Flight Manuals and Other Documents

Certificated pilots, excluding student pilots, sport pilots, and or Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR). recreational pilots, may perform preventive maintenance on [Figure 9-10] any aircraft that is owned or operated by them provided that the aircraft is not used in air carrier service and does not Airworthiness Directives (ADs) qualify under 14 CFR parts 121, 129, or 135. A pilot holding A primary safety function of the FAA is to require correction a sport pilot certificate may perform preventive maintenance of unsafe conditions found in an aircraft, aircraft engine, on an aircraft owned or operated by that pilot if that aircraft is propeller, or appliance when such conditions exist and are issued a special airworthiness certificate in the LSA category. likely to exist or develop in other products of the same design. (Sport pilots operating LSA should refer to 14 CFR part 65 The unsafe condition may exist because of a design defect, for maintenance privileges.) 14 CFR part 43, appendix A, maintenance, or other causes. Airworthiness Directives contains a list of the operations that are considered to be (ADs), under 14 CFR, part 39, define the authority and preventive maintenance. responsibility of the Administrator for requiring the necessary corrective action. ADs are used to notify aircraft owners and Repairs and Alterations other interested persons of unsafe conditions and to specify Repairs and alterations are classified as either major or minor. the conditions under which the product may continue to be 14 CFR part 43, appendix A, describes the alterations and operated. ADs are divided into two categories: repairs considered major. Major repairs or alterations shall be approved for return to service on FAA Form 337, Major 1. Those of an emergency nature requiring immediate Repair and Alteration, by an appropriately rated certificated compliance prior to further flight repair station, an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic holding an 2. Those of a less urgent nature requiring compliance IA, or a representative of the Administrator. Minor repairs and within a specified period of time minor alterations may be approved for return to service with a proper entry in the maintenance records by an FAA-certificated ADs are regulatory and shall be complied with unless a A&P mechanic or an appropriately certificated repair station. specific exemption is granted. It is the responsibility of the aircraft owner or operator to ensure compliance with all For modifications of experimental aircraft, refer to the pertinent ADs, including those ADs that require recurrent operating limitations issued to that aircraft. Modifications or continuing action. For example, an AD may require a in accordance with FAA Order 8130.2, Airworthiness repetitive inspection each 50 hours of operation, meaning Certification of Aircraft and Related Products, may require the particular inspection shall be accomplished and recorded the notification of the issuing authority. every 50 hours of time in service. Owners/operators are reminded that there is no provision to overfly the maximum Special Flight Permits hour requirement of an AD unless it is specifically written A special flight permit is a Special Airworthiness Certificate into the AD. To help determine if an AD applies to an authorizing operation of an aircraft that does not currently amateur-built aircraft, contact the local FSDO. meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is safe for a specific flight. Before the permit is issued, an FAA 14 CFR, part 91, section 91.417 requires a record to be inspector may personally inspect the aircraft or require it to maintained that shows the current status of applicable be inspected by an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic or an ADs, including the method of compliance; the AD number appropriately certificated repair station to determine its safety and revision date, if recurring; next due date and time; the for the intended flight. The inspection shall be recorded in signature; type of certificate; and certificate number of the the aircraft records. repair station or mechanic who performed the work. For ready reference, many aircraft owners have a chronological listing The special flight permit is issued to allow the aircraft to be of the pertinent ADs in the back of their aircraft, engine, and flown to a base where repairs, alterations, or maintenance propeller maintenance records. can be performed; for delivering or exporting the aircraft; or for evacuating an aircraft from an area of impending danger. All ADs and the AD Biweekly are free on the Internet A special flight permit may be issued to allow the operation at http://rgl.faa.gov and are available through e-mail. of an overweight aircraft for flight beyond its normal range Individuals can enroll for the e-mail service at the website over water or land areas where adequate landing facilities above. Paper copies of the Summary of Airworthiness or fuel is not available. Directives and the AD Biweekly may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents. The Summary contains If a special flight permit is needed, assistance and the all the valid ADs previously published and is divided into necessary forms may be obtained from the local FSDO 9-12