Aircraft Maintenance

Records
&
Airworthiness
Directives

Mark Laughridge FAASTeam Program Manager

March 9, 2013

Federal Aviation
Administration

Introduction
This course provides a review of aircraft
maintenance documentation requirements,
emphasizing the importance of accurate and
complete documentation.
It identifies common documentation problems
that can lead to maintenance errors.

Aircraft Maintenance Records

Federal Aviation
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Aircraft Maintenance Records

The basic requirements for Aircraft Maintenance
Records are the same.
The method of meeting those requirements may be
different depending on the type of operation.

Aircraft Maintenance Records

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Common problems

No documentation.
Inadequate description of work performed.
Using the wrong references.
Poor shift turnovers

Aircraft Maintenance Records

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Regulation Cited

Aircraft Maintenance Records

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Sept. 11, 1999 near Eagle Lake Texas.

Continental Express Flight 2574 an EMB 120

In flight the left horizontal stabilizer leading edge bent down
and then separated from the aircraft.
Attaching hardware had been left out of the upper left
horizontal stabilizer leading edge.
14 passengers and crew killed near Eagle Lake Texas.

Aircraft Maintenance Records

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Aircraft Maintenance Records

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NTSB Finding
Departures from approved procedures included failures
to give proper shift / turnover reports, failures to use
maintenance work cards as approved, failures to
complete required maintenance/inspection shift /
turnover forms, and a breach in integrity of the quality
control system.

Aircraft Maintenance Records

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Administration

Shift /Turnover
The transfer of critical information between work groups or
shifts
It needs to be as detailed as necessary, depending on the
tasks involved
Sharing of information by the people doing the task

Aircraft Maintenance Records

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Why is Shift/Task Turnover Important

Data shows that poor shift/task turnover is a contributing
factor to accidents/incidents.
Challenges related to shift turnover include:
1. A high demand for teamwork and communication skills
2. Lack of structured and standardized policies and
procedures
3. Using a location that is not conducive for discussion and
planning

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Why is Shift/Task Turnover Important

4. Finishing workers are tired and want to depart the facility.
5. Lack of adequate shift overlap to provide time to give oneon-one briefings between the teams.
6. Absence of a process to ensure departing personnel have
documented all tasks accomplished or started.
7. Minimal training on procedures for shift/task turnover.
High-quality shift/task turnover procedures enable
improvement in safety and accountability to all
involved in the work.

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Implement a Shift/Task Turnover process

Formalize policy and procedures that make the
turnover as important as the work.
Communicate policy and procedures to all personnel.
Deliver initial and recurrent training on how to conduct a
good shift/task turnover.
Provide a time and place for formal shift/task turnover.
Consider technology enhancements that improve the
transfer of visual information (e.g., photos, graphics).

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Part 43.3 Persons Authorized to Perform

Maintenance
The holder of a Mechanic Certificate
The holder of a Repairman Certificate
The holder of a Repair Station Certificate
The holder of a Air Carrier Operating Certificate
The holder of a Pilot Certificate

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Part 43.5 Approval for Return to Service After

Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance
No person may approve for return to service any aircraft
that has undergone maintenanceunless,
(a) The maintenance record entry required by 43.9 or 43.11
has been made

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Part 43.7 Persons Authorized to Approve

Aircraft, Aircraft enginesfor return to service
after maintenance
The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection
authorization
The holder of a repair station certificate
The manufacturer
The holder of a air carrier operation certificate
The holder of a private pilot certificate

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Part 43.9 Content, Form, and Disposition of

Maintenance Records
(a)each person who maintains, performs preventive
maintenance, rebuilds, or alters an aircraft, engine,
propeller, appliance, or component part, shall make
an entry in the maintenance record of that
equipment
(1) A description of work performed.
(2) Date of completion of the work performed.
(3) The name of the person performing the work
(4) The signature, certificate number, and kind of
certificate held by the person approving the work.

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Note
The signature constitutes the approval for return
to service only for the work performed.

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Part 43.11 Content, Form, and Disposition

of Records for Inspections
(a) The person approving an aircraft for return to service
shall make an entry in the maintenance record of that
equipment containing the following information:

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Part 43.11 Content, Form, and Disposition of

Records for Inspections
(1) The type of inspection and a brief description.
(2) The date of the inspection and aircraft total time in
service.
(3) The signature, the certificate number, and kind of
certificate held by the person approving the aircraft for
return to service.
(4) Certifying statement

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43.13 PERFORMANCE RULES (GENERAL)

(a) Each person performing maintenance, alteration, or
preventive maintenance on an aircraft, engine, propeller, or
appliance shall use the methods, techniques, and practices
prescribed in the current manufacturers maintenance
manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness prepared
by its manufacturer, or other methods, techniques, and
practices acceptable to the Administrator, except as noted in
43.16. He shall use the tools, equipment, and test apparatus
necessary to assure completion of the work in accordance
with accepted industry practices. If special equipment or
test apparatus is recommended by the manufacturer
involved, he must use that equipment or apparatus or its
equivalent acceptable to the Administrator.
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43.13 PERFORMANCE RULES (GENERAL) (cont.)

(b) Each person maintaining or altering or performing
preventive maintenance, shall do that work in such a manner
and use material of such a quality, that the condition of the
aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance
worked on will be at least equal to its original or properly
altered condition (with regard to aerodynamic
function, structural strength, vibration and deterioration
resistance, and other qualities affecting airworthiness).
(c) (Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Programs
approved under FAR Part 121, 127, 135, and 129 constitute an
acceptable means of compliance with this section).
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91.417 Maintenance Records

Records of maintenancemust include-A description (or reference to data acceptable to the
Administrator) of the work performed; and
The date of completion of the work performed; and
The signature, and certificate number of the person
approving the aircraft for return to service.

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91.417 Maintenance Records

The total time in service of the airframe, each engine,
each propeller, and each rotor.
The current status of life-limited parts of each airframe,
engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance.
The time since last overhaul of all items installed on the
aircraft which are required to be overhauled on a
specified time basis.
The current inspection status of the aircraft, including the
time since the last inspection required by the inspection
program under which the aircraft and appliances are
maintained.

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91.417 Maintenance Records

The current status of applicable airworthiness directives
(AD) and safety directives including, the method of
compliance, the AD or safety directive number and
revision date. If the AD or safety directive involves
recurring action, the time and date when the next action
is required.
Copies of the forms prescribed by Sec. 43.9(a) for each
major alteration to the airframe, and currently installed
engines, rotors, propellers, and appliances.

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Record retention
The owner or operator shall retain the following records
for the periods prescribed:
The records specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section
shall be retained until the work is repeated or superseded
by other work or for 1 year after the work is performed.
The records specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section
shall be retained and transferred with the aircraft at the
time the aircraft is sold.

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
You dont have to write a book.
The regulations permit reference to technical data in
lieu of making a long step by step detailed entry.
Common references include maintenance manuals,
service letters, bulletins, work orders, advisory circulars
(AC43.13-1B), and others.
Major alterations may reference STCs.
Reference documents must be retained.

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What Must Be In The Maintenance

Records?
Description of the work performed
Date the work was completed
Signature and certificate number of the person
approving the work

SIGNATURE

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AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
An unsafe condition exist in a product.
The condition is likely to exist or develop in other products
of the same design.

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RESPONSIBILITY
The Owner/Operator is primarily responsible for
maintaining the aircraft in an airworthy condition,
including compliance with ADs
The Owner/Operator is responsible for ensuring that
properly certificated persons perform the work.

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RESPONSIBILITY
Maintenance personnel are responsible when they are
performing inspections to determine that all airworthiness
requirements are met.
Part 43.15

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RECORDS
The owner must keep a record showing the current
status of all applicable ADs.
This record must include the following:
The current status of ADs applicable to the aircraft,
including the AD number and revision date, the method
of compliance, and the timeinservice, or the cycles,
and the date and/or time when the next action is
required for a recurring AD.

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Steps to performing a successful AD

research
Un-cowl and completely open the aircraft for the
inspection.
Clean the aircraft.
Starting with the aircraft serial number, write down
each and every part number and serial number of
all installed equipment, to include the engine and
its components, and the prop.
There are a number of good forms available for this
on the internet.

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Steps to performing a successful

AD research
Climbing under the panel with a flashlight and
mirror to collect the model and serial numbers from
all the instruments is difficult.
BUT..
Murphys Law says that the instrument you miss
will be the one with the AD note that is overdue.

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AD sign offs in the records.

Some common yet incorrect entries found
in some records are:
PCW with no other information
or
N/A with no other information
or
an entry without enough information
or
All ADs complied with

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Problem maintenance record entry?

No reference to next due date and time. All other AD

notes checked for compliance is an incorrect signoff.

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Sample Logbook Entry

N12345 Tach/Hobbs: ____________

ACTT: ____________

Enter the type of inspection(s) performed:

Enter accomplishment of all A.D.s including the number, revision date,
method of compliance, and if recurring, the next time/date it is due.
Enter replacement or inspection of any component part with Airworthiness
Limitations (include part, serial number, and total time in service for that
component).
Enter removal and installation of any serialized components
(include part, serial number, and total time in service for that component).
Enter description of any other general maintenance performed.
I certify that this aircraft was inspected in accordance with a (insert type)
inspection and was determined to be in an airworthy condition. All work
was accomplished in accordance with current Federal Aviation
Regulations and manufacturers maintenance instructions.

Signature_______________ Certificate #_______________ Date__________

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DESCRIPTION OF WORK PERFORMED

The description should be in sufficient detail to permit
a person unfamiliar with the work, to understand what
was done, and the methods and procedures used.
Show the same pride in your record entries as you
do in your work.

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Summary
It may be a simple airframe, engine, propeller log book,
or an air carriers maintenance record system.
A description of the work performed, date the work was
performed and the signature with certificate number and
type are always required.

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Common problems

No documentation.
Inadequate description of work performed.
Using the wrong reference.
Poor shift turnovers

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Easy solutions
Follow the regulations.
Follow company procedures (GMM).
Use the Maintenance Personal Minimums Checklist !

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Before the
task

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AFTER

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The Southern Region FAASTeam is

dedicated to quality customer service
and we would appreciate your
feedback on the critique sheet
provided.
Thank You

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