FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)RegulationsMedium
A mechanic completes an airworthiness directive (AD) compliance inspection and makes the appropriate logbook entry. Who bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring that all applicable airworthiness directives are complied with on the aircraft?
- AThe FAA Flight Standards District Office having jurisdiction over the aircraft's base airport
- BThe mechanic who performs the inspection and signs the maintenance release
- CThe pilot in command for each individual flight
- DThe owner or operator of the aircraft
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. The owner or operator of the aircraft
14 CFR 91.403(a) places primary responsibility for maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition, including compliance with applicable airworthiness directives, on the owner or operator. Mechanics perform and certify the work, but the regulatory duty to ensure compliance rests with the owner/operator.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The FSDO oversees but does not bear the compliance responsibility itself.
- B. The mechanic performs and certifies work but does not bear the overall regulatory responsibility.
- C. The PIC must determine the aircraft is airworthy for a given flight, but ultimate compliance responsibility belongs to the owner/operator per 91.403.
AD Compliance Responsibility
14 CFR 91.403(a) makes the owner or operator responsible for maintaining the aircraft in an airworthy condition, including compliance with all applicable ADs.
- ADs are mandatory unless an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) is approved.
- Owner/operator responsibility differs from the mechanic's role of performing and certifying the work.
- PIC must verify airworthiness before flight but is not the party ultimately responsible for AD tracking.
Memory trick: "Owner owns the AD load, though mechanic paves the road."