Summary of Aircraft Maintenance Records and Regulations

## Introduction Maintaining accurate aircraft maintenance records and following FAA regulations are essential to safety and legal compliance. This guide breaks down key responsibilities, recordkeeping requirements, inspections, and the roles of mechanics and manufacturers to help you understand how maintenance actions are documented and regulated. > **Definition:** "Maintenance records" — documents that describe inspections, repairs, alterations, and compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for an aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance. ## Who is responsible for aircraft maintenance records - **Registered owner or operator** of the aircraft is responsible for ensuring maintenance records are kept up to date. - When an aircraft is **sold**, its maintenance records (including the current list of applicable ADs) must be **transferred to the purchaser** at the time of sale. ## FAA mechanic certificate and address notification - A holder of an FAA mechanic certificate must **notify the FAA of a permanent change of address** promptly (refer to current FAA guidance for time limits). ## Rebuilding engines and zero-time records - Only the **engine manufacturer** or a **repair station approved by the manufacturer** may rebuild an engine and issue a **zero-time maintenance record**. ## Progressive inspection > **Definition:** "Progressive inspection" — an FAA-approved inspection program in which an aircraft is inspected according to an approved schedule so the complete inspection can be completed over time without grounding the aircraft for the full inspection period. - Allows dividing a large inspection into smaller segments performed at scheduled intervals. - Approved by the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). ## Purpose and scope of regulations and publications - **Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs):** the statutory and regulatory framework governing aviation activities. - **14 CFR Part 43:** describes maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration of certificated aircraft. - **FAR Part 23:** airworthiness standards for normal, utility, and acrobatic category airplanes. - **FAR Part 25:** airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. - **FAR Part 21:** requirements for issuance of Type Certificates. - **FAR Part 45:** identification number specifications for aircraft. - **FAR Part 65:** requirements for issuance of mechanic certificates. > **Definition:** "Airworthiness Directive (AD)" — a mandatory FAA action to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft, engines, propellers, or appliances. - ADs notify owners of unsafe conditions and specify compliance times. - The AD will state the required time or period for corrective action. ## Service bulletins, advisory circulars, and notifications - **Service bulletins:** published by manufacturers to notify owners of design defects or recommended actions. - **FAA Advisory Circulars (ACs):** non-regulatory guidance and information for the aviation public. - A manufacturer’s service bulletin must be complied with when it is **required by an AD** or listed in the aircraft type certificate data sheet or aircraft specifications. Fun fact: The FAA issues Airworthiness Directives after careful risk assessment and often in response to reports from operators, manufacturers, or incidents. ## Maintenance record entries — what to include and when - **Inspection record entries** must include the aircraft total time in service when required. - After a **100-hour inspection**, the maintenance record entry must describe: - Type of inspection and extent of inspection - Date of inspection - Aircraft total time in service - Signature, certificate number, and rating of the person approving or disapproving return to service - After compliance with an **AD**, the record must include: - AD number and revision date - Date of compliance - Aircraft total time in service - Method of compliance - Whether the AD is recurring; if so, the time of n