ASI Inspection Procedures & Reporting Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an ASI discovers an apparent violation during a ramp inspection, what is the FIRST action required before initiating enforcement?
- Immediately ground the aircraft
- Document findings and gather all relevant evidence (Correct answer)
- Contact the operator's chief inspector
- File a Notice of Proposed Certificate Action
Correct answer: Document findings and gather all relevant evidence
ASIs must thoroughly document and gather evidence before initiating any enforcement action to ensure the investigation is factually supported.
Question 2: Which FAA form is used by an ASI to record the results of an airworthiness inspection of an aircraft?
- FAA Form 8020-9
- FAA Form 8300-9
- FAA Form 8350-1 (Correct answer)
- FAA Form 8110-3
Correct answer: FAA Form 8350-1
FAA Form 8350-1 is the Aircraft Airworthiness Inspection Record used to document findings during airworthiness inspections.
Question 3: An ASI conducting a surveillance of a Part 135 operator notices a crewmember whose medical certificate expired 10 days ago. Under the safety continuum model, this finding would be categorized as:
- An administrative discrepancy requiring a letter of correction
- An unacceptable risk requiring immediate corrective action (Correct answer)
- A systemic issue requiring a comprehensive investigation
- A minor deficiency to be noted in the operator's file
Correct answer: An unacceptable risk requiring immediate corrective action
An expired medical certificate represents an unacceptable safety risk that requires immediate corrective action to prevent further flight.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of the Compliance and Enforcement Bulletin (CEB) system used by ASIs?
- To issue fines directly to certificate holders
- To provide policy guidance on how to apply compliance and enforcement tools (Correct answer)
- To notify the public of enforcement actions taken
- To track the number of violations per inspector district
Correct answer: To provide policy guidance on how to apply compliance and enforcement tools
CEBs provide FAA inspectors with policy guidance and direction on applying compliance and enforcement tools consistently across the agency.
Question 5: During an inspection, an ASI identifies a potential airworthiness directive (AD) non-compliance. The operator claims the AD is not applicable to their aircraft serial number. The ASI should:
- Accept the operator's claim and close the finding
- Ground the aircraft until the AD manufacturer can be contacted
- Verify applicability by reviewing the AD text, aircraft records, and applicable technical data (Correct answer)
- Immediately issue a letter of investigation
Correct answer: Verify applicability by reviewing the AD text, aircraft records, and applicable technical data
The ASI must independently verify AD applicability by reviewing all relevant documentation rather than relying solely on the operator's assertion.
Question 6: Under FAA Order 8900.1, an Informal Conference prior to issuing a civil penalty is primarily designed to:
- Allow the FAA to present evidence to a federal judge
- Give the respondent an opportunity to discuss the case and present mitigating facts (Correct answer)
- Formally charge the certificate holder with a violation
- Collect payment for assessed penalties
Correct answer: Give the respondent an opportunity to discuss the case and present mitigating facts
An Informal Conference provides the respondent an opportunity to present their side of the case and any mitigating facts before a final enforcement decision.
Question 7: When an ASI uses a 'Safety Attribute Inspection' (SAI) worksheet, the primary focus is on evaluating:
- The physical condition of individual aircraft components
- Whether a certificate holder's system elements produce safe outcomes (Correct answer)
- The qualifications of individual maintenance technicians
- Compliance with specific ADs and airworthiness standards
Correct answer: Whether a certificate holder's system elements produce safe outcomes
SAI worksheets assess whether the certificate holder's safety management systems and processes are producing acceptably safe results.
ASI Inspection Procedures & Reporting Techniques 2
When an ASI discovers an apparent violation during a ramp inspection, what is the FIRST action required before initiating enforcement?