Regulation Text
(a) No person may operate any aircraft that has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration unless—
(1) It has been approved for return to service by a person authorized under § 43.7 of this chapter; and
(2) The maintenance record entry required by § 43.9 or § 43.11, as applicable, of this chapter has been made.
(b) No person may carry any person (other than crewmembers) in an aircraft that has been maintained, rebuilt, or altered in a manner that may have appreciably changed its flight characteristics or substantially affected its operation in flight until an appropriately rated pilot with at least a private pilot certificate flies the aircraft, makes an operational check of the maintenance performed or alteration made, and logs the flight in the aircraft records.
(c) The aircraft does not have to be flown as required by paragraph (b) of this section if, prior to flight, ground tests, inspection, or both show conclusively that the maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration has not appreciably changed the flight characteristics or substantially affected the flight operation of the aircraft.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2120-0005)Research Notes
Section 91.407 — Operation after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration — establishes that aircraft cannot be returned to service until appropriate documentation and (for major alterations or rebuilding) appropriate flight test verification has been completed.
Paragraph (a) — No operation until approved for return to service: No person may operate any aircraft that has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration UNLESS the aircraft has been approved for return to service.
Paragraph (b) — Test flight requirement for certain alterations: After any maintenance, alteration, or rebuilding that may have appreciably changed flight characteristics or substantially affected operation in flight, the aircraft must be flight tested by:
- A pilot at least appropriately rated; AND
- The result of the flight test must be approved.
Examples of 'appreciably changed flight characteristics':
- Major engine overhaul
- Propeller change to a different type/design
- Significant CG change or weight & balance modifications
- Wing/tail surface alteration or repair
- Major airframe repair after damage
Maintenance entries: Each maintenance action requires a logbook entry per Part 43 that includes the date, description of work, signature, and certificate type/number of the person performing/approving. The aircraft is not returned to service until the entry is completed.
Reference: Part 43 § 43.5 and § 43.9 on maintenance recording; Part 43 § 43.11 on return to service.
Amendment History
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