Aero-Tips!
A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard
this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer
statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of
"there are no old, bold pilots.")
Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner,
master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us
-- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you
may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be
something we might never have considered before, or something that
didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized
it for the practical test.
Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you
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Aero-Tips 09.07.06
Can an FAA inspector or
other representative revoke an aircraft's Airworthiness
Certificate? They sure can... if your airplane fails to meet
certain standards.
There are two classes of airworthiness certificates:
- Standard certificates. This encompasses most,
but not all the aircraft we're used to seeing, including Normal,
Utility, Aerobatic, Commuter and Transport category aircraft, and
also Manned Free Balloons and certain Special Classes.
- Special certificates. This includes Primary
and Light Sport aircraft, all types of Restricted and Experimental
aircraft, Limited category aircraft and those operating on a
Special Flight Permit ("ferry permit").
Staying airworthy
A standard category certificate remains valid only as long as
the aircraft:
- meets the approved type design specifications;
- is in a condition for safe operation; and
- maintenance, preventative maintenance, and alterations are
performed in accordance with Federal Air Regulations.
Assuming the airplane is not damaged or altered without
authorization, what determines a "condition for safe operation"? FAA Order 8130.2F change 1
goes to great lengths (347 pages) to tell us, but the crux for most
aircraft is on page 7, which reads a "condition for safe
operation... refers to the condition of the aircraft relative to
wear and deterioration, for example, skin corrosion, window
delamination/crazing, fluid leaks and tire wear."
Note: 8130.2F change 1 adds: "Aircraft that
have not been issued a TC [e.g., experimental airplanes] must meet
the [same] requirements..."
Back to our question: does the FAA have the authority to revoke
an Airworthiness Certificate if it deems an aircraft unairworthy?
Yes. FAR 21.181 says the FAA can
revoke an existing airworthiness certificate in any category if the
aircraft "has an unsafe condition or is likely to develop an unsafe
condition.."
Aero-tip of the day: Keep your aircraft
airworthy and in compliance with its type design -- not only to
keep its airworthiness certificate, but to keep yourself and your
passengers safe.