IA Annual Inspection Scope, Planning & Checklist Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What regulatory document defines the minimum scope and detail of an annual inspection?
- 14 CFR Part 91, Appendix A
- 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D (Correct answer)
- AC 43-204 (Visual Inspection for Aircraft)
- 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart E
Correct answer: 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D
14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D specifies the minimum items that must be inspected during an annual or 100-hour inspection.
Question 2: What must the IA do before beginning an annual inspection?
- Obtain the aircraft owner's written authorization and review all available aircraft records (Correct answer)
- Submit a pre-inspection report to the FSDO
- Complete an FAA-approved pre-inspection form within 72 hours
- Verify that no other mechanic has worked on the aircraft in the past 30 days
Correct answer: Obtain the aircraft owner's written authorization and review all available aircraft records
Before starting, the IA should obtain owner authorization and review logbooks and records to understand the aircraft's history, open items, and any deferred maintenance.
Question 3: Which system requires an IA to inspect both the flight control surfaces AND the control system cables, pulleys, and turnbuckles during an annual?
- Only the primary flight controls (ailerons, elevator, rudder)
- The entire flight control system including secondary controls, trim, and associated hardware (Correct answer)
- Only the trim tabs and flaps as the primary controls are self-evident
- Only the control surfaces, not the internal cable runs
Correct answer: The entire flight control system including secondary controls, trim, and associated hardware
Appendix D requires inspection of the entire flight control system including surfaces, cables, pulleys, bellcranks, turnbuckles, and all related hardware.
Question 4: What must an IA verify about control cable safety when inspecting during an annual?
- That cables are stainless steel only
- That turnbuckles are safety-wired or clipped, and that cables are within tension limits and free of broken strands (Correct answer)
- That all cables were replaced within the last 5 years
- That cable diameter matches the original design drawing scale
Correct answer: That turnbuckles are safety-wired or clipped, and that cables are within tension limits and free of broken strands
Control cables must be checked for proper tension, absence of kinking or broken strands, and all turnbuckles must be properly safetied to prevent loosening.
Question 5: During an annual, the IA finds that several inspection panels are riveted shut with no quick-access provisions. What is the concern?
- Panel rivets are acceptable; there is no inspection access requirement
- Some areas require inspection access; permanently closed panels may prevent the IA from completing the required scope (Correct answer)
- The aircraft cannot be approved until all panels are converted to quick-release fasteners
- Only panels installed after 1980 require quick-access provisions
Correct answer: Some areas require inspection access; permanently closed panels may prevent the IA from completing the required scope
If inspection access panels prevent the IA from examining required items per Appendix D, the inspection cannot be completed and the aircraft cannot be approved.
Question 6: What is the IA's responsibility regarding Airworthiness Directives (ADs) during an annual inspection?
- ADs are the owner's responsibility; the IA only inspects the physical aircraft
- The IA must check all applicable ADs and verify that each required action is compliant and recorded (Correct answer)
- Only recurring ADs need verification; one-time ADs are assumed to have been completed
- ADs need only be reviewed if the aircraft has recently changed ownership
Correct answer: The IA must check all applicable ADs and verify that each required action is compliant and recorded
Verifying AD compliance is a mandatory part of every annual inspection; the IA must check that all applicable ADs — both one-time and recurring — have been accomplished and properly documented.
IA Annual Inspection Scope, Planning & Checklist Standards 1
What regulatory document defines the minimum scope and detail of an annual inspection?