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Airworthiness

Objective​

To understand the requirements and documents that proves that our airplane is airworthy, both from a legal perspective and a safety perspective.

Motivation​

A pilot should be able to determine the airworthiness status of an airplane given the logbooks and maintenance records to determine if it is safe and legal to fly.

Timing​

45 minutes

Format​

Overview​

  • Type certificates and airworthiness certificate
  • AV1ATED checklist
  • Aircraft logbooks
  • Aircraft equipment lists
  • 91.205, required VFR equipment
  • Kind of Equipment List (KOEL)
  • Minimum Equipment List (MEL), 91.213
  • Special Flight Permits
  • Preventative Maintenance

Elements​

  • Airworthiness Definition
    • Airworthiness means the aircraft is legal to fly, meeting the airworthiness criteria defined by the FAA.
  • Who is responsible for determining airworthiness?
  • Per 91.7:
  • The pilot in command of a civil aircraft is responsible for determining whether that aircraft is in condition for safe flight. The pilot in command shall discontinue the flight when unairworthy mechanical, electrical, or structural conditions occur.
  • Airworthiness Certificates
  • When an aircraft is designed it undergoes a certification process for the model being produced
  • When that model of aircraft is manufactured they recieve an airworthiness certificate
  • These have no expiration and are valid so long as the airplane is maintained
  • What documents do we need to legally fly?
    1. Airworthiness certificate: Displayed where passengers can see it
    2. Registration certificate: State and local
    3. Radio station license from FCC, for flight outside the U.S.
    4. Operating Limitations: AFM/POH, placards, markings
    5. Weight and balance information: Latest measurements
  • Airworthiness Checklist
    1. Annual inspection
    2. VOR test
    3. 100-hour inspection
    4. Altimeter/pitot-static inspection
    5. Transponder inspection
    6. ELT
    7. Directives - Airworthiness directives and life-limited parts
  • A - Annual Inspection - Every 12 months
    • 91.409
    • Check of the aircraft systems by an authorized mechanic
    • Details of the check are in Part 41
    • Propeller and airframe have separate annuals
    • Details of work in Part 43 Appendix D
  • V - VOR test - IFR flight only - Every 30 days
    • 91.171
    • Only required for IFR flight
    • Check of the accuracy of the VOR receiver
    • Can be done by a pilot
  • 1 - 100-hour inspection - Compensation or hire - Every 100 hours
    • 91.409(b)
    • Required for airplanes flying for hire, or for flight instruction if the instructor is providing the aircraft
    • Can be exceeded by 10 hours, to relocate to a location where the inspection can be done
    • Tachometer time (not Hobbs time)
    • Details of work in Part 43 Appendix D
  • A - Altimeter/Pitot-Static - 24 months
    • 91.411
    • Ensure the accuracy of the altimeter, airspeed indictor, VSI
  • T - Transponder - 24 months
    • 91.413
    • Tests the operation of the transponder radio
  • E - ELT - 12 months
    • 91.207
    • Inspection of the ELT, including
      • Installation
      • Battery corrosion
      • Operation of the crash sensor
      • Signal from the antenna
  • E - ELT - Battery Requirements
    • The battery for an ELT must be replaced (or recharged) after:
    • 1 hour of cumulative use
    • When 50% of its useful life has been consumed
  • D - Airworthiness Directives
    • Airworthiness directives are legally enforceable rules issued by the FAA in accordance with 14 CFR part 39 to correct an unsafe condition in a product.
    • Used to correct deficiencies after an airplane has been certified
    • Can require a one-time fix or inspection
    • May require a recurring inspection
    • Two types
      • Emergency issue: Addressing a urgent, safety-of-flight issue
      • Normal issue: Less urgent issue, usually requires compliance within a specified period
  • D - Life-Limited Parts
    • Parts that have a fixed lifetime and must be replaced at some interval in the life of an aircraft
    • Life-limited parts may be required per the original type certificate
    • Listed in the type certificate data sheet
  • Service Bulletins (S.B.'s)
    • Service bulletins are issued by the manufacturer
    • Describe recommended inspections or
    • Not regulatory
  • Airworthiness Checklist Review
    1. Annual inspection - 12 month
    2. VOR test - 30 days
    3. 100-hour inspection - 100 hours
    4. Altimeter/pitot-static inspection - 24 months
    5. Transponder inspection - 24 months
    6. ELT - 12 months, plus battery requirements
    7. Directives - As needed
  • Aircraft Logbooks
    • Sometimes broken down into separate logbooks for airframe, propeller, engine
    • A&P: Airplane and powerplant mechanic
    • I.A.: Inspection authorization, A&P allowed to sign-off annuals
  • Required Equipment
    • What equipment is required in the airplane?
    • What do we do if we find equipment that's inoperative?
  • Required Equipment - Day VFR
    • 91.205(b) - ATOMATOFLAMES
      • Altimeter
      • Tachometer
      • Oil pressure gauge
      • Manifold pressure gauge
      • Airspeed indicator
      • Temperature gauge
        • For each liquid-cooled engine
      • Oil temperature gauge
      • Fuel gauge for each tank
      • Landing light (if flow for hire)
      • Anti-collision lights
      • Magnetic compass
      • ELT
      • Seat belts
  • Required Equipment - Night VFR
    • 91.205(c) - FLAPS
      • Fuses
      • Landing light
      • Anti-collision lights - beacon or strobes
      • Position lights / nav lights - red and green
      • Source of power
  • Inoperative Equipment
    • Under 14 CFR, all installed equipment must be operational prior to a flight
    • If a piece of equipment is not operational we can:
      • Fix the piece of equipment
      • Defer maintenance of the item, for some items
  • Equipment We Have to Fix (91.213(d)(2))
    • Those required for specific operations by Part 91, including:
      • Day VFR equipment 91.205(b) - ATOMATOFLAMES
      • Night VFR equipment 91.205(c) - FLAPS
    • Those required for the airworthiness of the aircraft
    • Those required per the Kinds of Operations Equipment List (KOEL), if present
    • Those required by an AD to be operative
  • Kinds of Operation Equipment List
    • Define what is required for the kind of operation being performed
      • Day
      • Night
      • IFR
      • VFR
  • Deferral of Maintenance (91.213(d)(3))
    • If we deem the system is not required, we can:
      • Remove it, or deactivated
      • Placard it as inoperative
    • If the deactivation requires a mechanic, then it will need to be done by a mechanic and appropriate logged.
  • Non-MEL Aircraft Flow Chart
  • Minimum Equipment List
  • If our aircraft has a minimum equipment list, defer to the required equipment on the list.
    • Gives specific instruction on what can be inoperative
    • Inoperative equipment must be dealt with per the MEL, they can't use the previous process
    • Master MELs (MMELs) can be created after the fact, and apply to an existing airframe
  • Special Flight Permits
    • What happens if we need to move the airplane to make repairs while it's not airworthy?
    • A Special Flight Permit allows for a specific flight
    • Can requested from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
    • Usually requires an A&P to determine the safety of flight
    • Reasons for a permit
      • To fly to base where repairs, alterations, or maintenance can be done
      • Delivering or exporting an aircraft
      • Evacuating an aircraft from an area of impending danger
      • Allow an overweight aircraft to fly beyond its normal range over water
  • Preventative Maintenance
    • As a private pilot, you are permitted to do some maintenance tasks on your airplane
    • Permitted tasks are listed in Part 43 Appendix A
      • Remove, install, and repair landing gear tires
      • Service landing gear wheel bearings
      • Replenish hydraulic fluid
      • Replace safety belt
      • Replace bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of lights
      • Replace or clean spark plugs
      • Replace and service batteries
      • Replace hose connections, except hydraulic connection
      • Lubricate items not needed disassembly
  • Logging of Preventative Maintenance
    • Pilots who perform preventive maintenance must make an entry in the maintenance record:
      1. A description of the work, such as “changed oil (Shell Aero-50) at 2,345 hours”
      2. The date of completion of the work performed
      3. The pilot’s name, signature, certificate number, and type of certificate held
  • Summary
    • Airworthiness certificate - Valid as long as the aircraft is airworthy
    • ARROW documents - Documents the airplane needs to legally fly
    • AV1ATED checklist - Required inspections
    • Aircraft logbooks - Where we record maintenance performed
    • 91.205, required VFR equipment
    • Aircraft equipment lists
      • Kind of Equipment List (KOEL)
      • Minimum Equipment List (MEL), 91.213
    • Special flight permits - used to get to a shop
    • Preventative Maintenance - stuff we can do ourselves

Scenarios​

  • You find an airplane with fuel gauge inoperative. Can you fly it?
    • What if we need to fly the airplane to another airport to get it fixed?
  • Can a private pilot do an oil change?
    • What about a student pilot?
  • Does a flight school's 172's need a 100-hour inspection
    • What about a flying club?
  • Do you need a landing light to fly for flight instruction?

References​