Airworthiness Requirements

Question 1

What documents are required on board and aircraft prior to flight?

Answer 1

Airworthiness Certificate
Registration certificate
Radio Station License
Operating Limitations
Weight and Balance

Question 2

What is an airworthiness certificate?

Answer 2

An A/W certificate is issued by the FAA to an aircraft that has been proven to meet the minimum design and manufacturing requirements and is condition for same operations. Under any circumstance the A/C must meet the requirements of the original type certificate or it is no longer airworthy. These certificates come in two different classifications: standard and special

Question 3

What is the difference between a standard and special airworthiness certificate

Answer 3

Standard airworthiness certificates (white paper) are issued for normal, utility, acrobatic, commuter, or transport category aircraft. Special airworthiness certificate (pink paper) are issued for primary, restricted, or limited category aircraft and light sport aircraft

Question 4

What is an experimental airworthiness certificate

Answer 4

A special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category is issued to operate an aircraft that does not have a type certificate or does not conform to its type certificate yet is in a condition for safe operation. Additionally, this certificate is issued to operate a primary category kit-built aircraft that was assembled without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder

Question 5

Does an airworthiness certificate have an expiration date?

Answer 5

No. A standard airworthiness certificate remain valid for as long as the aircraft meets its approved type design, is in a condition for safe operation, and the maintenance, preventative maintenance, and alterations are performed in accordance with 14 CFR Part 21, 43, and 91

Question 6

Where must the airworthiness certificate be located

Answer 6

The certificate must be displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers and crew

Question 7

For an aircraft to be considered airworthy, what two conditions must be met?

Answer 7

The aircraft must conform to its type design. This is attained when the required and proper components are installed consistent with the drawings, specifications, and other data that are part of the type certificate. Conformity includes applicable supplemental type certificate and field approve alterations

The aircraft must be in a condition for safe operations, referring to the condition of the aircraft in relation to wear and deterioration

Question 8

Explain how a pilot determine if an aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation

Answer 8

For type design, a pilot must determine that the maintenance, preventative maintenance, and alterations have been performed in accordance 14 CFR part 21, 43, and 91 and that the aircraft is registered in the US. The pilot does this by ensuring that all required inspections, maintenance, preventive maintenance, repairs, and alterations have been appropriately documented in the aircraft’s maintenance records

For safe operations, the pilot conducts a thorough preflight inspection of the aircraft for wear and deterioration, structural damage, fluid leaks, tire wear, inoperative instruments and equipment, etc. If an unsafe condition exists or inoperative instruments or equipment are found, the pilot uses the guidance in 14 CFR 91.213 for handling inoperative equipment.

Question 9

What records or documents should be checked to determine that the owner or operator of an aircraft has complied with all required inspections and airworthiness directives?

Answer 9

The maintenance records (aircraft and engine logbooks). Each owner or operator of an aircraft shall ensure that maintenance personnel make appropriate entries in the aircraft maintenance records indicating the aircraft has been approved for return to service

Question 10

Who is responsible for ensuring that an aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition?

Answer 10

The owner or operator of an aircraft is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition

Question 11

Describe some of the responsibilities an aircraft owner has pertaining to aircraft documents, maintenance, and inspections of their aircraft

Answer 11

Owners must:

Have current airworthiness certificate and aircraft registration in the aircraft

Maintain the A/C in an airworthy condition including compliance with all applicable AD’s

Ensure maintenance is properly recorded

Keep abreast of current regulations concerning the operation of that aircraft

Notify the FAA of any changes of mail address, sale or export of the A/C or loss of citizenship

Have a current FCC radio license if required

Question 12

What are airworthiness directives

Answer 12

A medium by which the FAA notifies aircraft owners and other potentially interested persons of unsafe conditions that may exist because of design defects, maintenance, or other causes, and specifies the conditions under which the product may continue to be operated. AD’s are regulatory in nature, and compliance is mandatory.

Question 13

What are the two types of AD

Answer 13

Emergency requiring immediate compliance prior to further flight and less urgent ones requiring compliance within a specific period of time

Question 14

When are emergency AD’s issued

Answer 14

Whenever an unsafe conditions exists that requires immediate action by the owner/operator

Question 15

What is a type certificate data sheet

Answer 15

The FAA issues type certificates whenever a new A/C, engine, or prop is found to meet safety standards set forth by the FAA. The TCDS lists the specifications, conditions, and limitations under which airworthiness requirements were met for the specific product, such as engine make and model, fuel type, engine limits, airspeed limits, maximum weight, min. crew etc.

Question 16

What is a supplemental type certificate

Answer 16

FAA’s approval of a major change in the type design of a previously approved type certificated product. It authorizes an alteration to an airframe, engine, or components that has been granted and approved type certificate. STC are part of the permanent records of an A/C

Question 17

What is an A/C registration certificate

Answer 17

The certificate of aircraft registration and must be carried in the aircraft at all times

Question 18

Does an A/C registration certificate have an expiration date

Answer 18

Yes, 3 years after the last day of the month it was issued. Temp. cert. of registration is valid for 90 days after signature

Question 19

Where can you find information on the placard and marking information required to be in the airplane

Answer 19

The type certificate data sheet or the Limitations section of the POH

Question 20

What are several examples of placard and markings required in the airplane

Answer 20

Placards: day-night-VFR-IFR, Flight maneuvers Permitted, Compass Calibration card

Marking - Airspeed indicator markings, cockpit control markings, fule, oil, and coolant filler opening

Question 21

What are the required tests and inspections to be performed on an A/C

Answer 21

A - Annual inspection 12 month
A - AD's and life limited parts
V - VOR every 30 days for IFR
1 - 100-h inspection if used for hire 
A - Altimeter, altitude reporting equipment, pito sys - 2 years
T - Transponder every 2 years
E - ELT 1 year

Question 22

What is an annual inspection and which aircraft are required to have an annual inspection

Answer 22

Complete inspection of the A/C and engine every 12 months required by all certificated aircraft. Only an A&P/IA can do it

Question 23

What A/C are required to have 100h inspection

Answer 23

All A/C under 12,500 used to carry passengers for hire

A/C used for flight instruction when provided by the person giving the flight instruction

Question 24

If an A/C is operated for hire is it required to have a 100h inspection as well as an annual

Answer 24

Yes

Question 25

What is the difference between an annual inspection and a 100h inspection

Answer 25

Main different is 100h can be done by an A&P while an annual must be done by an A&P/AI

Question 26

If an A/C has been on a schedule of inspection every 100h, under what condition may it continue to operate beyond the 100h without a new inspection

Answer 26

100h maybe exceed by no more than 10h while en route to a location for the inspection and the time is subtracted from the next 100h

Question 27

If the annual inspection date has passed, can an aircraft be operated to a location where the inspection can be performed

Answer 27

Yes but only with a a Special Flight Permit and if all AD’s have been met

Question 28

What are special flight permits and when are they necessary

Answer 28

SFP’s are issued for A/C that are not currently airworthy but may be operated safely. Issued typically for:

Flying the A/C to get the inspection, repair, or storage
Delivering or exporting the A/C
Production flight testing
Evacuating A/C from areas of danger
Conducting customer demonstration flights in a new-production A/C that has completed production flight tests

Question 29

How are SFP’s obtained

Answer 29

Local FSDO or Designated Airworthiness Rep

Question 30

After A/C inspections have been made and defect have been repaired, who is responsible for determining that the aircraft is in an airworthy condition

Answer 30

The PIC

Question 31

What regulations apply concerning the operation of an A/C that has had alterations or repairs which may have substantially affected its operation in flight

Answer 31

The PIC must fly the A/C make an operational check of the maintenance performed or alteration made and log the flight in the A/C record

Question 32

Can a pilot legally conduct flight operations with known inoperative equipment onboard

Answer 32

Yes, under specific condition that meet the regulations of operating an A/C with and without an MEL

Question 33

What limitations apply to aircraft operations conducted using the deferral provision

Answer 33

When inop equipment is found the decision should be to cancel the flight or defer the item.

Question 34

During the preflight inspection in an aircraft that doesn’t have a MEL, you notice that an instrument or equipment item is inoperative. Describe how you will determine if the aircraft is still airworthy for flight??.

Answer 34

1. Are the inop instruments or equipment part of the VFR day type certification
2. Are the instruments or equipment listed or required on the A/C KOEL list for the type of operation being conducted
3. Are the instruments required by regulations 91.207
4. Are the instruments required by an AD

If the answer is yet to any of the above the A/C is not airworthy. If the answer is no the equipment must be removed by an A&P or deactivated and marked inop

Question 35

What are Minimum Equipment Lists

Answer 35

The MEL is a precise listing of instruments, equipment and procedures that allow an aircraft to be operated under specific conditions with inoperative equipment. The MEL is the specific inoperative equipment document for a particular make and model aircraft by serial and registration numbers. The FAA approve MEL includes only those items of equipment that the FAA deems may be inoperative and still maintain an acceptable level of safety with appropriate conditions and limitations

Question 36

For an A/C with an approved MEL, explain the decision sequence a pilot would use after discovering the position lights are inop

Answer 36

With an approved MEL, if the positions light were discovered inop prior to a daytime flight, the pilot would make an entry in the maintenance record or discrepancy record provided for that purpose. The item is then either repaired or deferred in accordance with the MEL. Upon confirming that daytime flight with inop position lights is acceptable in accordance with the provisions of the MEL, the pilot would leave the position light switch OFF, open the circuit breaker, or whatever action is called for in the procedure document, and placard the position light switch as inoperative

Question 37

Explain the limitations that apply to aircraft operations being conducted using an MEL

Answer 37

The use of an MEL for a small, non-turbine-powered A/C operated under part 91 allows for the deferral of inop items. The FAA considers an approved MEL to be a supplemental type cert. issued to an A/C by serial number and registration. Once an operator request an MEL and a Letter of Authorization is issued by the FAA then the MEL becomes mandatory for the A/C. All maintenance deferrals must be done in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MEL and the operator-generated procedures document

Question 38

What instruments and equipment are required for VFR day flight

Answer 38

A - Anti-collision light system
T - Tachometer for each engine
O - Oil pressure for each engine
M - Manifold pressure for each alt. engine
A - Altimeter
T - Temperature for each liquid cooled engine

F - Fuel gauge for each tank
F - Flotation gear if operating for hire over water 
L - Landing gear position indicator
A - Airspeed indicator
M - Magnetic direction indicator
E - ELT
S - Safety belts

Question 39

What instruments are required for VFR night flight

Answer 39

F - Fuses 1 set or 3 of each kind
L - Landing Lights if operating for hire
A - Anti-collision light approved aviation red or white
P - Position light - nav lights
S - Source of electrical energy adequate for all installed electrical and radio equipment

Question 40

Who can perform maintenance on an aircraft

Answer 40

FAA certified A&P mechanic, A&P mechanic with Inspector Authorization, FAA certified and rated repair stations, or the A/C manufacturer

Question 41

Define preventive maintenance

Answer 41

Preventive maintenance means simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations. Certificated pilots, excluding student pilots, sport pilots, and recreational pilots, may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft that is owned or operated by them provided that aircraft is not sue in air carrier services

Question 42

What logbook entry information is required of the person performing preventive maintenance

Answer 42

All pilots who maintain or perform preventive maintenance must make an entry in the maintenance record of the A/C. The entry must include a description of the work, the date of completion of the work performed, and an entry of the pilot’s name, signature, cert. number and type of cert. held