Maintenance Authority and Part 43

2-7 FAA ORDERS: 8900.1 FSIMS 91 General Operating and Flight Rules 21 Certification Procedures for Products and Parts Subpart H, L, K 43 Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration 119 Certification: Air Carriers and Commercial Operators 61 Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors 63 Certification: Flight Crewmembers Other Than Pilots 120Drug and Alcohol Testing Program 45 Identification and Registration Marking 47 Aircraft Registration 183 Representatives of the Administrator § 43.5 No person may approve for return to service, unless... § 43.5 Maintenance record entry required by §43.9 or §43.11, as appropriate § 43.13a Methods, techniques, and practices in current manufacturer’s maintenance manuals § 43.13b Work and materials of such a quality that condition will be at least equal to the original or property altered condition 145Repair Stations Operating Specifications Repair Station Manual 125 Certification and Operations: Airplanes Having a Seating Capacity of 20 or More Passengers or a Maximum Payload Capacity of 6,000 Pounds or More 8400.10 Deviation 8100.8 Designee Management Handbook 8130.2 Airworthiness Certification Suspected Unapproved Parts Program 2150.3 Compliance & Enforcement 8132.2 Designee Airworthiness Certification Recurrent Airworthiness Certificate Management Office (CMO) Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) International Field Office (IFO) 135Air Taxi Operators and Commercial Operators 9 or Less 10 or More 121 Certification and Operation: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Air Carriers and Commercial Operators of Large Aircraft 8110.37 DER Guidance Handbook 14 CFR 43 Appendix B FAA Form 337 DMIR DER DAR ODA DAR DPE DME DPRE Flight Standards Service (AFS)— 65 Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers A&P IA Repairman Parachute Rigger Dispatcher 2-8 14 CFR Part 33—Airworthiness Standards: Aircraft Engines Each of the four preceding 14 CFR regulations require that the engine used in the aircraft must be type certificated. Title 14 CFR part 33 details the requirements for both reciprocating and turbine style aircraft engines. It not only specifies the design and construction requirements, but also the block test requirements that subject the engine to extremely demanding testing in order to prove its capability of enduring the stresses of powering the aircraft.

14 CFR Part 35—Airworthiness Standards: Propellers Just as each engine used on an aircraft must have a TC, the propeller must also be type certificated. This part is arranged the same way that 14 CFR part 33 is, in that subpart B specifies design and construction while subpart C covers tests and inspections. Since regulations change over the years, not every aircraft presently flying meets the current design regulations as printed this year. When regulations are revised, they are printed in the Federal Register and released with an amendment number that ties them to the regulation being revised. Aircraft are required to meet only the specifications in force at the time the aircraft is built. Note: The preceding statement does not apply to the mandatory requirements imposed by Airworthiness Directives (AD), as these usually have a compliance date included in the AD note.

14 CFR Part 39—Airworthiness Directives In spite of all the emphasis on proper design and certification testing, sometimes the actual day-to-day use of the aircraft causes unanticipated wear or failure to occur. When that happens, if the FAA determines that the wear or failure represents an unsafe condition and that the condition is likely to exist in other products of the same type of design, it issues an AD. Actual AD notes are not included in 14 CFR part 39, but rather are printed in the Federal Register and are linked to this part as amendments to 14 CFR part 39, section 39.13. AD notes are legally enforceable rules that apply to aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances.

14 CFR Part 43—Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration This regulation represents the heart of aviation maintenance and is one of the three major regulations previously identified. The 13 rules and 6 appendices contained within 14 CFR part 43 provide the standard for maintaining all civilian aircraft currently registered in the United States. Note that 14 CFR part 43 has a significant relationship with part 91 and other parts in maintaining continued airworthiness. [Figure 2-6] A more detailed explanation of this regulation is presented later in this handbook. 14 CFR Part 45—Identification and Registration Marking Title 14 of the CFR part 45 includes the requirements for the identification of aircraft, engines, propellers, certain replacement and modification parts, and the nationality and registration marking required on U.S.-registered aircraft. All type-certificated products must have the following information on a fireproof dataplate or similar approved fireproof method.

1. Builder’s name 2. Model designation 3. Builder’s serial number 4. TC number (if any) 5. Production certificate number (if any) 6. For aircraft engines, the established rating 7. Reference to compliance or exemption to 14 CFR Part 34, Fuel Venting and Exhaust Emission Requirements for Turbine Engine Powered Airplanes 8. Any other information that the FAA determines to be appropriate Replacement and modification parts are produced in accordance with a Parts Manufacturer Approvals (PMA) (14 CFR part 21, section 21.303) and must have the following information permanently and legibly marked: 1. The letters “FAA-PMA” 2. The name, symbol, or trademark of the holder of the PMA 3. The part number 4. The name and model designation for each type certificated product it can be installed on If a part has a specified replacement time, inspection interval, or other related procedure specification in the maintenance manual or ICA, that part must have a part number and a serial number (or the equivalent of each).

The manufacturer of a life-limited part must either provide marking instructions for that part, or state that the part cannot be marked without a compromise to its integrity. Exceptions are made for the identification of parts that are too small to be practical to mark the required data. Nationality and registration marks (commonly known as the N-number for U.S.-registered aircraft) can vary in size, depending on the year that the aircraft was built and whether or not the aircraft has been repainted. The most common size is at least 12 inches in height. Small aircraft built at least 30 2-9 ITEM SUBJECT 1. Introduction: Briefly describes the aircraft, engine, propeller, or component that has been altered. Include any other information regarding the content, scope, purpose, arrangement, applicability, definitions, abbreviations, precautions, units of measurement, list of parts used, referenced publications, and distribution of the ICA, as applicable.

2. Description: Of the major alteration and its functions, including an explanation of its interface with other systems, if any. 3. Control, operation information: Or special procedures, if any. 4. Servicing information: Such as types of fluids used, servicing points, and location of access panels, as appropriate. 5. Maintenance instructions: Such as recommended inspection/maintenance periods in which each of the major alteration components are inspected, cleaned, lubricated, adjusted, and tested, including applicable wear tolerances and work recommended at each scheduled maintenance period. This section can refer to the manufacturers’ instructions for the equipment installed where appropriate (e.g., functional checks, repairs, inspections). It should also include any special notes, cautions, or warnings, as applicable.

6. Troubleshooting information: Describes probable malfunctions, how to recognize those malfunctions, and the remedial actions to take. 7. Removal and replacement information: Describes the order and method of removing and replacing products or parts, and any necessary precautions. This section should also describe or refer to manufacturer’s instructions to make required tests, checks, alignment, calibrations, center of gravity changes, lifting, or shoring, etc., if any. 8. Diagrams: Of access plates and information, if needed, to gain access for inspection. 9. Special inspection requirements: Such as X-ray, ultrasonic testing, or magnetic particle inspection, if required.

10. Application of protective treatments: To the affected area after inspection and/or maintenance, if any. 11. Data: Relative to structural fasteners such as type, torque, and installation requirements, if any. 12. List of special tools: Special tools that are required, if any. 13. For commuter category aircraft: Provide the following additional information, as applicable: A. Electrical loads B. Methods of balancing flight controls C. Identification of primary and secondary structures D. Special repair methods applicable to the aircraft 14. Recommended overhaul periods: Required to be noted on the ICA when an overhaul period has been established by the manufacturer of a component or equipment. If no overhaul period exists, the ICA should state for item 14, “No additional overhaul time limitations.” 15. Airworthiness limitation section: Includes any “approved” airworthiness limitations identified by the manufacturer or FAA Type Certificate Holding Office (e.g., An STC incorporated in a larger field-approved major alteration may have an airworthiness limitation). The FAA inspector should not establish, alter, or cancel airworthiness limitations without coordinating with the appropriate FAA Type Certificate Holding Office. If no changes are made to the airworthiness limitations, the ICA should state for item 15, “No additional airworthiness limitations” or “Not Applicable.” 16. Revision: Includes information on how to revise the ICA. For example, a letter will be submitted to the local FAA Office with a copy of the revised FAA Form 337 and revised ICA.

The FAA inspector accepts the change by signing block 3 and including the following statement: “The attached revised/new Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (date______) for the above aircraft or component major alteration have been accepted by the FAA, superseding the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (date______).” After the revision has been accepted, a maintenance record entry will be made, identifying the revision, its location, and date on the FAA Form 337. SAMPLE 2-10 expiration date of the new battery. 2. Section 91.213—Inoperative Instruments and Equipment Paragraph (a)(2)—a letter of authorization from the FSDO authorizing the operation of the aircraft under a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) constitutes a STC and must be carried in the aircraft during flight.

Subpart E—Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations (Sections 91.401 through 91.421) This is the section of most interest to the technician. They must be familiar with it, because it does carry some (indirect) responsibility for the technician. Note that the 14 CFR part 91 icon in Figure 2-6 has a direct line to 14 CFR part 43. This is because section 91.403(b) states, “No person may perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations on an aircraft other than as prescribed in this subpart and other applicable regulations, including part 43 of this chapter.” A more complete discussion of this regulation, especially Subpart E—Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations is presented later in this chapter.

14 CFR Part 119—Certification: Air Carriers and Commercial Operators In order to better understand the next three regulations discussed here (14 CFR parts 121, 125, and 135) a brief overview of 14 CFR part 119 is beneficial. [ Figure 2-8] There are more than 50 Advisory Circulars (ACs) in the 120 series alone providing additional non-regulatory information concerning the variety of procedures involved with these operations. There are basically three different criteria that must be analyzed in order to properly determine the regulation that applies. These are: 1. Is the service provided for Private Carriage or Common Carriage?

2. Is the aircraft For Hire or is it Not for Hire? 3. Is it a large or small aircraft? AC 120-12, as revised, provides the following definition regarding this criterion: A carrier becomes a common carrier when it “holds itself out” to the public, or to a segment of the public, as willing to furnish transportation within the limits of its facilities to any person who wants it. There are four elements in defining a common carrier: 1. A holding out of a willingness to 2. Transport persons or property 3. From place to place 4. For compensation years ago, or replicas of these, or experimental exhibition or amateur-built aircraft may use letters at least 2 inches in height.

Only a few aircraft are authorized to display registration markings of at least 3 inches. Note that this regulation sits directly on the vertical line in Figure 2-5 indicating that it applies to both original and recurrent airworthiness. 14 CFR Part 47—Aircraft Registration This regulation provides the requirements for registering aircraft. It includes procedures for both owner and dealer registration of aircraft. 14 CFR Part 65—Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers Pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors are certificated under 14 CFR part 61. Flight crew other than pilots are certificated under 14 CFR part 63. However, many other people are also required to be certificated by the FAA for the U.S. aviation fleet to operate smoothly and efficiently. Title 14 CFR part 65 addresses many of those other people.

• Subpart B—Air Traffic Control Tower Operators • Subpart C—Aircraft Dispatchers • Subpart D—Mechanics • Subpart E—Repairmen • Subpart F—Parachute Riggers A more detailed discussion of this chapter with a special emphasis on mechanics is included in Chapter 15, The Mechanic Certificate. Note: SFAR 100-2. Relief for U.S. Military and Civilian Personnel who are assigned outside the United States in support of U.S. Armed Forces Operations is a good example of the specific nature and limited time frame that are part of a SFAR. 14 CFR Part 91—General Operating and Flight Rules This is the final regulation of the three major regulations identified earlier in this chapter. Note its interaction in “operational” involvement or “recurrent airworthiness.” Although it is an operational regulation that is focused toward the owner, operator, and/or pilot of the aircraft, the maintenance technician must have an awareness of this regulation. Two examples of these maintenance related issues are: 1. Section 91.207—Emergency Locator Transmitters Paragraph (c)(2)—battery replacement interval and requirement for a logbook entry indicating the 2-11 14 CFR Part 119 Applicability of Regulations Large A/C Small A/C Large A/C Small A/C 135 12112591 Large A/CLarge A/C For Hire Common Carriage Not for Hire All Other A/C 91, 125, 135, 121 Private Carriage CFR Part 91, Section 91.501(b)(5) CFR Part 119, Section 119.5 9. Parachute operations on nonstop flights within 25 NM from the departure airport 10. Fractional ownership in accordance with 14 CFR part 91, subpart K 14 CFR Part 121—Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Operations Title 14 CFR part 121 establishes the operational rules for air carriers flying for compensation or hire. A domestic operation is any scheduled operation (within the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession) conducted with either a turbo-jet aircraft, an airplane having 10 or more passenger seats, or a payload capacity greater than 7,500 pounds.

A “flag” operation means any scheduled operation (operating in Alaska or Hawaii to any point outside of those states, or to any territory or possession of the United States, or from any point outside the United States to any point outside the United States) conducted with either a turbo-jet aircraft, an airplane having 10 or more passenger seats, or a payload capacity greater than 7,500 pounds. “Supplemental” operation means any common carriage operation conducted with airplanes having more than 30 passenger seats (if less than 30, the airplane must also be listed on the operations specifications of domestic and flag carriers), with a payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds.

Part 121 operators are required by 14 CFR part 119 to have the following personnel: • Director of Safety This “holding out” that makes a person a common carrier can be done in many ways, and it does not matter how it is done. Signs and advertising are the most direct means of “holding out,” but are not the only ones. Carriage for hire which does not involve "holding out" is private carriage. Private carriers for hire are sometimes called “contract carriers,” but the term is borrowed from the Interstate Commerce Act and legally inaccurate when used in connection with the Federal Aviation Act. Private carriage for hire is carriage for one or several selected customers, generally on a long-term basis. The number of contracts must not be too great; otherwise, it implies a willingness to make a contract with anybody. A carrier operating pursuant to 18 to 24 contracts has been held to be a common carrier, because it held itself out to serve the public generally to the extent of its facilities. Private carriage has been found in cases where three contracts have been the sole basis of the operator’s business.

Operations that constitute common carriage are required to be conducted under 14 CFR part 121 or 135. Private carriage may be conducted under 14 CFR part 91 or 125. The term “for hire” is not defined in any of the FAA documents but is generally understood to mean that compensation for both direct and indirect expenses associated with the flight, as well as a profit margin for the operator, are collected from the person or persons benefiting from the flight operation. The determination of whether the aircraft is large or small is based upon the definition provided in 14 CFR part 1. If the aircraft has maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or more, it is a large aircraft. All aircraft less than 12,500 maximum certificated takeoff weight are considered to be small aircraft.

It may also help the reader understand when 14 CFR parts 121, 125, and 135 regulations apply, by taking a brief look at a list of flight operations where 14 CFR part 119 does not apply. 1. Student instruction 2. Nonstop sightseeing flights with less than 30 seats and less than 25 nautical miles (NM) from the departure airport 3. Ferry or training flights 4. Crop dusting or other agricultural operations 5. Banner towing 6. Aerial photography or surveying 7. Fire fighting 8. Powerline or pipeline patrol 2-12 • Director of Operations • Director of Maintenance • Chief Pilot • Chief Inspector There are 28 subparts and 16 appendices in this regulation.

However, only subparts J and L are of concern for the mechanic. Subpart J—Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations, identifies Special Airworthiness Requirements that deals with many of the mechanical aspects of a passenger or cargo aircraft. Subpart L—Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations, requires that a part 121 operator have an operational manual that contains the following information: • Organizational chart • List of individuals who may perform required inspections • Company maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations • A system to both preserve and retrieve maintenance and inspection related information Also, 14 CFR part 121, section 121.1105, establishes the requirement for conducting inspections on aging aircraft.

14 CFR Part 125—Certification and Operations: Airplanes Having a Seating Capacity of 20 or More Passengers or a Maximum Payload Capacity of 6,000 Pounds or More; and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft This regulation applies to private and noncommon carriage when such operations are conducted in airplanes having 20 or more seats (excluding crewmembers) or having a payload capacity of 6,000 pounds or more. There must also be “operations specifications” issued to the operator that include the following information: • Kinds of operations authorized • Types of aircraft and registration numbers of the airplanes authorized for use • Approval of the provisions of the operator’s manual relating to airplane inspections, together with the necessary conditions and limitations • Registration numbers of the airplanes that are to be inspected under an approved airplane inspection program (AAIP) under 14 CFR part 125, section 125.247 • Procedures for the control of weight and balance of airplanes • Any other item that the administrator determines is necessary Just as in 14 CFR part 121, subpart E identifies special airworthiness requirements dealing mostly with the mechanical devices of the aircraft.

14 CFR Part 135—Operating Requirements: Commuter and On-Demand Operations and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft As the title of this section states, this regulation is applicable to short distance commercial aircraft operations or “commuters” and nonscheduled carriers that operate “on- demand.” These aircraft are frequently referred to as air taxi or air charter aircraft. Aircraft operated under 14 CFR part 135 must be operated and maintained in accordance with the certificate holder’s operations manual. This manual, when accepted by the FAA, specifies how the flight crew, ground personnel, and maintenance technicians conduct their operations.

A pivotal portion of this regulation is the first section in subpart J, 14 CFR part 135, section 135.411, Application. This section specifies that having a type certificated passenger seating configuration of nine or less may be maintained in accordance with the maintenance manual provided by the aircraft manufacturer. Those aircraft having a type certificated passenger seating configuration of 10 or more seats must be maintained in accordance with a maintenance manual written by the air carrier and must then be submitted to the FAA for approval. The requirements for the maintenance manual are specified in 14 CFR part 135, section 135.427. 14 CFR part 135, sections 135.415 through 135.417 and 135.423 through 135.443 specify additional maintenance requirements. 14 CFR part 135, sections 135.415 and 135.417 are applicable regardless of the number of seats in the aircraft.

A major change in the “nine or less” aircraft maintenance requirements occurred in February of 2005 when section 135.422, Aging Aircraft, was incorporated into 14 CFR part 135. This new subpart (note the even number) to 14 CFR 135 specifically prohibits a certificate holder from operating certain aircraft unless the Administrator has completed the aging aircraft inspection and records review. This inspection requires the certificate holder to show the FAA that the maintenance of age sensitive parts and components has been adequate to ensure safety. This section only applies to multi-engine aircraft in scheduled operation with nine or fewer passenger seats. It does not apply to aircraft operating in Alaska. The required record review start date varies depending on the age of the aircraft.

2-13 However, once initiated, the repetitive inspection intervals are not to exceed 7 years. The certificate holder must make both the aircraft and the records available to the FAA for inspection and review. The certificate holder must notify the Administrator at least 60 days in advance of the availability of the aircraft and the records for review. The records must include the following information: 1. Total years in service of the airplane 2. Total time in service of the airframe 3. Date of the last inspection and records review required by this section 4. Current status of life-limited parts 5. Time since the last overhaul of all structural components required to be overhauled on a specific time basis 6. Current inspection status of the airplane, including the time since the last inspection required by the inspection program that the airplane is maintained under 7. Current status of applicable ADs, including the date and methods of compliance, and, if the AD involves recurring action, the time and date when the next action is required 8. A list of major structural alterations 9. A report of major structural repairs and the current inspection status of those repairs 14 CFR Part 145—Repair Stations This regulation underwent a major rewrite released in 2004 and was the most comprehensive change in nearly 20 years.

It may be of interest to note an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate is not necessary to be employed at a repair station. The repair station may also employ both repairmen (under 14 CFR part 65, subpart E) and non FAA-certificated personnel. All work that is signed off is done so using the repair station certificate number and must be done only by persons authorized by 14 CFR part 65 to approve an article for return to service (RTS). Just as other certificate holders must have an operations manual, the repair station must have a repair station manual that contains the following: • An organizational chart • Procedures for maintaining rosters • Description of housing, facilities, and equipment • Procedures for revising the capability list and conducting a self-evaluation (audit) • Procedures for revising the training program • Procedures governing work done at another location • Procedures for working on air carrier aircraft • Description of the required records and record keeping • Procedures for revising the repair station manual • Description of the system to identify and control the sections of the manual All records from repair station maintenance activity must be kept a minimum of 2 years. Domestic repair station certificates are effective until they are surrendered, suspended, or revoked. The certificates of foreign repair stations expire, usually after 1 or 2 years and must be renewed.

14 CFR Part 147—Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools Title 14 CFR part 147 defines the requirements for obtaining a maintenance training certificate. This certificate may be for either airframe, powerplant, or a combination of the two. The minimum number of curriculum hours for conducting either airframe or powerplant training independently is 1,150. If both A&P ratings are offered, the combined total curriculum hours are 1,900. This is because of the 1,150 hours specified to obtain either the airframe or the powerplant rating, 400 hours are devoted to general studies. Only one set of general studies hours is applicable to the combined total. Therefore, 400 hours can be subtracted from the implied total of 2,300 hours (1,150 × 2) to obtain the reduced figure of 1,900 hours.

Requirements are detailed as follows: • Appendix A—Curriculum Requirements • Appendix B—General Curriculum Subjects • Appendix C—Airframe Curricular Subjects • Appendix D—Powerplant Curriculum Subjects 14 CFR Part 183—Representatives of the Administrator As the aviation industry grows and the design, manufacture, and testing of aircraft gets more complex, the FAA faces both budget constraints and personnel shortages. As early as 1962, the FAA began a program to allow private sector persons in various areas of industry to be “designees” or “representatives of the FAA Administrator.” These people are NOT FAA employees, but rather are designated by the FAA to act on their behalf. Regular doctors may serve as “aviation medical examiners,” skilled pilots can become “pilot examiners,” and experienced airframe and/or powerplant mechanics can become “designated mechanic examiners (DME)” to administer the oral and practical portion of the FAA testing.

Other lesser known designees are the designated engineering