Front Matter

• U.S. Department of Transportation
• Federal Aviation
• Administration
• PLANE SENSE General aviation Information FAA-H-8083-19A

PLANE SENSE

General aviation Information 2008 U.S. Department of Transportation FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Flight Standards Service

Preface

Plane Sense introduces aircraft owners and operators, or prospective aircraft owners and operators, to basic information about the requirements involved in acquiring, owning, operating, and maintaining a private aircraft.

This handbook can be a valuable reference tool for anyone who would like to review the “nuts and bolts” of aircraft ownership. Aircraft owners and operators, or anyone considering aircraft ownership, should be familiar with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), which details regulations for aircraft owners, operators, pilots, aircraft mechanics, and maintenance providers. Since the requirements can be updated and the regulations can change, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that you contact your nearest FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), where the personnel can assist you with the various requirements for aircraft ownership, operation, and maintenance.

The FAA has also added information for aviation enthusiasts who own (or are interested in owning) light-sport aircraft, a new and evolving sector of the general aviation marketplace.

This handbook highlights regulations and regulatory guidance material, as well as providing advice regarding where to locate answers to your questions. While Plane Sense cannot cover every issue faced by aircraft owners and operators, this handbook is intended to be a useful guide and will help you locate the resources to assist you.

This publication supersedes FAA-8083-19, which was reprinted with editorial updates in 2003. This handbook is available free of charge for download, in PDF format, from the FAA Regulatory Support Division (AFS-600) on the FAA website at www.faa.gov.

Plane Sense may be also be purchased from:

• Superintendent of Documents
• United States Government Printing Office
• Washington, DC 20402-9325 http://bookstore.gpo.gov

This handbook is published by and comments should be sent to:

• Federal Aviation Administration
• Airman Testing Standards Branch (AFS-630)
• P.O. Box 25082
• Oklahoma City, OK 73125 afs630comments@faa.gov

Acknowledgments

Plane Sense was produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the assistance of The Wicks Group, PLLC. The FAA wishes to acknowledge the providers of the following images used in this handbook:

Skycatcher used on the cover and in chapter 6, courtesy of Cessna Aircraft Corporation Cirrus SR20-1 used on the cover and in chapter 1, courtesy of Cirrus Design Eclipse 500 used on the cover, courtesy of Eclipse Aviation Corporation The FAA would also like to extend its appreciation to several aviation industry organizations that provided assistance and input in the preparation of this handbook, including:

• General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)

Introduction

Plane Sense is a handbook for aviation enthusiasts, especially aircraft owners and operators or those who are interested in becoming aircraft owners, who are looking for a quick reference guide on a number of general aviation topics. This handbook is published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA is the executive agency responsible for aviation oversight in the United States. The FAA’s mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

The FAA is responsible for the safety of civil aviation. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the agency under the name Federal Aviation Agency. The FAA adopted its present name in 1967 when it became a part of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The FAA’s major roles include:

Within each region, you will find several Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs). Your local FSDO is your best resource for questions about aircraft ownership, operation, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and other issues. FAA inspectors are generally assigned to a FSDO. Aviation safety inspectors (ASIs) can assist you with issues related to the operation of your aircraft, airman certification, maintenance, and other general questions. You can find your local FSDO on the FAA website at www.faa.gov by selecting “About FAA” from the top menu bar and following the links to locate your local FSDO’s contact information.

Aircraft certification-related activities are handled by the FAA Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) that serves your geographic area.

You can contact your ACO for guidance on:

You can find the nearest ACO on the FAA website at www.faa.gov by selecting “About FAA” from the top menu bar and following the links to locate the nearest ACO’s contact information.

This handbook has been revised to include additional topics and updated website addresses to enable you to find relevant information more easily. You will also notice that some information is repeated in multiple chapters of Plane Sense, and this is designed to allow each chapter to stand alone as a reference tool to aid you in locating the information easily.

Please contact your local FSDO if you have any questions about the material in Plane Sense or how the information might specifically apply to your aircraft. This handbook is intended to provide general guidance for aircraft owners and operators; however, you should always ensure that the guidance provided applies to your specific aircraft and/or your specific situation.

The FAA website is continually updated. If your question is not answered in this handbook, you can access a great deal of helpful information on the FAA’s website at www.faa.gov. This new edition of Plane Sense is colorcoded to assist you in quickly finding useful information.

The chapters containing information that may be useful to all general aviation readers are coded in blue:

• Chapter 1: Aircraft Owner Responsibilities
• Chapter 11: Obtaining FAA Publications and Records
• Appendix A: FAA Contact Information
• Appendix B: Regulatory Guidance Index

The chapters containing information about aircraft acquisition, registration, and ownership are coded in green:

• Chapter 2: Buying an Aircraft
• Chapter 3: Airworthiness Certificate
• Chapter 4: Aircraft Registration
• Chapter 5: Special Flight Permits
• Chapter 6: Light Sport Aircraft

The chapters containing information on aircraft maintenance are coded in red:

• Chapter 7: Aircraft Maintenance
• Chapter 8: Maintenance Records
• Chapter 9: Airworthiness Directives
• Chapter 10: Service Difficulty Program

You will also note the addition of several new checklists to assist you in applying the information found in Plane Sense. These checklists and any relevant FAA or other forms discussed in the chapter are located at the end of that particular chapter for ease of reference. For your convenience, FAA Contact Information is at the end of this handbook.

Also, the Regulatory Guidance Index at the end of this handbook locates within each chapter the relevant regulatory guidance material, including pertinent sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), FAA Orders, and Avisory Circulars (ACs).

The FAA wishes you safe landings as you embark on your own aviation journey.

introduction

table of Contents Preface...................................................................iii

Acknowledgments .............................................v

Introduction ....................................................... vii

Chapter 1:

Aircraft Owner Responsibilities ............ 1-1

Documentation .......................................................1-1

Aircraft Registration ............................................... 1-1

14 CFR .....................................................................1-2

Logbooks .................................................................1-2

Aircraft Insurance................................................... 1-2

• Reporting Aircraft Accidents/Incidents ................ 1-2
• Accident ..........................................................1-2
• Incident...........................................................1-2
• Contacting the NTSB ..................................... 1-2
• Filing NTSB Form 6120.1 .............................. 1-3
• Aviation Safety Reporting System.......................... 1-3
• Purpose ...........................................................1-3
• Confidentiality................................................ 1-3
• Filing an Incident Report .............................. 1-3

Safety ......................................................................1-4

• Safety Hotline................................................. 1-4
• Safety Information ........................................ 1-4
• Reporting Stolen Aircraft/Equipment ................... 1-4
• Law Enforcement........................................... 1-4
• Insurance Company ...................................... 1-4
• Aviation Crime Prevention Institute ............. 1-4
• Aircraft Registration Branch ........................ 1-4

Chapter 2:

Buying an Aircraft ........................................ 2-1

Selecting the Aircraft .............................................. 2-1

• Where To Look ............................................... 2-1
• Factors Affecting Resale Value...................... 2-2
• Overhauls .......................................................2-2

Aircraft Records ..................................................... 2-2

Aircraft Title ...........................................................2-2

• Filing Ownership and Lien Documents ........ 2-3
• When a Lien Is Recorded ............................... 2-3
• Releasing a Recorded Lien ............................ 2-3

Aircraft Documents ................................................ 2-3

• Bill of Sale or Conditional
• Sales Contract ................................................ 2-3
• Airworthiness Certificate............................... 2-3
• Maintenance Records .................................... 2-3

Manuals ..................................................................2-4

Airworthiness .........................................................2-4

Maintenance ...........................................................2-4

Pre-Purchase Inspection ........................................ 2-4

Light-Sport Aircraft ................................................ 2-4

Amateur-Built Aircraft ........................................... 2-4

Military Surplus Aircraft ........................................ 2-5

Chapter 3:

• Airworthiness Certificate ......................... 3-1
• Classifications of Airworthiness Certificates.......... 3-1
• Standard Airworthiness Certificate ..............3-1
• Special Airworthiness Certificate .................. 3-2
• Issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate ............... 3-3
• Applying for an Airworthiness Certificate ............. 3-3
• FAA Form 8100-2, Standard Airworthiness Certificate .............. 3-3

FAA Form 8130-7, Special Airworthiness Certificate .................. 3-3

• Regulations and Policies ........................................ 3-3
• Title 14 of the Code of
• Federal Regulations ....................................... 3-3
• FAA Orders (as revised) ................................ 3-3

FAA Advisory Circulars (ACs) (as revised)... 3-3 Chapter 4:

Aircraft Registration ................................... 4-1

Aircraft Registration Branch .................................. 4-1

Eligible Registrants ................................................ 4-2

• Registering Your Aircraft ....................................... 4-2
• Registration Number .............................................. 4-2
• How To Form an N-Number ......................... 4-2
• Other Requirements ...................................... 4-2
• Special Registration Number ................................. 4-2
• Requesting a Special
• Registration Number ..................................... 4-3
• Placing the Special Registration
• Number on Your Aircraft .............................. 4-3

Aircraft Previously Registered in the United States ................................................4-3

• Chain of Ownership ....................................... 4-3
• Replacement Certificate of
• Aircraft Registration .....................................4-3

Aircraft Previously Registered in a Foreign Country ...............................................4-3

AC Form 8050-1, Aircraft Registration Application ...........................4-4

AC Form 8050-3, Certificate of Aircraft Registration .........................4-4

Amateur-Built Aircraft

Registration and Inspection ...................................4-4

• Light-Sport Aircraft Registration ...........................4-5
• State Registration Requirements ........................... 4-5
• Additional Information ..........................................4-5

Chapter 5:

Special Flight Permits .................................5-1

Circumstances Warranting a Special Flight Permit ........................................... 5-1

• Foreign-Registered Civil Aircraft ...........................5-2
• Obtaining a Special Flight Authorization...............5-2
• Application for Airworthiness Certificate...............5-2

Chapter 6:

Light-Sport Aircraft......................................6-1

Definition ................................................................6-1

LSA Certification .................................................... 6-1

LSA Registration .....................................................6-1

Available Resources ................................................6-2

• Light Sport Aviation Branch, AFS-610 .........6-2
• Experimental Aircraft Association ...............6-2
• Regulatory Guidance .............................................. 6-2

Chapter 7:

• Aircraft Maintenance..................................7-1
• Maintenance Responsibilities ................................7-1
• 14 CFR Part 91, Subpart E ......................................7-1
• Manufacturer Maintenance Manuals.....................7-2
• Preventive Maintenance .........................................7-2

Inspections ..............................................................7-2

• Annual Inspection ..........................................7-2
• 100-Hour Inspection ......................................7-2
• Condition Inspection ......................................7-2
• Other Inspection Programs ................................... 7-2
• Progressive Inspections .................................7-3
• Altimeter System Inspection .........................7-3
• Transponder Inspection .................................7-3
• Preflight Inspection ........................................7-3
• Repairs and Alterations .......................................... 7-3
• Minimum Equipment List/
• Configuration Deviation List ..................................7-3

FAA Resources........................................................7-3

Experimental Aircraft .............................................7-3

Chapter 8:

Maintenance Records ................................. 8-1

Responsibilities of the Aircraft Owner .................. 8-1

Logbooks .................................................................8-2

Airworthiness Directives ........................................ 8-2

Safety Directives ..................................................... 8-2

Service Bulletins ..................................................... 8-2

FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration .................................. 8-2

Entries into Aircraft Maintenance Records ........... 8-2

14 CFR Part 43, Section 43.9, Content, form, and disposition of maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration records (except inspections performed in accordance with part 91, part 125, §135.411(a)(1), and §135.419 of this chapter ................................. 8-3

14 CFR Part 43, Section 43.11, Content, form, and disposition of records for inspections conducted under parts 91 and 125 and §§135.411(a)(1) and 135.419 of this chapter................................................ 8-3

14 CFR Part 91, Section 91.409, Inspections ..................................................... 8-3

14 CFR Part 91, Section 91.411, Altimeter system and altitude reporting equipment tests and inspections .. 8-3 14 CFR Part 91, Section 91.413, ATC transponder tests and inspections ........ 8-3

14 CFR Part 91, Section 91.207, Emergency locator transmitters ................... 8-3

Amateur-Built Aircraft........................................... 8-4

Available Resources ................................................ 8-4

Chapter 9:

Airworthiness Directives .......................... 9-1

Types of ADs Issued ............................................... 9-1

Standard AD Process .............................................. 9-1

Emergency AD ........................................................9-1

Superseded AD .......................................................9-2

Compliance with ADs ............................................. 9-2

Amateur-Built Aircraft ........................................... 9-2

Summary of ADs ..................................................... 9-2

Obtaining ADs ........................................................9-2

Chapter 10:

Service Difficulty Program .................... 10-1

Background .......................................................... 10-1

FAA Form 8010-4, Malfunction or Defect Report ............................. 10-1

• Maintenance Alerts ............................................. 10-2
• Background ................................................. 10-2
• Accessing Maintenance Alerts.................... 10-2
• Contact Information ................................... 10-2

Chapter 11:

Obtaining FAA Publications and Records .................................................. 11-1

Advisory Circulars ............................................... 11-1

Airworthiness Directives .................................... 11-1

Temporary Flight Restrictions ............................ 11-2

Notice to Airmen ................................................. 11-2

14 CFR.................................................................. 11-2

Handbooks and Manuals .................................... 11-2

Aircraft Records .................................................. 11-2

Request Aircraft Records............................ 11-2

Format ......................................................... 11-2

Airman Records ................................................... 11-3

Appendix A:

FAA Contact Information .......................... A-1

Appendix B:

Regulatory Guidance Index ....................... B-1

Table of Contents