Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) considers the key aspects related to FAA Approved Parts & Exceptions
Introduction – FAA Approved Parts
FAA-approved parts are those that comply with the FAA’s stringent requirements for safety, quality, and airworthiness. These parts fall under the purview of 14 CFR regulations, primarily in Part 21, and must meet one of the following approval pathways:
Parts Manufactured under Production Approval
- Production Certificate (PC): For aircraft manufacturers and part producers with full FAA-approved production systems.
- Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA): Manufacturers producing replacement or modification parts must meet design and production standards.
- Technical Standard Order (TSO): Parts that conform to minimum performance standards defined by the FAA.
Standard Parts
- Includes parts such as bolts, nuts, and other components manufactured according to established industry specifications (e.g., SAE, AN, NAS standards).
- No direct FAA approval is required if they meet defined technical and manufacturing standards.
Parts Produced as Replacement Parts
- Replacement parts produced under PMA authorization or through a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
Owner-Produced Parts
- Parts that an owner or operator produces for maintaining or repairing their aircraft are permissible under FAA regulations (14 CFR § 21.9(a)(5)).
- Requirements:
- Owner must participate in designing and manufacturing the part.
- Part must meet airworthiness standards.
- Not for resale purposes.
Exceptions to FAA-Approved Parts
The FAA does provide limited exceptions where parts do not require formal FAA approval. These exceptions aim to balance regulatory oversight with operational flexibility.
- Owner-Produced Parts – As mentioned earlier, owner-produced parts are allowed but are closely scrutinized. They are not FAA-approved parts but are legal when used in owner-maintained aircraft.
- Standard Parts –These are exempt from FAA production approval, provided they are manufactured to well-defined industry specifications (e.g., SAE standards).
o Example: Rivets, fasteners, and standard bolts.
Parts for Experimental Aircraft
- Aircraft classified under experimental certificates (14 CFR § 21.191) are allowed to use parts without strict FAA approval.
- Experimental aircraft owners often source or produce custom parts that do not need formal production approvals.
Fabrication for Repair Stations
- FAA-Certified Repair Stations under 14 CFR Part 145 may fabricate parts as part of repairs and maintenance.
- The repair station must ensure the fabricated part complies with airworthiness requirements and the approved design data.
Military Surplus Parts
- Military parts can be used in civilian aircraft, provided the parts meet FAA regulatory requirements.
- These parts must be thoroughly inspected and tested to verify conformity with FAA-approved design data.
Salvaged Parts
- Parts from aircraft that have been salvaged can only be reused if they are inspected, tested, and certified as airworthy by a repair station or FAA-authorized individual.
Next Steps
See the following course provided by Sofema Online-Logistics & Stores Inspection EASA & FAA Suspect Parts Training
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Tags:
FAA, Part 21, SAS blogs, SAE, 14 CFR part 145, Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), Production Certificate (PC), Technical Standard Order (TSO), regulatory oversight, Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), NAS standards, 14 CFR regulations
