- Aircraft maintenance records are required whenever any maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration is performed on an aircraft. This includes inspections and tasks like tire changes. - Records must include a description of the work performed, the date it was completed, the name of the person who performed it, and the signature, certificate number and type of certificate held by the person approving the work. - Owners are responsible for keeping maintenance records for at least one year after work is performed, or until it is superseded. This includes records of inspections, life-limited part replacements, AD compliance status and time until next action.

1. Aircraft Maintenance Records
 Greg Nolting - Aviation Safety Inspector

2. My Background
 FAA Inspector since 1995
 Graduate of FAA Approved A&P School
 IA since 1981
 Started career at flight school in Minnesota
 Chief Inspector for 135, 141, and 145.
 DOM for 135
 Taught at A&P 147 School
 DME

3. When are aircraft maintenance
records required?
 Whenever any maintenance, preventive
maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration is
performed.
 Maintenance means inspection, overhaul,
repair, preservation, and the replacement of
parts (excludes preventive maintenance).
 In other words, you must make a record entry
for everything, including tire changes.

4. 14 CFR 43.5 Approval for return to service
after maintenance, preventive maintenance,
rebuilding, or alteration.
• No person may approve for return to service any aircraft,
airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance, that has
undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance,
rebuilding, or alteration unless—
• (a) The maintenance record entry required by §43.9 or
§43.11, as appropriate, has been made;
• (b) The repair or alteration form authorized by or
furnished by the Administrator has been executed in a
manner prescribed by the Administrator; and
• (c) If a repair or an alteration results in any change in the
aircraft operating limitations or flight data contained in
the approved aircraft flight manual, those operating
limitations or flight data are appropriately revised and set
forth as prescribed in §91.9 of this chapter.

5. 91.405 Maintenance required.
 Each owner or operator of an aircraft—
 (a) Shall have that aircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this
part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in
paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed
in part 43 of this chapter;
 (b) Shall ensure that maintenance personnel make appropriate entries
in the aircraft maintenance records indicating the aircraft has been
approved for return to service;
 (c) Shall have any inoperative instrument or item of equipment,
permitted to be inoperative by §91.213(d)(2) of this part, repaired,
replaced, removed, or inspected at the next required inspection; and
 (d) When listed discrepancies include inoperative instruments or
equipment, shall ensure that a placard has been installed as required
by §43.11 of this chapter.

6. ADVISORY CIRCULAR 43-9B
• Maintenance records are a shared responsibility
between the owner/operator and maintenance
personnel, with the ultimate responsibility
resting with the owner/operator.

7. FAR 43.9
“RECORD ENTRIES”
 Maintenance Records
(except for inspections)
shall contain the
following information:

8. • A description (or reference to data) of work
performed.
• The date of completion of the work.
• The name of the person performing the
work if other than specified below.
• The signature, certificate number, and kind
of certificate held by the person approving
the work.

9. “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 in doing it.

10. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
 You don’t have to write a book.
 The rule permits reference to technical
data in lieu of making a detailed entry.
 Common references include maintenance
manuals, service letters, bulletins, work
orders, advisory circulars (AC43.13-1B),
and others.
 Major alterations may reference STC’s.
 Reference documents must be retained.

11. IN ADDITION
 “major repairs and alterations shall be
entered on a form, and the form disposed
of, in a manner prescribed in appendix B,
by the person performing the work.”
 Requirements of appendix B have
changed!
 You will soon be able to file online.

12. 14 CFR 43.11, RECORDS FOR
INSPECTIONS
• The person approving
or disapproving for
return to service after
any inspection
performed IAW Part
91, 123, 125, & 135
shall make an entry in
the maintenance
record the following:

13.  The type of inspection and a brief
description of the extent of the inspection.
 The date of the inspection and the aircraft
total time in service.
 The signature, the certificate number, the
kind of certificate held by the person
approving or disapproving for return to
service.

14. “I certify that this aircraft has been
inspected in accordance with (insert type)
inspection and was determined to be in
airworthy condition.”
Daniel Johnson AP123456789IA

15. Sample Logbook Entry
N123A 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 component replacement parts
(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 manufacturer’s
maintenance instructions. Details of work performed can be found on XYZ Company
work order _______.
______________________ __________________________ ____________
Signature Certificate # Date

16. Other Considerations
 If you find the aircraft to be unairworthy,
you need to list the discrepancies. The
list must be signed and dated.
 For progressive inspections, the
certification statement is different.
 For other approved inspection programs,
the entry is made according to that
program.

17. FAR 91.417 (a)
“MAINTENANCE RECORDS”
• The owner/operator shall keep the
following records:

18.  Records of the maintenance, preventive
maintenance, alterations, 100 hour,
annual, progressive and other required or
approved inspections, as appropriate.
 Total time in service for the aircraft, each
engine, each propeller, and each rotor.
 Current status of life-limited parts.
 Time since last required overhauls.

19.  The current status of applicable
Airworthiness Directives (A.D.)
 Copies of FAA Form 337 for any major
alterations performed.

20. 14 CFR 91.417 (b)(1)
The Owner or Operator shall retain all
maintenance records for 1 year after the
work is performed or until the work is
repeated or superseded by other work.

21. FAR 91.417 (b)(2)
 After one year, some maintenance records do
not have to be retained.
 For the most part, this pertains to repairs and
replacement of parts that are not life-limited.
 Altimeter/Transponder checks must be kept for
24 calendar months, or until repeated.
 All other records must be retained and
transferred with the aircraft at the time the
aircraft is sold.

22. Let’s talk about A.D.’s
 The owner/operator shall keep records
containing “the current status of
applicable airworthiness directives
(AD) including, for each, the method
of compliance, the AD number, and
revision date. If the AD involves
recurring action, the time and date
when the next action is required.”

23. Breaking this down …….
 How do you determine the current status?
 What was the method of compliance?
 Do you enter the revision date?
 For recurring AD’s, do you enter the time and
date of next recurring action?
 Where do you make these entries?

24. AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE COMPLIANCE RECORD
AIRCRAFT/AIRFRAME
REG. #: _________________ MAKE: _________________ MODEL: ___________________ S/N: ____________________
A.D.
NUMBER
REVISION
DATE
EFFECTIVE
DATE
SERIAL #
AFFECTED
MFG. S.B.
NUMBER
DESCRIPTION DATE/TIME
COMPLIANCE
DUE
EACH

25. Sample from AC 43-9

26. Maintenance tracking systems
 Keeping a list of scheduled maintenance.
 Computer tracking.
 Commercial record systems.

27. Making it work for you.
• If it doesn’t say that you can’t, then you
can.
• Consider what the regulations don’t say.
• They don’t say that maintenance records
have to be kept in a bound logbook.

29. Time for Questions
 Thank you for your participation.