Airworthiness Requirements

Question 1

What documents are required on board an aircraft prior to flight?

Answer 1

Airworthiness certificate

Registration certificate

Radio station license (if operating outside of the US)

Operating Limitations (POH and supplements, placards, markings)

Weight and balance data

Question 2

What is an airworthiness certificate?

Answer 2

An airworthiness certificate is issued by the FAA to an aircraft that has been proven to meet the minimum design and manufacturing requirements and is condition for safe operation. Under any circumstances, the aircraft must meet the requirements of the original type certificate or it is no longer airworthy. These certificates come in two different classifications: standard and special.

Question 3

What is the difference between standard and special airworthiness certificates?

Answer 3

Standard airworthiness certificates (white paper) - issued for normal, utility, acrobatic, commuter, or transport category aircraft.

Special airworthiness certificates (pink paper) - issued for primary, restricted, or limited category aircraft, and light sport aircraft.

Question 4

What is an experimental airworthiness certificate?

Answer 4

A special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category is issued to operate an aircraft that does not have a type certificate or does not conform to its type certificate, yet is in a condition for safe operation. Additionally, this certificate is issued to operate a primary category kit-built aircraft that was assembled without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder.

Question 5

Does an airworthiness certificate have an expiration date?

Answer 5

No. A standard airworthiness certificate remains valid for as long as the aircraft meets its approved type design, is in a condition for safe operation, and the maintenance, preventative maintenance, and alterations are performed in accordance with Parts 21, 43, and 91.

Question 6

Where must the airworthiness certificate be located?

Answer 6

It must be displayed in the cabin entrance, so that it is legible to passengers.

Question 7

For an aircraft to be considered airworthy, what two conditions must be met?

Answer 7

1) The aircraft must conform to its type design. This is attained when the required and proper components are installed consistent with the drawings, specifications, and other data that are part of the type certificate. Conformity includes applicable supplemental type certificates and field-approval alterations.

2) The aircraft must be in a condition for safe operation, referring to the condition of the aircraft in relation to wear and deterioration.

Question 8

Explain how a pilot determines if an aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation.

Answer 8

1) For type design, a pilot must determine that the maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations have been performed in accordance with Parts 21, 43, and 91 and that the aircraft is registered in the US. The pilot does this by ensuring that all required inspections, maintenance, preventive maintenance, repairs and alterations have been appropriately documented in the aircraft’s maintenance records.

2) For safe operation, the pilot conducts a thorough preflight inspection of the aircraft for wear and deterioration, structural damage, fluid leaks, tire wear, inoperative instruments, and equipment, etc. If an unsafe condition exists or inoperative instruments or equipment are found, the pilot uses the guidance in 14 CFR 91.213 for handling the inoperative equipment.

Question 9

What records or documents should be checked to determine that the owner or operator of an aircraft has complied with all required inspections and airworthiness directives?

Answer 9

The maintenance records (aircraft and engine logbooks).

Each owner/operator of an aircraft shall ensure that maintenance personnel make appropriate entries in the aircraft maintenance records indicating the aircraft has been approved for return to service.

Question 10

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

Answer 10

The owner/operator

Question 11

Describe some of the responsibilities an aircraft owner has pertaining to aircraft documents, maintenance, and inspections of their aircraft.

Answer 11

1) Have a current airworthiness certificate and aircraft registration in the aircraft.

2) Maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition including compliance with all applicable ADs.

3) Ensure maintenance is properly recorded.

4) Keep abreast of current regulations concerning the operation of the aircraft.

5) Notify the FAA Civil Aviation Registry immediately of any change of permanent mailing address, or of the sale or export of the aircraft, or of the loss of citizenship.

6) Have a current FCC radio station license if equipped with radios, including emergency locator transmitter, if operated outside of the US

Question 12

What are airworthiness directives (AD)?

Answer 12

The medium by which the FAA notifies aircraft owners and other potentially interested persons of unsafe conditions that may exist because of design defects, maintenance, or other causes, and specifies the conditions under which the product may continue to be operated. ADs are regulatory in nature, and compliance is mandatory. It’s the aircraft owner’s/operator’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all pertinent ADs.

Question 13

What are two types of ADs?

Answer 13

Emergency ADs that require immediate compliance prior to further flight and nonurgent ADs requiring compliance within a specified period of time.

Question 14

When are emergency ADs issued?

Answer 14

When an unsafe condition exists that requires immediate action by an owner/operator. The intent of an emergency AD is to rapidly correct an urgent safety-of-flight situation. All owners/operators of affected aircraft will be sent a copy of an emergency AD.

Question 15

While reviewing the aircraft logbooks, you discover that your aircraft is not in compliance with an ADs specified time or date. Are you allowed to continue to operate that aircraft until the next required maintenance inspection? Do the regulations allow any kind of buffer?

Answer 15

No, the required compliance time/date is specified in each AD and no person may operate the affected product after expiration of that stated compliance time without an Alternative Method of Compliance approval for a change in compliance time.

Question 16

You determine that you need to fly your aircraft with an expired AD to another airport where a repair facility can do the work required by the AD. How can you accomplish this?

Answer 16

Unless the AD states otherwise, you can apply to the FAA for a special flight permit.

Question 17

What is a type certificate data sheet?

Answer 17

The FAA issues a type certificate when a new aircraft, engine, propeller, etc. is found to meet safety standards set forth by the FAA. The type certificate data sheet lists the specifications, conditions, and limitations under which airworthiness requirements were met for the specified product, such as engine make and model, fuel type, engine limits, airspeed limits, maximum weight, minimum crew, etc.

Question 18

What is a supplemental type certificate?

Answer 18

The FAA’s approval of a major change in the type design of a previously approved type certificated product (something that will change the plane’s flying characteristics). The certificate authorizes an alternation to an airframe, engine, or component that has been granted an approved type certificate.

Sometimes alterations are made that are not specified or authorized in the TCDS. When that condition exists, an STC will be issued. STCs are considered part of the permanent records of an aircraft and should be maintained as part of the aircraft’s logs.

Question 19

What is an aircraft registration certificate?

Answer 19

Before an aircraft can be legally flown, it must be registered with the FAA Aircraft Registry. The Certificate of Aircraft Registration, which is issued to the owner as evidence of the registration, must be carried in the aircraft at all times.

Question 20

Does an aircraft’s registration certificate have an expiration date?

Answer 20

Yes. Registration expires every 7 years, on the last day of the month in which it was issued.

A temporary certification of registration is valid for no more than 90 days after the date the applicant signs the application.

Question 21

Where can you find information on the placards and marking information required to be in the airplane?

Answer 21

The POH

Question 22

What are several examples of placards and markings required in the airplane?

Answer 22

Placards - Day-Night VFR-IFR placard, “Flight Maneuvers Permitted” placard, “Caution Control Lock Remove Before Starting”, “Maneuvering Speed”, “Compass Calibration Card”, “Nav lights on for ADS-B”

Markings - Airspeed indicator markings, cockpit control markings, fuel, pil, and coolant filler openings (“100LL only”)

Question 23

Must placards and markings be on the airplane for the plane to be airworthy?

Answer 23

Yes

Question 24

What are the required tests and inspections to be performed on an aircraft?

Answer 24

AAV1ATE

Annual inspection, within 12 calendar months

Airworthiness directives and lift-limited parts complied with

VOR equipment check every 30 days (IFR only) - can be checked by the pilot, with a 4 degree error on the ground and a 6 degree error in the air

100-hour inspection, if used for hire or flight instruction (under 12,000 pounds)

Altimeter, altitude reporting equipment, and static pressure systems tested and inspected every 24 calendar months (IFR only) - can be done at an avionics shop

Transponder tests and inspections, every 24 calendar months

ELT, operation and battery condition, inspected every 12 calendar months

A private, VFR pilot only needs the annual and ELT inspections

Question 25

What is an annual inspection and which aircraft are required to have one?

Answer 25

A complete inspection of an aircraft and engine, required by the regulations and is required to be accomplished every 12 calendar months on all certificated aircraft. Only an A&P technician holding an Inspection Authorization can conduct an annual inspection.

Question 26

What aircraft are required to have 100-hour inspections?

Answer 26

1) All aircraft under 12,500 pounds used to carry passengers for hire

2) Aircraft used for flight instruction for hire

Question 27

If an aircraft is operated for hire, is it required to have a 100-hour inspection as well as an annual inspection?

Answer 27

Yes

Question 28

What is the difference between an annual inspection and a 100-hour inspection?

Answer 28

Who is allowed to perform them. Only an A&P mechanic with an Inspection Authorization can perform an annual inspection. 100-hour inspections can be performed by any A&P mechanic.

Question 29

If an aircraft 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?

Answer 29

The 100-hour limit can be exceeded by not more than 10 hours while en route to a place where the inspection can be done.

Question 30

If the annual inspection date has passed, can an aircraft be operated to a location where the inspection can be performed?

Answer 30

An aircraft overdue for an annual inspection may be operated under a Special Flight Permit issued by the FAA for the purpose of flying the aircraft to a location where the annual inspection can be performed. However, all applicable ADs that are due must be complied with before the flight.

Question 31

What are Special Flight Permits and why are they necessary?

Answer 31

A Special Flight Permit may be issued for an aircraft that may not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements, but is capable of safe flight. They are typically issued for the following purposes:

1) Flying an aircraft to a base where repairs, alterations, or maintenance are to be performed or to a point of storage

2) Delivering or exporting an aircraft

3) Production flight testing new-production aircraft

4) Evacuating aircraft from areas of impending danger

5) Conducting customer demonstration flights in new-production aircraft that have satisfactorily completed production flight tests

Question 32

How are Special Flight Permits obtained?

Answer 32

From the local FSDO or Designated Airworthiness Representative

Question 33

After aircraft inspections have been made and defects have been repaired, who is responsible for determining an aircraft is in airworthy condition?

Answer 33

The PIC

Question 34

What regulations apply concerning the operation of an aircraft that has had alterations or repairs which may have substantially affects its operation in flight?

Answer 34

The aircraft can’t be flown until an appropriately-rated pilot with at least a PPL has:

1) Flown the aircraft
2) Made an operational check of the maintenance performed or alternation made
3) Logged the flight in the aircraft records

Question 35

Can a pilot legally conduct flight operations with known inoperative equipment onboard?

Answer 35

Yes, under specific conditions.

1) Operation of an aircraft with an MEL , as authorized by 91.213 (a)
2) Operation of an aircraft without an MEL, under 91.213 (d)

Question 36

What limitations apply to aircraft operations conducted using the deferral provision of 91.213?

Answer 36

When inoperative equipment is found during preflight or prior to departure, the decision should be to cancel the flight, obtain maintenance prior to flight, or to defer the item or equipment. Maintenance deferrals are not used for inflight discrepancies. The POH procedures are to be used in those situations.

Question 37

During the preflight inspection in an aircraft that doesn’t have an MEL, you notice that an instrument or equipment item is inoperative. Describe how you will determine if the aircraft is still airworthy for flight.

Answer 37

I will ask:

1) Are the inoperative instruments or equipment part of the VFR-day type certification?

2) Are the inoperative instruments or equipment listed as “required” on the aircraft’s equipment list or “Kinds of Operations Equipment List” for the type of flight being conducted?

3) Are the inoperative instruments or equipment required by 91.205 or any other rule of Part 91 for the specific kind of flight operation being conducted?

4) Are the inoperative instruments/equipment required to be operational by an AD?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, the aircraft is not airworthy and maintenance is required before I can fly.

If the answer to all of these questions is “no”, then the inoperative instruments/equipment must be removed from the aircraft or deactivated/placarded “inoperative”.

Question 38

What are Minimum Equipment Lists?

Answer 38

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.

The MEL includes only those items of equipment that the FAA deems may be inoperative and still maintain an acceptable level of safety with appropriate conditions and limitations.

Question 39

For an aircraft with an approved MEL, explain the decision sequence a pilot would use after discovering the position lights are inoperative.

Answer 39

With an approved MEL, if the position lights were discovered inoperative prior to a daytime flight, the pilot would make an entry in the maintenance record or discrepancy record provided for that purpose. The item is then either repaired or deferred in accordance with the MEL. Upon confirming that daytime flight with inoperative position lights is acceptable in accordance with the provisions of the MEL, the pilot would leave the position lights switch OFF, open the circuit breaker, and placard the position light switch as INOPERATIVE.

Question 40

Explain the limitations that apply to aircraft operations being conducted using an MEL.

Answer 40

The use of an MEL for a small, non-tubine-powered airplane operated under Part 91 allows for the deferral of inoperative items or equipment. The FAA considers an approved MEL to be a supplemental type certificate issued to an aircraft by serial number and registration number. Once an operator requests an MEL, and a Letter of Authorization is issued by the FAA, then the MEL becomes mandatory for that aircraft. All maintenance deferrals must be done in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MEL and the operator-generated procedures document.

Question 41

What instruments/equipment are required for VFR day flight?

Answer 41

ATOMATOFLAMES

Anticollision light system

Tachometer for each engine

Oil pressure gauge for each engine

Manifold pressure gauge

Altimeter

Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine

Oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine

Fuel gauge indicating the quantity in each tank

Flotation gear (if operated for hire over water beyond power-off gliding distance from shore)

Landing gear position indicator (if the airplane has retractable gear)

Airspeed indicator

Magnetic direction indicator

Emergency locator transmitter

Safety belts

Question 42

What instruments/equipment are required for VFR night flight?

Answer 42

FLAPS

Fuses (one spare set or three fuses of each kind required accessible to the pilot in flight)

Landing light (if the aircraft is operated for hire)

Anticollision light system

Position lights (navigation lights)

Source of electrical energy (adequate for all installed electrical and radio equipment) - battery

Question 43

If a piece of equipment in ATOMATOFLAMES is inoperable, is there any instance in which the pilot can still fly the plane? What would they need to obtain to do so?

Answer 43

Yes, the pilot can apply for a Ferry Permit to fly the plane to a mechanic that can fix the inop equipment.

This is apply for with the local FSDO office

Question 44

Who can perform maintenance on an aircraft?

Answer 44

FAA-certified A&P mechanic, an A&P mechanic with Inspector Authorization, an appropriately-rated FAA-certificated repair station, or the aircraft manufacturer.

Question 45

Define preventive maintenance.

Answer 45

Preventative maintenance means 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.

Typical preventive maintenance includes basic items like oil changes, wheel bearing lubrication, hydraulic fluid refills.

Question 46

What logbook entry information is required of the person performing preventive maintenance?

Answer 46

All pilots who maintain or perform preventive maintenance must make an entry in the maintenance record of the aircraft.

The entry must include a description of the work, the date of completion of the work performed, and an entry of the pilot’s name, signature, certificate number, and type of certificate held.

Question 47

While inspecting the engine logbook of the rental aircraft you are planning to fly, you notice that the engine has exceeded its time between overhaul (TBO). Is it legal to fly this aircraft?

Answer 47

Yes. TBO is computed by the engine manufacturer and is a reliable estimate of the number of hours the engine could perform reliably within the established engine parameters and still not exceed the service wear limits for overhaul for major component parts such as the crankshaft, cam shaft, cylinders, connecting rods, and pistons. Compliance to the TBO is not a mandatory maintenance requirement.

Question 48

What are several good reasons for aircraft owners to comply with TBO times recommended by the manufacturer?

Answer 48

1) An overhaul at TBO will ensure safety and reliability.

2) An engine overhaul at TBO is usually less expensive than an engine that has been run additional hours

3) Running the engine past TBO usually accelerates the overall wear of the engine due to bigger bearing tolerances, loss of protective materials such as plating or nitrating on the cylinder walls, and vibration caused by engine reciprocating parts that have worn unevenly and are now out of balance.

Question 49

What is a Supplemental Type Certificate?

Answer 49

A type certificate that covers something that has been done to the aircraft that changes its flying characteristics.

Example: a new engine would get a Supplemental Type Certificate

Question 50

Where can ATOMATOFLAMES be found?

Answer 50

91.205