Flight Manuals and Other Documents

6. Terms and Conditions. Indicates the Airworthiness Under 14 CFR, part 91, subpart E, all civil aircraft are Certificate is in effect indefinitely if the aircraft is required to be inspected at specific intervals to determine maintained in accordance with 14 CFR parts 21, 43, and the overall condition. The interval depends upon the type 91, and the aircraft is registered in the United States. of operations in which the aircraft is engaged. All aircraft need to be inspected at least once every 12 calendar months, Also included are the date the certificate was issued and the while inspection is required for others after every 100 hours signature and office identification of the FAA representative. of operation. Some aircraft are inspected in accordance with an inspection system set up to provide for total inspection A Standard Airworthiness Certificate remains in effect of the aircraft on the basis of calendar time, time in service, if the aircraft receives the required maintenance and is number of system operations, or any combination of these. properly registered in the United States. Flight safety relies in part on the condition of the aircraft, which is determined All inspections should follow the current manufacturer’s by inspections performed by mechanics, approved repair maintenance manual, including the Instructions for stations, or manufacturers that meet specific requirements Continued Airworthiness concerning inspection intervals, of 14 CFR part 43. parts replacement, and life-limited items as applicable to the aircraft. A Special Airworthiness Certificate is issued for all aircraft certificated in other than the Standard classifications, such Annual Inspection as Experimental, Restricted, Limited, Provisional, and Any reciprocating engine or single-engine turbojet/ Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA). LSA receive a pink special turbopropeller-powered small aircraft (weighing 12,500 airworthiness certificate; however, there are exceptions. pounds or less) flown for business or pleasure and not For example, the Piper Cub is in the LSA category, but it flown for compensation or hire is required to be inspected was certificated as a normal aircraft during its manufacture. at least annually. The inspection shall be performed by a When purchasing an aircraft classified as other than Standard, certificated airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic who it is recommended that the local FSDO be contacted for an holds an inspection authorization (IA) by the manufacturer explanation of the pertinent airworthiness requirements and of the aircraft or by a certificated and appropriately rated the limitations of such a certificate. repair station. The aircraft may not be operated unless the annual inspection has been performed within the preceding Aircraft Maintenance 12 calendar months. A period of 12 calendar months extends Maintenance is defined as the preservation, inspection, from any day of a month to the last day of the same month the overhaul, and repair of an aircraft, including the replacement following year. An aircraft overdue for an annual inspection of parts. Regular and proper maintenance ensures that may be operated under a Special Flight Permit issued by an aircraft meets an acceptable standard of airworthiness the FAA for the purpose of flying the aircraft to a location throughout its operational life. where the annual inspection can be performed. However, all applicable ADs that are due must be complied with before Although maintenance requirements vary for different the flight. types of aircraft, experience shows that aircraft need some type of preventive maintenance every 25 hours of flying 100-Hour Inspection time or less and minor maintenance at least every 100 All aircraft under 12,500 pounds (except turbojet/ hours. This is influenced by the kind of operation, climatic turbopropeller-powered multi-engine airplanes and turbine conditions, storage facilities, age, and construction of the powered rotorcraft), used to carry passengers for hire, must aircraft. Manufacturers supply maintenance manuals, parts receive a 100-hour inspection within the preceding 100 hours catalogs, and other service information that should be used of time in service and must be approved for return to service. in maintaining the aircraft. Additionally, an aircraft used for flight instruction for hire, when provided by the person giving the flight instruction, Aircraft Inspections must also have received a 100-hour inspection. This inspection must be performed by an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic, Under 14 CFR part 91, the primary responsibility for an appropriately rated FAA-certificated repair station, or maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition falls on the by the aircraft manufacturer. An annual inspection, or an owner or operator of the aircraft. Certain inspections must be inspection for the issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate, performed on the aircraft, and the owner must maintain the may be substituted for a required 100-hour inspection. The airworthiness of the aircraft during the time between required 100-hour limitation may be exceeded by no more than 10 inspections by having any defects corrected. 9-8