FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

[Guest]

Thought this link may be of interest.

May be on a thread already but I could not find it with search.

This is the link=> http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Gu...ighlight=43-18

pdf file is below

[N96337]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

Thanks for the link, Dave. I'll have to sit down and go through that one when I have a few minutes. This year at our IA renewal seminar, they referenced this, and from what I gathered, we could build parts as long as we could demonstrate and document that we had the ability and facilities to do so. Tube structure came into the discussion right away, as there are alot of these type aircraft around here.
JH

[Ragwing nut]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

As long as the parts are not readily avilable from the manufacturer or other PMA holder 21.303 is acceptable. Been there done that with several antiques.

Mike

[Guest]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

As long as the parts are not readily avilable from the manufacturer or other PMA holder 21.303 is acceptable. Been there done that with several antiques.

Mike

Mike, I don't see that in the regulation. I included the reg below. Show me where you read that. Dave

§ 21.303 Replacement and modification parts.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may produce a modification or replacement part for sale for installation on a type certificated product unless it is produced pursuant to a Parts Manufacturer Approval issued under this subpart.

(b) This section does not apply to the following:

(1) Parts produced under a type or production certificate.

(2) Parts produced by an owner or operator for maintaining or altering his own product.

(3) Parts produced under an FAA Technical Standard Order.

(4) Standard parts (such as bolts and nuts) conforming to established industry or U.S. specifications.

(c) An application for a Parts Manufacturer Approval is made to the Manager of the Aircraft Certification Office for the geographic area in which the manufacturing facility is located and must include the following:

(1) The identity of the product on which the part is to be installed.

(2) The name and address of the manufacturing facilities at which these parts are to be manufactured.

(3) The design of the part, which consists of—

(i) Drawings and specifications necessary to show the configuration of the part; and

(ii) Information on dimensions, materials, and processes necessary to define the structural strength of the part.

(4) Test reports and computations necessary to show that the design of the part meets the airworthiness requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations applicable to the product on which the part is to be installed, unless the applicant shows that the design of the part is identical to the design of a part that is covered under a type certificate. If the design of the part was obtained by a licensing agreement, evidence of that agreement must be furnished.

(d) An applicant is entitled to a Parts Manufacturer Approval for a replacement or modification part if—

(1) The Administrator finds, upon examination of the design and after completing all tests and inspections, that the design meets the airworthiness requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations applicable to the product on which the part is to be installed; and

(2) He submits a statement certifying that he has established the fabrication inspection system required by paragraph (h) of this section.

(e) Each applicant for a Parts Manufacturer Approval must allow the Administrator to make any inspection or test necessary to determine compliance with the applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. However, unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator—

(1) No part may be presented to the Administrator for an inspection or test unless compliance with paragraphs (f)(2) through (4) of this section has been shown for that part; and

(2) No change may be made to a part between the time that compliance with paragraphs (f)(2) through (4) of this section is shown for that part and the time that the part is presented to the Administrator for the inspection or test.

(f) Each applicant for a Parts Manufacturer Approval must make all inspections and tests necessary to determine—

(1) Compliance with the applicable airworthiness requirements;

(2) That materials conform to the specifications in the design;

(3) That the part conforms to the drawings in the design; and

(4) That the fabrication processes, construction, and assembly conform to those specified in the design.

(g) The Administrator does not issue a Parts Manufacturer Approval if the manufacturing facilities for the part are located outside of the United States, unless the Administrator finds that the location of the manufacturing facilities places no burden on the FAA in administering applicable airworthiness requirements.

(h) Each holder of a Parts Manufacturer Approval shall establish and maintain a fabrication inspection system that ensures that each completed part conforms to its design data and is safe for installation on applicable type certificated products. The system shall include the following:

(1) Incoming materials used in the finished part must be as specified in the design data.

(2) Incoming materials must be properly identified if their physical and chemical properties cannot otherwise be readily and accurately determined.

(3) Materials subject to damage and deterioration must be suitably stored and adequately protected.

(4) Processes affecting the quality and safety of the finished product must be accomplished in accordance with acceptable specifications.

(5) Parts in process must be inspected for conformity with the design data at points in production where accurate determination can be made. Statistical quality control procedures may be employed where it is shown that a satisfactory level of quality will be maintained for the particular part involved.

(6) Current design drawings must be readily available to manufacturing and inspection personnel, and used when necessary.

(7) Major changes to the basic design must be adequately controlled and approved before being incorporated in the finished part.

(8) Rejected materials and components must be segregated and identified in such a manner as to preclude their use in the finished part.

(9) Inspection records must be maintained, identified with the completed part, where practicable, and retained in the manufacturer's file for a period of at least 2 years after the part has been completed.

(i) A Parts Manufacturer Approval issued under this section is not transferable and is effective until surrendered or withdrawn or otherwise terminated by the Administrator.

(j) The holder of a Parts Manufacturer Approval shall notify the FAA in writing within 10 days from the date the manufacturing facility at which the parts are manufactured is relocated or expanded to include additional facilities at other locations.

(k) Each holder of a Parts Manufacturer Approval shall determine that each completed part conforms to the design data and is safe for installation on type certificated products.

[cpirrmann]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

Perhaps the difference lies in fabricating it for your own aircraft (or 'product' whatever that pertains to). as opposed to fabricating it for sale or installation on someone else's 'product'. An owner would fabricate it for his own Tcraft, an A&P would fabricate it for someone else's Tcraft.

[VictorBravo]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

I think the words "for sale" are in there somewhere...

I also think that an owner could easily make a case for the fact that Taylorcraft has been in and out of business, and able/unable to legally produce parts many times over the years. Some PMA houses have also had times of being in and out of stock on parts.

So it should not be too difficult to say "in order to insure that a needed aircraft part was available for the maintenance and continued safe operation of the aircraft, the owner had the part fabricated within the provisions of FAR 21.303 for his own aircraft, did not and does not offer this part for sale or for use on any other aircraft".

[Guest]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

I think the words "for sale" are in there somewhere...

I also think that an owner could easily make a case for the fact that Taylorcraft has been in and out of business, and able/unable to legally produce parts many times over the years. Some PMA houses have also had times of being in and out of stock on parts.

So it should not be too difficult to say "in order to insure that a needed aircraft part was available for the maintenance and continued safe operation of the aircraft, the owner had the part fabricated within the provisions of FAR 21.303 for his own aircraft, did not and does not offer this part for sale or for use on any other aircraft".

Hey Bill,

Neither the regulation nor the AC require you to make any case at all.

Maybe some FAA fellow is being stubborn but I sure don't see any requirement about parts not being readily available in any of the text.

Dave

[Ragwing nut]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

They keep changing the wording to where it is hard to keep up anymore. It was located in a different section of the FAR's, maybe 43. AC 43-18 is very good reading regarding parts fabrication without approvals. I will do some more looking and report back.

Mike

[alwaysoar]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush... again. If the strut were constructed using the original fittings, then it would be a repair. Right? Then it could be signed off by an A&P. Right?

Ed@BTV VT
TF 527

[mhorowit]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush... again. If the strut were constructed using the original fittings, then it would be a repair. Right? Then it could be signed off by an A&P. Right?

Ed@BTV VT
TF 527

The following is expressed with almost a total lack of knowlege on this subject.
I believe I have presented things to my IA who has inspected/passed the item as an 'owner provided part'. Second case - I have produced a repaired landing gear of uncertain heritage. My IA, with no knowledge of the skill of whomever repaired the part, examined it and allowed me to put it on the aircraft. I believe this also fell under "owner provided part". - MikeH

[astjp2]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

I have never seen a provision for an owner provied part....It would be an owner produced part. Your IA is taking the risk for the part if they are not the individual that repaired it or observed the repair...if they did a visual and signed off the log book as just replacing the part, then they remove the lilability for the repairs or mods, they become only lilable for the installation of a used part..... Tim

[alwaysoar]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

We've been over and over this subject many times. I wish we could get a definitive answer. As always, however, what is "legal" and what is safe are two separate issues. Mike's landing gear once signed off by an IA is legal, but whether or not it has integrity depends on the ability of the IA to determine the quality of the job.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

The answers come many months after the crash.
The Owner Produced Part is very interesting. Our IA seminar always has a big discussion on legally " installing" the part . They can be produced but who will install them?? HE is really sticking his neck out. I have seen a lot of block "7"s signed off by people who had no "authority" to do so ... AND NOW the 337 can be sent direct to Oak City with NO review. Trouble ahead I am sure.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

The answers come many months after the crash.
The Owner Produced Part is very interesting. Our IA seminar always has a big discussion on legally " installing" the part . They can be produced but who will install them?? HE is really sticking his neck out. I have seen a lot of block "7"s signed off by people who had no "authority" to do so ... AND NOW the 337 can be sent direct to Oak City with NO review. Trouble ahead I am sure.

From what I have been told only APPROVED DATA can be sent directly to OKC, all other 337's will still need to go FSDO for signoff. I still think BAD idea, whoever came up with this brilliant scheme.

Mike

[Forrest Barber]

Re: FAR 21.303 and 21.305 Fabrication Of Aircraft Parts By Maintenance Personnel

True BUT so many IA's think they can merely sign Block #7
( Approval for return to service) and that makes it a good 337 and many times it DOES NOT>>>> I have to sign off today and catch up tonight, WE got hit with another big rain storm and got some flooding at my home.