Aircraft maintenance, airworthiness and documents
Domain 3 - Aircraft maintenance, airworthiness and documents
This domain tests the NZ CAA PPL candidate's knowledge of Part 43 maintenance, Part 91 operating requirements, and the documents that make a flight legal.
Airworthiness and maintenance
- The Certificate of Airworthiness is issued by the CAA and remains valid while the aircraft is maintained in accordance with its maintenance programme. It is not renewed annually; it remains valid subject to maintenance.
- A Maintenance Release is issued after maintenance by a LAME or approved maintenance organisation. It certifies that the maintenance has been carried out and the aircraft is airworthy. It has an expiry or a due time.
- Part 91 private aircraft normally require an annual inspection within the previous 12 months. Aircraft operated for hire or reward also require 100-hour inspections. Flight training for payment is normally hire or reward.
- Airworthiness Directives (ADs) are mandatory and must be complied with within the stated time or usage. Service Bulletins are advisory unless incorporated by an AD, the maintenance programme or the operator.
- Defects must be recorded and rectified before flight, or deferred only if permitted by the maintenance programme.
Documents
Carry the Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Airworthiness, Maintenance Release, Flight Manual and, where required, the radio station licence. The pilot in command is responsible for checking that they are valid before flight.
Worked example
An annual inspection is completed on 15 March 2024. The next annual inspection is due by 14 March 2025. If the aircraft is used for hire or reward and the last 100-hour inspection was at 2,340 hours, the next is due at 2,440 hours, whichever limit comes first. An AD requiring compliance within 50 hours must be scheduled before that limit, regardless of the annual date.
Traps
Believing the Certificate of Airworthiness is renewed annually; treating a Service Bulletin as mandatory; flying with an expired Maintenance Release; assuming a pilot can issue a Maintenance Release; confusing 100-hour and annual inspection triggers.