100-HOUR INSPECTION
Usually used for hire aircrafts
REQUIREMENTS
A complete inspection of the same scope and detail as the annual inspection every 100 hours of operation unless it is maintained under:
– FAA-approved program
– Alternative inspection program (progressive inspection program)
SCOPE
TIME LIMITATION: May be exceeded by no more than 10 hours of flight operation while enroute to an inspection facility.
NOTE: The excess time used to reach the inspection location must be included in computing the next 100 hours of time in service.
A&P TECHNICIAN TASKS
– Conduct the 100-hour inspection and approve the aircraft for return to service.
– Approve aircraft for return to service before the 100-hour inspection is considered complete
– Includes proper entries in the aircraft’s maintenance records
The inspector may utilize other A&Ps or repairmen in the preparation for the inspection such as removing:
– Inspection panels
– Cowlings
– Fairings
May repair and sign off any discrepancies found by the inspector as long as they are not major repairs or major alterations
Can 100-hour inspections be signed off as annual inspections?
Yes and no.
YES
100-hour inspection can be classified as an annual inspection if the following conditions are met:
– If an A&P mechanic holding an inspection authorization (IA) completed the inspections
– The aircraft could have several annuals performed in one calendar year at every 100 hours of operation.
NO
A 100-hour inspection may not take the place of an annual inspection if the following condition is met.
– If an aircraft is operated under the requirements of a annual inspection, it must be inspected by an A&P who holds an IA rating or a certified repair station inspector.
ANNUAL INSPECTION
The most common type of inspection required for small general aviation aircraft.
PURPOSE
To determine if the aircraft meets all the requirements for its certification.
SCOPE
Within every 12 calendar months; A calendar month is one that ends at midnight of the last day of the month.
DUE DATE: Based on the date of the original inspection and not on the date the discrepancies were corrected.
Appendix D of 14 CFR Part 43: List of scope and detail of items to be included in annual and 100-hour Inspections.
PERFORMED BY:
– A&P technician holding an Inspection Authorization (IA).
– Inspector authorized by a certified repair station with an airframe rating.
INSPECTOR’S TASKS
PASSED THE INSPECTION
– Write up the inspection results in the maintenance records. – Approve the aircraft for return to service. – If it does not require a major repair, a technician may correct each discrepancy the inspector listed, and then approve the aircraft for return to service.
FAILED THE INSPECTION
– Provide a list of discrepancies and unairworthy items to the aircraft owner.
– A special flight permit may be obtained to ferry the aircraft to that alternate repair location.
SIMILLARITIES BETWEEN THE 100-HOUR AND ANNUAL INSPECTION
Appendix D of 14 CFR Part 43: List of scope and detail of items to be included in annual and 100-hour Inspections.
Purpose: to determine if the aircraft meets all the requirements for its certification
For hire aircrafts requires a complete inspection of the same scope and detail as the annual inspection every 100 hours of operation unless it is maintained under:
FAA-approved program – Alternative inspection program (progressive inspection program)
Performed by:
– A&P technician holding an Inspection Authorization (IA)
– Inspector authorized by a certified repair station with an airframe rating
Inspector’s tasks
– Write up the inspection results in the maintenance records
– Approve the aircraft for return to service.
– If it does not require a major repair, a technician may correct each discrepancy the inspector listed.
The inspector may utilize other A&Ps or repairmen in the preparation for the inspection such as removing:
– Inspection panels
– Cowlings
– Fairings
Provide a list of discrepancies and unairworthy items to the aircraft owner.
A special flight permit may be obtained to ferry the aircraft to that alternate repair location.
What is the difference between 100-hour Inspection and Annual Inspection?
100-hour inspection is a common inspection for hire aircrafts while annual inspection is used for general aviation aircraft. See the table below:
| 100-HOUR INSPECTION | ANNUAL INSPECTION | |
| Common inspection for: | For hire aircrafts | For small general aviation aircraft |
| Inspector’s tasks | Conduct the 100-hour inspection and approve the aircraft for return to service. | Conducted within every 12 calendar months; A calendar month is one that ends at midnight of the last day of the month. |
| Scope | May be exceeded by no more than 10 hours of flight operation while enroute to an inspection facility. | DUE DATE: Based on the date of the original inspection and not on the date the discrepancies were corrected. |
| Can be signed of as an annual inspection | YESIf an A&P mechanic holding an inspection authorization (IA) completed the inspectionsThe aircraft could have several annuals performed in one calendar year at each 100 hours of operation.NOIf an aircraft is operated under the requirements of an annual inspection, it must be inspected by an A&P who holds an IA rating, or certified repair station inspector and be signed off as an annual inspection only. | YES |
PROGRESSIVE INSPECTION
Same in scope and detail as the annual inspection.
Allows the work-load to be divided into smaller portions and performed in shorter time periods.
MUST BE APPLICABLE TO:
– FAA aircraft specifications
– Type certificate data sheets
– Airworthiness directives
– Data from the manufacturer’s service bulletins and service letters
PURPOSE
To reduce aircraft downtime and overall maintenance costs
AIRCRAFT INSPECTION CHART: Outlines the schedule
INSPECTION INTERVALS
SPECIAL INPECTION: Items that require servicing or inspection at intervals other than 50, 100 or 200 hours.
Separated in such a way to result in a complete aircraft inspection every 200 flight hours.
NOT USE FOR: Aircraft that is flown less than 200 hours per year.
TASKS IN CONDUCTING THE PROGRESSIVE INSPECTION
BEFORE
The owner must submit a written request outlining their intended progressive inspection guidelines to the local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) for approval.
The aircraft must undergo a complete annual inspection.
The FAA must approve the inspection program.
AFTER
Routine inspections consist of visual and operational checks of the aircraft, engines, appliances, components and systems normally without disassembly.
Detailed inspections consist of thorough checks of the aircraft, engines, appliances, components and systems including necessary disassembly. The overhaul of a component, engine, or system is considered a detailed inspection.
CONTINUOUS INSPECTION
– Similar to progressive inspection programs but it is more complicated.
– Apply to large or turbine-powered aircraft.
– Require approval by the FAA Administrator (like progressive inspection programs).
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DETAILS
Checks involve increasing levels of detail.
CHECKS: A-checks, B-checks, C-checks, and D-checks
A-checks – Least comprehensive and occur frequently
D-checks – Extremely comprehensive, involving major disassembly, removal, overhaul, and inspection of systems and components. They might occur only three to six times during the service life of an aircraft.
SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
Scheduled inspections with prescribed intervals other than the normally established inspection intervals set out by the manufacturer.
May be scheduled by flight hours, calendar time, or aircraft cycles.
Items are usually explained in the notes section of the service manual inspection chapter.
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE PROGRESSIVE INSPECTION AND CONTINUOUS INSPECTION
Same scope and details with the annual inspection
Purpose: To reduce aircraft downtime and overall maintenance costs
Require approval by the FAA Administrator (like progressive inspection programs).
Must be applicable to:
– FAA aircraft specifications
– Type certificate data sheets
– Airworthiness directives
– Data from the manufacturer’s ser-vice bulletins and service letters
AIRCRAFT INSPECTION CHART: Outlines the schedule
Airlines utilize a continuous maintenance program that includes both routine and detailed inspections.
Inspector: (differs from the annual or 100-hour inspection)
– A certified mechanic holding an inspection authorization,
– A certified repair station, or
– The aircraft manufacturer
– Commonly apply to commercially operated aircraft
– Aircraft are manufactured to FAA approved specifications.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROGRESSIVE INSPECTION AND CONTINUOUS INSPECTION
| PROGRESSIVE INSPECTION | CONTINUOUS INSPECTION | |
| Scope and detail | Allows the workload to be divided into smaller portions and per-formed in shorter time periods. | It is more complicated than the progressive inspection |
| Commonly apply to large or turbine-powered aircrafts | No | Yes |
| Inspection interval | Common: 50, 100, or 200 hours | Continuous |
| Not used for: | Aircraft that is flown less than 200 hours per year | — |
| Approval to conduct the inspection | A request to the local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) is needed. | A request to conduct the maintenance program is based upon the type of operation and the CFR parts that the aircraft is operated under. |
| Inspection’s duration | Must be completed within the 12 calendar months | The inspection is continuous |
CONDITIONAL INSPECTIONS
Unscheduled inspection conducted because of a specific over-limit, or abnormal event such as:
HARD/OVERWEIGHT LANDINGS
The structural stress induced by a landing caused by:
Gross weight at the time
Severity of impact
HARD LANDING INSPECTION
For hard landings at or below the maximum design landing limits.
OVERWEIGHT LANDING INSPECTION
Must be performed when an airplane lands at a weight above the maximum design landing weight.
A special inspection is performed after a landing is made at a weight known to exceed the design landing weight or after a rough landing, even though the latter may have occurred when the aircraft did not exceed the design landing weight
SIMILARITIES THE SPECIAL INSPECTION AND CONDITIONAL INSPECTION
Visual inspection of the structure is required. Look for evidence of degradation, burning, or erosion of the composite resin at all affected structures, electrical bonding straps, static discharge wicks, and null field dischargers.
Operation of the controls and crash sensor, and the ELT signal are examined.
Performed after a landing is made at a weight known to exceed the design landing weight or after a rough landing. Aircraft are manufactured to FAA approved specifications.
Can be conducted by:
- The manufacturer of the aircraft
- A certificated repair station (CRS)
- A certified airframe technician, or
- A holder of a continuous airworthiness maintenance program
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPECIAL INSPECTION AND CONDITIONAL INSPECTION
| SPECIAL INSPECTION | CONDITIONAL INSPECTION | |
| Schedule | Scheduled inspections with prescribed intervals other than the normally established inspection intervals set out by the manufacturer.May be scheduled by flight hours, calendar time, or aircraft cycles. | Unscheduled inspection conducted because of a specific over-limit, or abnormal event such as:HARD/OVERWEIGHT LANDINGSOVERSTRESS CONDITIONSFLIGHT INTO SEVERE TURBULENCES |
| Transponder Inspection | Must be inspected each 24 calendar months | Must be inspected when an abnormal event occurred |
| EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER (ELT) INSPECTION | Part 91.207 requires it every 12 months | Must be inspected when an abnormal event occurred |
| Location for inspection | Usually on the Aircraft service ceiling, battery, and airframe | Landing gears, wing surfaces, doors, spar webs, buckling around the nacelle, fuel tanks, empennage, and fuselage |
| Conductive tester for aluminum structures | Not used | Used |
| Battery inspection | Checking for proper installation, battery corrosion, battery’s expiration date and record the expiration date for replacing or recharging the battery in the maintenance record. | Check if there is a leakage |
CONFORMITY INSPECTION
PURPOSE
To determine whether the aircraft conforms to or matches its approved specifications
METHOD
Visual inspection that compares the approved aircraft specifications with the actual aircraft and associated engine and components.
TASK OF A MECHANIC
Compares the aircraft with the compiled list of information making note of any deviation from the aircraft specifications.
TASK OF THE INSPECTOR
- – Verify the physical presence
- – Confirm whether the installation of the equipment was properly performed, especially if the installation was done without proper documentation.
- – Verifies the installation of equipment list items.
- – In the case of a major repair or alteration, that a form 337 was created and approved by the FAA.
- – Required at every inspection interval
RECOMMENDED when:
Aircraft is exported to or imported from another country with the intention of becoming registered in that respective country.