Maintenance Forms and Records
Record-keeping questions are pure regulation recall, and they turn on which form, which signature, and how long the record is kept.
FAR 43.9, maintenance records. Every maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alteration entry must describe the work (or reference acceptable data), give the date completed, and give the name and certificate type and number of the person performing it. If the work was a major repair or major alteration, the entry must reference the approved data used. Signing the entry constitutes approval for return to service only when that person did or inspected the work.
FAR 43.11, inspection records. Annual and 100-hour entries state the type of inspection, the date, the aircraft total time in service, and either the airworthiness statement or a signed list of discrepancies. That signature approves the aircraft for return to service.
Retention. FAR 91.417 requires the owner to keep maintenance and alteration records until the work is superseded or repeated, or for one year, and to keep current status of life-limited parts, AD compliance, and inspection status.
Other forms. A major repair or alteration is reported on FAA Form 337. Weight and balance must be revised after any change that affects it, and AD compliance is recorded in the aircraft records.
Traps. Confusing 43.9 and 43.11 content, assuming anyone who touched the job can sign the inspection record, and omitting total time in service from the entry.