1.
Maintenance Records
2. Owners’ Responsibility
3. Records Required
• Airframe Record
• Engine Records
CONTENT
• Appliance Records
• Rotor Records
• Propeller Records
4. Airworthy Parts Tag
5. Airworthiness Directive Record
6. Format of Maintenance Records
7. Required Record Information
8. Retention of Maintenance Records
• Permanent Records
CONTENT • Temporary Records
9. Lost or Destroyed Records
10.Recording of Major Repairs and
Alterations
When returning an aircraft to service after
completing an inspection or performing
maintenance, technicians will encounter several
official forms, including maintenance records relating
to their work. A properly completed maintenance
record provides the information needed by the
owner or operator and the maintenance personnel
to determine when scheduled maintenance is to be
performed. Aircraft maintenance record-keeping is a
responsibility shared by the owner and the
maintenance technician, with the ultimate
responsibility assigned to the owner by FAR 91.417.
The owner or operator is primarily responsible for having and
maintaining the maintenance records for the aircraft.
•Present the maintenance records to the maintenance
personnel.
• Ensure that maintenance personnel make appropriate
entries in the aircraft and maintenance records indicating the
aircraft has been released to service.
• Transfer the appropriate records to the new owner in case
the aircraft is sold.
•Present the maintenance records for inspection to the FAA
and the National Transportation Safety Board if requested to
do so.
DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE RECORDS ENTRIES
The following are the different maintenance record Entries:
1. Aircraft Repair Entries
2. Aircraft Inspection Entries
3. Airworthiness Directive Compliance Entries
4. Form 337, Major Alteration and Repair
The minimum content of a maintenance
record entry is listed in FAR Part 43.9 and
consists of the following:
1. completion date of the work
performed,
2. a description or reference to data
acceptable to the FAA,
3. the name and if returned to service,
4. the signature and certificate number of
the person approving the aircraft,
airframe, engine, propeller, or
appliance for return to service.
FAR 43.11 contains the requirements for inspection entries. When a
technician approves or disapproves an aircraft for return to service
after an inspection, an entry must be made including the following
items:
1. The type of inspection and a brief description of the extent of the
inspection.
2. The date of the inspection and the aircraft’s total time in service.
3. The signature, the certificate number, and the kind of certificate held
by the person approving or disapproving the aircraft’s return to service.
4. If the aircraft is found to be airworthy and approved for return to
service, the following or a similarly worded statement: “I certify that this
aircraft has been inspected in accordance with [insert type] inspection
and was determined to be in airworthy condition.”
An annual inspection can be signed off in the
maintenance records as airworthy or
unairworthy depending on the condition of the
aircraft. A sample entry for the approval for the
return to service after an annual inspection is
as follows:
a. Airworthy Inspection Procedure
b. Unairworthy Inspection Procedure
A 100-hour inspection may be
signed off in the maintenance
records as airworthy or
unairworthy depending on the
condition of the aircraft. This is
accomplished by using the
same procedures as listed in
the preceding paragraphs and
substituting "100-hour" in place
of the "annual" wording.
An approved inspection program
entry will include the kind of
inspection conducted and a
statement that the inspection was
performed in accordance with the
instructions and procedures for the
inspection program selected by the
owner or operator of the airplane. If
any defects or discrepancies
discovered during the inspection
are not repaired, a signed and
dated list of those discrepancies will
be given to the aircraft owner or
operator.
Maintenance that is performed on aircraft must be
properly recorded in the maintenance records. This
includes any discrepancies corrected during the course of
an inspection. FAR 43.9 governs the recording of aircraft
maintenance and states that any maintenance
technician who maintains, rebuilds, or alters an aircraft
must make an entry containing the following information:
1. A description of the work or some reference to data
acceptable to the FAA.
2. The date the work was completed.
3. The maintenance technician’s name.
4. If the aircraft is approved for return to service, the
signature and the certificate number of the approving
maintenance technician.
Major repairs and alterations, in addition to being
recorded in the maintenance records according to
FAR 43.9, must also be recorded on FAA Form 337. FAA
Form 337 serves two purposes; one is to provide owners
with a record of major repairs and major alterations to
their aircraft, and the other is to provide the FAA with a
copy for its records. The maintenance technician who
performed or supervised the major repair or alteration
prepares the original FAA Form 337 in duplicate.
Approved data that can be used for major repairs and major
alterations may come from one of the following sources:
1. Type Certificate Data Sheets
2. Aircraft Specifications
3. Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs)
4. Airworthiness Directives
5. FAA Field Approval
6. Manufacturer’s FAA-Approved Data
7. Designated Engineering Representative–Approved Data
(DER-approved data)
8. Designated Alteration Station–Approved Data (DAS-
approved data)
9. Appliance Manufacturer’s Manuals
10.AC 43 13-2B may be used as approved data when it is
appropriate to the product being repaired, is directly
applicable to the repair being made, and is not contrary to
the manufacturer’s data
Airframe Record
The airframe record, often referred to as the aircraft
logbook in general aviation, serves as a vital document for
tracking the aircraft's history. It records essential
information such as time-in-service, maintenance
activities, alterations, inspections, and compliance with
Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for the airframe and its
associated components and appliances. While smaller
general aviation aircraft may combine these records in
one logbook, larger aircraft, turbine-powered aircraft, and
helicopters typically maintain separate records for their
appliances, component parts, and rotors to ensure
organized documentation.
Engine Records
Engine records are maintained to document the engine's time-in-
service, maintenance actions, alterations, inspections, and AD
compliance. For general aviation aircraft, this information is often
combined with details about the propeller and associated parts. In
larger and turbine-powered aircraft, separate records are commonly
kept for the propeller, appliances, and engine components that are
frequently replaced or have life-limited usage.
Rebuilt Engine Records
When an engine is newly manufactured, its time-in-service begins at
zero and continues until the engine is retired. However, if the engine is
rebuilt by the original manufacturer or an approved agency, the
previous maintenance records can be discarded, and the engine's
time-in-service resets to zero. This provision, outlined in FAR Part
91.421, applies strictly to engines that are officially rebuilt — not those
that are merely remanufactured, reconditioned, or overhauled by
non-approved companies.
Appliance Records
Any appliance installed on an airframe or engine that is
life-limited or requires time-controlled overhauls must have
a dedicated record. This record documents the
appliance’s time-in-service, maintenance, alterations, and
AD compliance. While this information can be recorded in
the airframe or engine log, it must provide enough detail
to clearly establish the appliance’s service status. Keeping
a separate appliance record is often the preferred
method for easier reference.
Rotor Records
Helicopter or rotorcraft rotors require a dedicated record
to track their time-in-service, maintenance, alterations,
and AD compliance. Since rotors are commonly life-
limited parts, maintaining an independent record helps
ensure their operational status is clearly defined. If rotor
information is recorded in the airframe log, sufficient
details must be provided to accurately track the rotors'
time-in-service and maintenance history.
Propeller Records
The propeller maintenance record provides a detailed
account of the propeller’s total time-in-service,
maintenance actions, alterations, inspections, and AD
compliance. In most light general aviation aircraft, this
information is included in the engine log since the
propeller typically remains with the same engine
throughout its service life. However, with the growing trend
of interchangeable engines and propellers, maintaining a
separate log for propeller records may soon become
standard practice to meet the requirements outlined in
FAR Part 91.417.
Airworthy Parts Tag
Certified repair stations often attach special condition tags
to parts and appliances to document their condition
following inspection, repair, or overhaul. These tags not only
indicate the part’s status but also serve as a maintenance
record. The tag may include details such as time-in-service
and overhaul times. Additionally, this tag acts as a
maintenance release or return-to-service authorization and
should be retained in the aircraft's records for future
reference.
Airworthiness Directive (AD) Record
The record of AD compliance is typically included in
the body of maintenance record entries. However,
maintaining a separate AD record can simplify the
process of researching and tracking AD
requirements. This separate record format, as
suggested in FAR Part 91.417, offers an organized
method for aircraft owners and maintenance
personnel to document and review AD compliance
effectively.
Maintenance records do not require a specific format or
form; they may be combined or kept separate, depending
on what best suits the needs of the operator while still
meeting the requirements of FAR Part 91.417. The key is to
have a system that effectively provides the necessary
information. While traditional bound logbooks are common,
they are not mandatory. Unbound pages can also be used,
though numbering these pages may be helpful for better
organization. Maintaining separate records for each engine,
propeller, and appliance is often advantageous, especially
when tracking life-limited parts or for fleet operators who
frequently interchange components between aircraft.
Maintenance records must include key identifying
details such as the aircraft's registration number,
make, model, serial number, and location. These
records should provide comprehensive information
to ensure proper tracking of maintenance and
compliance requirements. Essential details to include
are:
Total Time in Service: The recorded operational time
of the airframe, engine, propeller, and appliances.
Status of Life-Limited Parts: A record of parts that
have defined service limits.
Time Since Last Overhaul: For components requiring
overhaul based on operational hours or calendar
time.
Airworthiness Directive (AD) Compliance: Details of
compliance methods, revision dates, and for
recurring ADs, the next scheduled action’s time or
date.
Major Alterations List: A record of significant
modifications made to the airframe, engine,
propeller, and appliances.
When maintenance is performed, the following must also be
documented:
Date of Completion: The date the maintenance task was
finished.
Description of Work: A detailed description or reference to
FAA-approved data that outlines the work performed.
Approval Signature and Information: The name, signature,
and certificate number of the person who approved the
maintenance for return to service.
These detailed records ensure traceability, compliance, and
proper maintenance tracking for safe aircraft operation.
FAR Part 91.417 allows the owner to discard certain
parts of the records after they have served their
purpose. It also lists the records that must be
retained. Records that must be retained are called
permanent records and records that may be
discarded are called temporary records.
1. Permanent Records
2. Temporary Records
Permanent Records
Permanent records are those that contain the total time in
service of the airframe, the current status of life-limited parts,
the time since last overhaul of items to be overhauled on a
time basis, the current status of the inspections required on
the aircraft and its appliances, the current status of
applicable airworthiness directives and the method of
compliance, revision date, and if the AD is recurring, the time
and date when the next action is required, and a current list
of the major alterations to each airframe, engine, propeller,
rotor, and appliance. These records must be retained and
transferred to the new owner if the aircraft is sold
Temporary Records
The maintenance record entries for maintenance
and inspection, excluding those that fall in the
category of permanent records, shall be retained
until the work is repeated or superseded by other
work or for one year after the work is performed.
This does not mean that these records must be
discarded, but allows the owner to discard them if
so desired.
If an aircraft's maintenance records are lost or destroyed, the
owner is responsible for creating new records. This can be
done by making a notarized statement in the new record
that explains the loss and provides an estimated time in
service, which can be supported by researching other
available records. The owner must also determine the current
status of inspections, life-limited parts, overhaul intervals, and
major alterations. If these details cannot be verified,
components and inspections are generally considered due
immediately, which may result in significant costs.
Additionally, compliance with applicable Airworthiness
Directives (ADs) must be established through a thorough
inspection to confirm all required actions have been met.
