Plane Sense
lsA registration
If you purchased a newly manufactured LSA that is
to be certificated as an experimental LSA under 14
CFR part 21, section 21.191(i)(2), or a special LSA
under 14 CFR part 21, section 21.190, then you must
provide the following documentation to the FAA
Civil Aviation Registry Aircraft Registration Branch
(AFS-750):
• Aeronautical Center (AC) Form 8050-88 (as
revised), Light-Sport Aircraft Manufacturer’s
Affidavit, or its equivalent, completed by the LSA
manufacturer, unless previously submitted to
AFS-750 by the manufacturer,
• Evidence of ownership from the aircraft
manufacturer,
• AC Form 8050-1, Aircraft Registration
Application, and
• Registration fee.
The FAA Light Sport Aviation Branch (AFS-610) or
your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
can assist you with questions about LSA registration.
Available resources
There are a number of resources available to assist
LSA owners and operators.
Light Sport Aviation Branch, AFS-610
AFS-610 manages and provides oversight of the SP
examiner and the LSA repairman-training programs,
and also provides subject matter experts for FAA
and the aviation industry concerning the SP/LSA
aircraft safety initiatives. AFS-610 performs the
following functions:
• Acceptance of LSA Repairman courses
• Light Sport Standardization Board
• Oversight of designated SP Examiners
• SP Examiner Initial Training Seminar
• SP Examiner Recurrent Training Program
AFS-610 contact information is available in the FAA
Contact Information appendix on pages A1–A2 of
this handbook.
Experimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
was founded in 1953 by a group of individuals
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who were interested
in building their own airplanes. Through the
decades, the organization expanded its mission
to include antiques, classics, warbirds, aerobatic
aircraft, ultralights, helicopters, light sport, and
contemporary manufactured aircraft.
EAA is an excellent resource for light sport aircraft
owners and operators. You can contact the EAA at:
EAA Aviation Center
3000 Poberezny Rd
Oshkosh, WI 54902
(800) JOIN-EAA phone
www.eaa.org
regulatory Guidance
Regulatory guidance for LSA owners and operators
includes:
• FAA Order 8130.2 (as revised), Airworthiness
Certification of Aircraft and Related Products
• FAA Order 8130.33 (as revised), Designated
Airworthiness Representatives: Amateur-Built
and Light-Sport Aircraft Certification Functions
Plane Sense
aintenance means the preservation, inspection, overhaul, and repair of aircraft,
including the replacement of parts. The purpose of maintenance is to ensure that the
aircraft remains airworthy throughout its operational life. A properly maintained aircraft
is a safe aircraft.
Although maintenance requirements vary for different types of aircraft, experience shows
that most aircraft need some type of preventive maintenance every 25 hours or less of
flying time, and minor maintenance at least every 100 hours. This is influenced by the kind
of operation, climactic conditions, storage facilities, age, and construction of the aircraft.
Maintenance manuals are available from aircraft manufacturers or commercial vendors with
revisions for maintaining your aircraft.
While the requirements for maintaining your aircraft are contained in Title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (14 CFR), it is essential for every aircraft owner to remember that specific
maintenance requirements are available from the aircraft manufacturer.
maintenance responsibilities
14 CFR part 91, section 91.403, places primary responsibility on the owner or operator for
maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition. Certain inspections must be performed on
your aircraft, and you must maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft between the required
inspections by having any defects corrected. 14 CFR part 91, section 91.327 pertains to light-
sport aircraft. Light-sport aircraft certificated in the light sport category under 14 CFR part
21, section 21.190 must be maintained by an FAA-certificated airframe and powerplant (A&P)
mechanic or a light-sport repairman with a maintenance rating.
14 CFr Part 91, subpart e
14 CFR part 91, subpart E, requires the inspection of all civil aircraft at specific intervals
to determine the overall condition. The interval generally depends on the type of operations
in which the aircraft is engaged. Some aircraft need to be inspected at least once every
12 calendar months, while inspection is required for others after each 100 hours of operation.
In other instances, an aircraft may be inspected in accordance with an inspection system set
up to provide for total inspection of the aircraft on the basis of calendar time, time in service,
number of system operations, or any combination of these factors.
Aircraft maintenance
Plane Sense
To determine the specific inspection requirements
and rules for the performance of inspections, you
should refer to 14 CFR part 91, subpart E, which
prescribes the requirements for various types of
operations.
manufacturer maintenance manuals
All inspections must follow the manufacturer main-
tenance manual, including the instructions for
continued airworthiness concerning inspection
intervals, parts replacement, and life-limited items
as applicable to your aircraft. The maintenance
manuals provided by the manufacturer of your air-
craft are your best available resource on issues of
aircraft maintenance.
Preventive maintenance
14 CFR lists 32 relatively uncomplicated repairs and
procedures defined as preventive maintenance.
Certificated pilots, excluding student and recreational
pilots, may perform preventive maintenance on any
aircraft owned or operated by them that are not used
in air carrier service. These preventive maintenance
operations are listed in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A,
Preventive Maintenance. 14 CFR part 43 also con-
tains other rules to be followed in the maintenance
of aircraft.
inspections
In order to provide a reasonable assurance that
aircraft are functioning properly, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) requires a series of aircraft
inspections somewhat similar to the many currency
requirements for airmen. This section outlines the
basic inspection requirements for aircraft.
Annual Inspection
Most general aviation aircraft require an annual in-
spection pursuant to 14 CFR part 91, section 91.409.
Excluded aircraft:
• Use an approved progressive inspection plan;
• Carry a special flight permit; or
• Carry a provisional airworthiness certificate.
The annual inspection must be completed and
approved by a mechanic with an inspection
authorization (IA) once every 12 calendar months.
For example, if the aircraft’s annual is endorsed on
June 16, 2008, the next annual inspection is due
before July 1, 2009; otherwise the aircraft may not
be flown without authorization (e.g., a special
flight or “ferry” permit).
A ferry permit is required to fly an aircraft that is
out of annual, such as in the case of flying to another
airport for the inspection. Chapter 5 discusses the
issuance of special flight permits. You can contact
your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
for instructions on applying for a special flight or
ferry permit.
100-Hour Inspection
The 100-hour (14 CFR part 91, section 91.409)
inspection is required for aircraft that either:
• Carry any person (other than a crewmember) for
hire, or
• Are provided by any person giving flight
instruction.
The 100-hour limit may be exceeded by 10 hours
for the purposes of flying to a place where the
inspection can be completed. The excess time must
be included in computing the next 100 hours of
time in service.
Some examples of “for hire” operations under 14 CFR
part 91 that subject the aircraft to the 100-hour
inspection requirement include:
• An aerial photography flight, or
• A flight instructor providing an aircraft, or
any operation that supplies both flight instruction
and an aircraft. (An aircraft provided by the
(student) pilot receiving instruction is not subject
to the 100-hour inspection.)
Condition Inspection
A condition inspection is required once every 12
calendar months for light-sport aircraft certificated
in the light-sport category. In accordance with 14
CFR part 91, section 91.327, the condition inspection
must be performed by “a certificated repairman
(light-sport aircraft) with a maintenance rating, an
appropriately rated mechanic, or an appropriately
rated repair station in accordance with inspection
procedures developed by the aircraft manufacturer or
a person acceptable to the FAA.”
other inspection Programs
The annual and 100-hour inspection requirements
do not apply to large (over 12,500 pounds)
airplanes, turbojets, or turbopropeller-powered
multiengine airplanes, or to airplanes for which the
owner or operator complies with the progressive
inspection requirements. Details of these require-
ments may be determined by reference to 14 CFR
part 43, section 43.11; 14 CFR part 91, subpart E;
and by inquiry at the local FSDO.
Chapter 7: Aircraft Maintenance
Progressive Inspection
To minimize maintenance downtime, the owner may
opt for a progressive inspection plan. Progressive
inspections benefit owners whose aircraft experience
high usage such as fixed base operators (FBOs), flight
schools, and corporate flight departments. Unlike
an annual inspection, a progressive inspection allows
for more frequent but shorter inspection phases,
only if all items required for the annual and 100-hour
inspections are inspected within the required time.
The authority to use a progressive inspection plan
is non-transferable. Once the aircraft is sold, an
annual becomes due within 12 calendar months of
the last complete cycle. The 100-hour inspection
is due at the completion of the next 100 hours of
operation. Most airframe manufacturers provide
a boilerplate progressive maintenance plan.
14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D, Scope and Detail of
Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To
Be Included in Annual and 100-Hour Inspections,
contains a list of general items to be checked during
inspections.
Altimeter System Inspection
The aircraft’s static system, altimeter, and automatic
altitude-reporting (Mode C) system must have been
inspected and tested in the preceding 24 calendar
months before flying instrument flight rules (IFR) in
controlled airspace. 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix E,
Altimeter System Test and Inspection, lists the items
that must be checked.
Transponder Inspection
The transponder must be inspected every 24 calen-
dar months. 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix F, ATC
Transponder Tests and Inspections, lists the items
that must be checked. Additionally, the installation of
or modification to a transponder must be inspected
for data errors as well.
Preflight Inspection
A pilot is required to conduct a thorough preflight
inspection before every flight to ensure that the
aircraft is safe for flight. Pilots should review the
maintenance status of the aircraft as a part of the
preflight inspection.
repairs and Alterations
All repairs and alterations of standard airworthiness
certificated aircraft are classified as either major
or minor. 14 CFR part 43, appendix A, describes the
alterations and repairs considered major. Major
repairs or alterations are approved for return to
service on FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Altera-
tion, by an appropriately rated certificated repair
station, an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic holding
an IA, or a representative of the Administrator.
Minor repairs and minor alterations may be
approved for return to service with a proper entry
in the maintenance records by a certificated A&P
mechanic or an appropriately certificated repair
station.
Alterations to light-sport aircraft certificated in
the light-sport aircraft category under 14 CFR
part 21, section 21.190, must be authorized by the
manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA in
accordance with 14 CFR part 91, section 91.327.
minimum equipment list/Configuration
deviation list
If your aircraft has an approved Minimum Equipment
List (MEL), the MEL should be used to determine
if a flight may be initiated with inoperative aircraft
equipment without the issuance of a special flight
permit. Your Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) may also
include a Configuration Deviation List (CDL) pre-
pared by the manufacturer.
If your aircraft does not have an approved MEL, and
you have inoperative equipment or instruments,
then you must refer to 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213,
to determine if a special flight permit is needed to
operate the aircraft.
FAA resources
You can find all of the maintenance requirements
applicable to your aircraft in 14 CFR by accessing
the relevant regulations on the FAA website at
www.faa.gov. The best resource for answering
questions about the maintenance necessary on
your aircraft is your local FSDO.
experimental Aircraft
If you make any major alterations to your
experimental aircraft, you must notify your local
FSDO of those alterations.
Plane Sense
n aircraft owner is required to keep aircraft maintenance records for the airframe, engine,
propeller, and appliances. These records must contain a description of the work performed
on the aircraft, the date the work was completed, the certificated mechanic’s signature, the type
of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate, and the certificate number and signature
of the person approving the aircraft for return to service.
responsibilities of the Aircraft o wner
All recordkeeping is primarily the responsibility of the aircraft owner. The airframe and
powerplant (A&P) mechanic is responsible for the work he or she performs. The owner of an
aircraft must also ensure that maintenance personnel make appropriate entries in the aircraft
maintenance records indicating the aircraft has been approved for return to service. The
owner’s aircraft records shall also contain the inspections required pursuant to Title 14 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, section 91.409.
Proper management of aircraft operations begins with a good system of maintenance records.
A properly completed maintenance record provides the information needed by the owner and
maintenance personnel to determine when scheduled inspections and maintenance are to be
performed.
Aircraft maintenance records must include:
• The total time in service of the airframe, each engine, and each propeller;
• The current status of life-limited parts of each airframe, engine, propeller, rotor, and
appliance;
• The time since the last overhaul of all items installed on the aircraft, which are required to
be overhauled on a specified time basis;
• The identification of the current inspection status of the aircraft, including the time since
the last inspection required by the inspection program under which the aircraft and its
appliances are maintained;
• The current status of applicable Airworthiness Directives (ADs) including, for each, the
method of compliance, the AD number, and the revision date. If the AD involves recurring
action, the time and date the next action is required; and
• A copy of the major alterations to each airframe, engine, propeller, and appliance.
These records are retained by the owner and are transferred with the aircraft when it is sold.
Figure 8-1 at the end of this chapter is a maintenance records checklist you can use to document
compliance with the applicable maintenance requirements.
maintenance records