Required Aircraft Inspections

Overview

One of the many things that a pilot needs to know are the requirements for aircraft inspections. In addition to the practical aspect of flight safety and compliance, all applicants will be quizzed about these requirements in the oral portion of their private pilot (or other) checkride.

Note that some aircraft may also have to comply with applicable Airworthiness Directives (ADs), which may require one-time or on-going inspections that are are in addition to those listed below.

Acronym AAVIATES

• A - Annual
• A – Airworthiness Directives (AD’s)
• V – VOR Check (every 30 days) (IFR Only)
• I – Inspections 100 hour (For Hire Only) and Annual (Required of all Aircraft)
• A – Altimeter (Every 24 Calendar Months) (IFR Only)
• T – Transponder (Every 24 Calendar Months)
• E – ELT (Every 12 Calendar Months)
• S – Static System (Every 24 Calendar Months) (IFR Only)

Summary

• FAR 91.409 - Annual Inspection (within the preceding 12 calendar months)
• FAR 91.409 - 100-Hour Inspection (within 100 tach hours)
• FAR 91.411 - Altimeter system and altitude reporting equipment tests and inspections (only strictly required for operation in controlled airspace under IFR) (within the preceding 24 calendar months)
• FAR 91.413 - Transponder (within the preceding 24 calendar months)
• FAR 91.207 - Emergency Locator Transmitter (within the preceding 12 calendar months, also battery checks)

References

• AOPA Guide to Aircraft Inspections
• FAA Best Practices Guide for Maintaining Aging General Aviation Airplanes