Airworthiness Requirements
Private Pilot ACS · Area I · Task B · 14 CFR 61, 14 CFR 91, FAA-H-8083-25
Everything you need to know about Airworthiness Requirements for your private pilot checkride. Aligned to FAA-S-ACS-6C Task I-B, covering required aircraft documents, inspections required, inoperative equipment.
Required Aircraft Documents 14 CFR 91.203 §
AROW — Must Be On Board §
Airworthiness Certificate — displayed in the aircraft, visible to passengers, no expiration date. Valid as long as aircraft is maintained in accordance with FARs and type design.
Registration Certificate — must be on board. Expires every 3 years (or when sold). Pink slip is acceptable; electronic is NOT acceptable for registration.
Operating handbook / POH / AFM — must be approved for that specific aircraft (tail number). G1000 supplement must match avionics installed.
Weight & balance data — current for the aircraft as configured. Any modification or equipment change may require a new W&B.
Registration Certificate — must be on board. Expires every 3 years (or when sold). Pink slip is acceptable; electronic is NOT acceptable for registration.
Operating handbook / POH / AFM — must be approved for that specific aircraft (tail number). G1000 supplement must match avionics installed.
Weight & balance data — current for the aircraft as configured. Any modification or equipment change may require a new W&B.
14 CFR 91.203(a), 91.9
Required Equipment — Day VFR §
TOMATO FLAMES mnemonic:
Tachometer • Oil pressure gauge • Magnetic compass • Airspeed indicator • Temperature gauge (liquid-cooled) • Oil temperature gauge
Fuel gauges (all tanks in use) • Landing gear position indicator (if retractable) • Altimeter • Manifold pressure (if applicable) • ELT • Seatbelts
Tachometer • Oil pressure gauge • Magnetic compass • Airspeed indicator • Temperature gauge (liquid-cooled) • Oil temperature gauge
Fuel gauges (all tanks in use) • Landing gear position indicator (if retractable) • Altimeter • Manifold pressure (if applicable) • ELT • Seatbelts
14 CFR 91.205(b)
Additional Night VFR Equipment §
FLAPS mnemonic (added for night):
Fuses (spare set of the correct type) • Landing light (if operated for hire) • Anticollision lights (strobes or rotating beacon) • Position lights (nav lights — red/green/white) • Source of adequate electrical power
Also required for IFR (added to night VFR): Two-way radio, altimeter (sensitive/adjustable), clock, directional gyro, attitude indicator, rate-of-turn indicator, slip-skid indicator, VSI, DME or RNAV (above FL240), radar altimeter (if required).
Fuses (spare set of the correct type) • Landing light (if operated for hire) • Anticollision lights (strobes or rotating beacon) • Position lights (nav lights — red/green/white) • Source of adequate electrical power
Also required for IFR (added to night VFR): Two-way radio, altimeter (sensitive/adjustable), clock, directional gyro, attitude indicator, rate-of-turn indicator, slip-skid indicator, VSI, DME or RNAV (above FL240), radar altimeter (if required).
14 CFR 91.205(c),(d)
Inspections Required 14 CFR 91 §
AVIATES — Required Inspection Mnemonic §
Annual — 12 calendar months (91.409). Performed by A&P with IA (Inspection Authorization).
VOR check — 30 days for IFR flight (91.171). Not required for VFR.
Inspection (100-hour) — aircraft used for hire/flight instruction (91.409b). May exceed by ≤10 hrs to reach a maintenance base; excess counts toward next 100-hr.
Altimeter/pitot-static — 24 calendar months for IFR (91.411).
Transponder — 24 calendar months, all operations in controlled airspace (91.413).
ELT — battery at 50% useful life or 1 cumulative hour of use; inspect every 12 months (91.207).
Service airworthiness directives — comply per AD terms (14 CFR 39).
VOR check — 30 days for IFR flight (91.171). Not required for VFR.
Inspection (100-hour) — aircraft used for hire/flight instruction (91.409b). May exceed by ≤10 hrs to reach a maintenance base; excess counts toward next 100-hr.
Altimeter/pitot-static — 24 calendar months for IFR (91.411).
Transponder — 24 calendar months, all operations in controlled airspace (91.413).
ELT — battery at 50% useful life or 1 cumulative hour of use; inspect every 12 months (91.207).
Service airworthiness directives — comply per AD terms (14 CFR 39).
14 CFR 91.207–91.413
Airworthiness Directives (ADs) §
Legally enforceable rules issued under 14 CFR 39 requiring specific corrective action on specific aircraft or equipment when an unsafe condition is found.
Emergency AD: Immediate compliance, often grounding aircraft until action taken.
Immediate Adopted Rule: Effective immediately with short or no notice period.
NPRM-based: Public comment period, then finalized as rule.
Recurring vs one-time: The AD specifies. Recurring ADs (e.g., inspect every 100 hours) require repeated compliance. One-time ADs (e.g., replace part) require compliance once.
Compliance must be recorded in aircraft maintenance records with: AD number, date, method of compliance, and A&P signature and certificate number.
Emergency AD: Immediate compliance, often grounding aircraft until action taken.
Immediate Adopted Rule: Effective immediately with short or no notice period.
NPRM-based: Public comment period, then finalized as rule.
Recurring vs one-time: The AD specifies. Recurring ADs (e.g., inspect every 100 hours) require repeated compliance. One-time ADs (e.g., replace part) require compliance once.
Compliance must be recorded in aircraft maintenance records with: AD number, date, method of compliance, and A&P signature and certificate number.
14 CFR 39; 91.409
Annual Inspection — Calendar Month Rule §
Annual inspections expire at the end of the 12th calendar month after the month of inspection.
Example: Annual completed on March 14, 2024 → expires March 31, 2025 (not March 14, 2025).
Cannot fly after expiration for anything other than a flight directly to a maintenance facility under 91.409(b).
100-hour inspection: Measured in Hobbs/tach time, not calendar time. May be exceeded by up to 10 hours if necessary to fly to a maintenance facility — the excess time counts toward the next 100-hour inspection interval.
Example: Annual completed on March 14, 2024 → expires March 31, 2025 (not March 14, 2025).
Cannot fly after expiration for anything other than a flight directly to a maintenance facility under 91.409(b).
100-hour inspection: Measured in Hobbs/tach time, not calendar time. May be exceeded by up to 10 hours if necessary to fly to a maintenance facility — the excess time counts toward the next 100-hour inspection interval.
14 CFR 91.409
Inoperative Equipment 14 CFR 91.213 §
91.213 Decision Flow — No MEL §
1
Is the equipment required by the type certificate data sheet or an AD? → MUST be operative. Cannot fly.
2
Is the equipment required by 91.205 for the proposed flight? → MUST be operative. Cannot fly.
3
Is it listed in the aircraft's equipment list as required? → MUST be operative.
4
If none of the above: deactivate or remove it, placard it INOPERATIVE, get a mechanic to determine it poses no safety hazard, and document it. May then fly.
14 CFR 91.213(d)
MEL and KOEL §
MEL (Minimum Equipment List): An FAA-approved document (specific to an aircraft) that lists equipment which may be inoperative and the conditions under which the aircraft may still be operated. An approved MEL supersedes 91.213.
KOEL (Kinds of Operations Equipment List): Found in most POH/AFM. Lists equipment required for each type of operation (Day VFR, Night VFR, IFR). Can use to determine what's required.
Placarding: Inoperative equipment must be physically placarded. An unmarked inoperative instrument is an additional violation.
KOEL (Kinds of Operations Equipment List): Found in most POH/AFM. Lists equipment required for each type of operation (Day VFR, Night VFR, IFR). Can use to determine what's required.
Placarding: Inoperative equipment must be physically placarded. An unmarked inoperative instrument is an additional violation.
14 CFR 91.213(a),(d)
Airworthiness Certificate Types 14 CFR 21 §
Standard Airworthiness Certificates §
Issued to aircraft in the following categories: Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, Commuter, Transport.
No expiration date — valid as long as aircraft is maintained per FARs and has not been modified outside its type certificate.
Any major repair or alteration must be approved by an A&P with an IA or FAA DER before the certificate remains valid.
No expiration date — valid as long as aircraft is maintained per FARs and has not been modified outside its type certificate.
Any major repair or alteration must be approved by an A&P with an IA or FAA DER before the certificate remains valid.
14 CFR 21.181
Special Airworthiness Certificates §
Experimental: Amateur-built, research/development, exhibition, air racing, market survey. Each has specific operating limitations in the aircraft records — pilots must read and comply with these.
Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA): Special LSA certificate. Subject to ASTM standards rather than FAA type certification.
Special Flight Permit (Ferry Permit): One-time permission to fly an aircraft that does not meet airworthiness requirements for a specific purpose (e.g., fly to maintenance). Must state the specific authorized purpose.
Restricted: Aircraft used for special purposes (ag, aerial survey). May only be used for the purpose stated on the certificate.
Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA): Special LSA certificate. Subject to ASTM standards rather than FAA type certification.
Special Flight Permit (Ferry Permit): One-time permission to fly an aircraft that does not meet airworthiness requirements for a specific purpose (e.g., fly to maintenance). Must state the specific authorized purpose.
Restricted: Aircraft used for special purposes (ag, aerial survey). May only be used for the purpose stated on the certificate.
14 CFR 21.175–21.209
Preventive Maintenance §
Certificated pilots (not student pilots) who own or operate an aircraft may perform limited preventive maintenance items listed in 14 CFR 43 Appendix A. Examples include:
• Changing oil and oil filter
• Replacing spark plugs
• Replacing tires and tubes
• Replacing landing light bulbs
• Replacing hose connections (not in the engine or flight control system)
Must be logged: Date, nature of work, part numbers, name/certificate/certificate number, and signature. Entry goes in the aircraft maintenance record.
• Changing oil and oil filter
• Replacing spark plugs
• Replacing tires and tubes
• Replacing landing light bulbs
• Replacing hose connections (not in the engine or flight control system)
Must be logged: Date, nature of work, part numbers, name/certificate/certificate number, and signature. Entry goes in the aircraft maintenance record.
14 CFR 43 Appendix A; 43.3(g)