Annual inspections are a crucial part of aircraft maintenance, ensuring that the aircraft is safe and in airworthy conditions. These inspections are required every 12 calendar months and must be performed by an authorized inspector (IA). The IA is responsible for thoroughly examining the aircraft and ensuring it meets all safety standards.
One common misconception is that the annual inspection must be documented in every logbook: airframe, engine, and propeller. However, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, the annual inspection only needs to be recorded in the airframe logbook. This simplifies the documentation process and reduces the burden on aircraft owners and operators. Despite this, some owners and operators choose to document the inspection in all logbooks for their records.
The confusion surrounding this issue has persisted for years, affecting students, certified flight instructors (CFIs), designated pilot examiners (DPEs), and even the FAA itself. To clarify, the FAA has provided a clear reference in FAA 8900.1 Vol. 6, Ch1, Sec 7, which states that the annual inspection record entry is only required in the airframe logbook.
Navigating the updated FAA library can be challenging, and many people miss the simplicity of the old system. However, adapting to the new system is essential for staying current with regulations and ensuring proper documentation.
In summary, annual inspections are vital for aircraft safety, and the recording of these inspections only needs to be made in the airframe logbook, according to FAA. This clarification helps reduce confusion and ensures that aircraft owners and operators can maintain accurate and compliant records.
If you have anyone challenge this they can read it for themselves by going directly to the FAA's Dynamic Regulatory System here: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/ORDER_8900.1/doctypeDetails
Or you can download the it directly here, but keep in mind that these things change and it could not be the latest version available. https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/DRSDOCID189180462720230531145758.0001.
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