Fabricating Parts to Facilitate Maintenance, What Does 21.9 Really Mean?

摘要

Arecent post I made on the Facebook "FAA Inspection Authorization and Inspectors" page stirred up a lot of unexpected controversy. The original post referred to a component fabricated in the course of maintenance, and how an FAA Aircraft Certification Office inspector threatened the person performing the maintenance with a violation unless he got a Field Approval for that maintenance task. What surprised me was the controversy that ensued covering several important points. The age old Major/Minor controversy. What really constitutes Approved Data. The inconsistency between not only FAA Inspectors, but FSDO offices, and ACO offices in how they read the regulations. An idea that all parts require an FAA Form 8130-3. Finally, can an A&P fabricate parts for installation in the course of performing maintenance.