA or EASA.
The TCDS is published by the manufacturer after they demonstrate that their product meets or exceeds the airworthiness standards set by the regulatory agency.

Question 25

What inspections must be up to date in order for you to fly VFR?

Answer 25

• Annual Inspection
• 100 Hour Inspection
• ELT Inspection

Question 26

What additional inspections must be up to date for IFR flight?

Answer 26

• Altimeter/ Static
• VOR

Question 27

Where does and Airworthiness certificate must be displayed?

Answer 27

According to 91.203 (b)
No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.

Question 28

What is the difference between preventive and corrective maintenance?

Answer 28

Preventive maintenance is performed to prevent failures and maintain optimal performance.

Corrective maintenance addresses issues that have already caused or could cause a malfunction.

Question 29

How does an aircraft owner maintain a record of all required inspections and maintenance?

Answer 29

Records are maintained in the aircraft’s maintenance logbooks, which should be kept up-to-date with details of all inspections, maintenance, and repairs performed.

Question 30

What role does the aircraft logbook play in maintaining airworthiness?

Answer 30

The logbook provides a detailed history of the aircraft’s maintenance, inspections, and repairs. It is crucial for tracking compliance with regulatory requirements and verifying the aircraft’s airworthiness.

Question 31

What should a pilot do if they suspect that an aircraft part or system is not functioning correctly?

Answer 31

The pilot should ground the aircraft and have it inspected by a certified mechanic to diagnose and address the issue before attempting to fly again.