FAA Standards & Documentation FAQ for A&P Mechanics
The FAA maintenance standards — 14 CFR Part 43, the inspection requirements of Part 91, Airworthiness Directives, FAA Form 337, and logbook records — govern everything an A&P mechanic signs. While the General knowledge test covers the regulations directly, documentation rules also appear throughout the Airframe and Powerplant tests and are evaluated on the oral and practical exam. This FAQ covers the standards, the paperwork, and how SkyLicense helps you master them.
SkyLicense Team
FAA A&P exam preparation specialists — helping mechanics earn their Airframe & Powerplant certificate since 2025
The Regulatory Foundation of A&P Work
Every A&P mechanic works inside a framework of regulations, and the FAA expects you to know them cold. At the center is 14 CFR Part 43, which governs maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration. It answers the questions that define the profession: who may perform maintenance, how it must be performed, what records must be made, and when inspections must be signed off. Around it sit Part 65 Subpart D (mechanic certification and privileges), Part 91 (inspection requirements for operating aircraft), Part 39 (Airworthiness Directives), and Part 21 (certification procedures, including STCs and PMA parts).
The knowledge tests draw directly from these regulations. The General test includes a regulations subject area that covers Part 43 records, mechanic privileges under Part 65, and inspection requirements under Part 91. The Airframe and Powerplant tests assume you can apply those rules to specific systems — for example, knowing whether a repair to a wing skin is major or minor, or what entry is required after replacing an engine. The oral and practical (O&P) exam takes this further: a DME will ask you to explain the data used for a repair and the records required for return to service.
The documentation side is just as important as the technical side. FAA Form 337 for major repairs and alterations, logbook entries per 43.9, inspection reports per 43.11, and AD compliance records form the legal trail that proves an aircraft is airworthy. A mechanic who cannot document work correctly is a liability, no matter how skilled with tools. SkyLicense treats documentation as a first-class subject, with scenario questions that build the habits the FAA expects.
Return to Service: The Mechanic Signature
Return to service is the moment when maintenance documentation meets airworthiness. Under 14 CFR 43.9, no one may approve an aircraft for return to service after maintenance or alterations without the proper records. The signature on a logbook entry — with your name, certificate type and number — is a legal certification that the work was performed correctly and the aircraft is airworthy for the work performed. For major repairs and alterations, the Form 337 is the required record. For annual inspections, the IA sign-off per 43.11 is required. Understanding exactly what each signature authorizes — and what it does not — is one of the most important professional competencies the FAA tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the FAA maintenance standards and documentation rules?
The FAA maintenance standards are found primarily in 14 CFR Part 43 (Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration) and Part 91 (General Operating and Flight Rules). Part 43 defines who may perform maintenance, how it must be performed (43.13), and what records must be made (43.9). Part 91 defines when inspections are required (91.409 annual and 100-hour, 91.411/91.413 altimeter and transponder checks). Documentation rules cover logbook entries, FAA Form 337 for major repairs and alterations, and AD compliance records. SkyLicense includes a dedicated regulations module covering Part 43 and 65 documentation requirements with practice questions.
What does 14 CFR Part 43 cover and why is it tested?
14 CFR Part 43 is the core regulation for everyday maintenance work. It covers: applicability (43.1) — what work falls under the regulation; persons authorized to perform maintenance (43.3); performance rules (43.13) — work must be done using the methods and data specified in the applicable manuals and performed in a workmanlike manner; records of maintenance (43.9) — what every logbook entry must contain; and annual/100-hour inspection report content (43.11). It is heavily tested because every A&P mechanic signs entries governed by it. SkyLicense breaks Part 43 down by section with scenario questions that mirror real sign-off situations.
What is FAA Form 337 and when is it required?
FAA Form 337 (Major Repair and Alteration form) is required for major repairs and major alterations, per 14 CFR 43.9. Major repairs include structural repairs that could appreciably affect strength or flight characteristics; major alterations include changes that might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, or flight characteristics. The form documents the work performed, the approved data used (AC 43.13-1B, SRM, STC, or DER-approved data), and who performed and approved the work. One copy is sent to the FAA, and one is retained in the aircraft permanent records. Knowing what triggers a Form 337 — versus a routine logbook entry — is a frequently tested distinction.
What are Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and how is compliance documented?
Airworthiness Directives are legally enforceable rules issued by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 39 when an unsafe condition exists in a product. They may require inspection, modification, replacement, or operational limitations, and compliance is mandatory. AD compliance must be recorded in the aircraft maintenance records with: the AD number, the method of compliance, the date, and the signature and certificate number of the person who complied. If an AD is not complied with, the aircraft is not airworthy. Tracking AD compliance — including identifying which ADs apply to a specific airframe, engine, propeller, or appliance — is a core A&P responsibility and a frequent exam topic.
What must a maintenance logbook entry contain per 14 CFR 43.9?
Per 14 CFR 43.9, a maintenance record entry must contain: (1) a description of the work performed (or reference to data acceptable to the FAA); (2) the date of completion; (3) the name and certificate number of the person performing the work; and (4) the signature of the person approving the work for return to service, with their certificate type and number. For inspections, 43.11 requires the inspection type (annual or 100-hour), the aircraft time in service since the last inspection, the inspection report content, and the signature. Entries must be made in ink or by computer, be legible, and be kept for the life of the aircraft. SkyLicense includes logbook-entry scenarios that test exactly what belongs in a compliant entry.
What is the difference between a major repair and a minor repair?
The FAA defines major and minor repairs in 14 CFR Part 1 (Definitions) and Appendix A of Part 43. A major repair is a repair that, if improperly done, might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting airworthiness — or that is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations. Minor repairs are everything else. Major repairs require FAA Form 337 and must be performed using approved data; minor repairs require only a logbook entry. The same distinction applies to major versus minor alterations. Knowing how to classify work is one of the most tested concepts in FAA documentation questions.
What is the difference between an annual inspection and a 100-hour inspection?
Both inspections are required by 14 CFR 91.409 and must be performed in accordance with the applicable inspection programs and Appendices D and E of Part 43. The annual inspection is required every 12 calendar months for most aircraft and must be performed by an A&P with Inspection Authorization (IA). The 100-hour inspection is required every 100 hours of flight time for aircraft carrying persons or used for hire, and can be performed by any A&P mechanic. The scope of both inspections is the same (Appendix D of Part 43); the difference is who can sign them off and when they are due. An annual inspection within the previous 12 months can satisfy the 100-hour requirement, but not vice versa. This distinction is a very common exam question.
Who can perform maintenance and return an aircraft to service?
Per 14 CFR 43.3, maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations can be performed by: certificated mechanics (A&P) within the limits of their ratings; repair stations under their certificate; and manufacturers under their production certificate. Pilots can perform specified preventive maintenance listed in Appendix A of Part 43 on aircraft they own or operate (14 CFR 43.3(g)). Return to service requires the appropriate records: a logbook entry by a certificated mechanic or repair station for minor work, a Form 337 plus logbook entry for major repairs/alterations, and an annual inspection sign-off by an IA. Understanding who is authorized to sign what is essential — and heavily tested.
What approved data can be used for repairs and alterations?
Repairs and alterations must be performed using methods, techniques, and practices acceptable to the FAA, per 14 CFR 43.13. Acceptable data includes: the manufacturer AMM, SRM, and service bulletins; FAA advisory circulars such as AC 43.13-1B and AC 43.13-2A; Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs); and data approved by a Designated Engineering Representative (DER) or the FAA. For major repairs and alterations, the data used must be recorded on the FAA Form 337. Using the correct data — and knowing when data approval is required — is a core competency tested on the FAA knowledge tests and evaluated during the O&P exam.
How do 14 CFR Parts 65 and 145 relate to maintenance standards?
14 CFR Part 65 Subpart D defines mechanic certification: who can become an A&P, the experience requirements (18 months for one rating, 30 months for both), and the privileges and limitations of the certificate. 14 CFR Part 145 governs certificated repair stations: their facilities, personnel, quality control systems, and the records they must keep. A certificated A&P works under Part 43 rules; a repair station works under Part 145 rules, which include a quality control manual and inspection systems. Many mechanics work in Part 145 environments, so understanding how the two regulations interact — and the RII (Required Inspection Item) systems under Part 121/135 and 145 — is important exam material.
What happens if maintenance documentation is incorrect or missing?
Incorrect or missing documentation is a serious matter. The FAA can issue violations under the FARs, and an aircraft with incomplete records may be considered unairworthy until records are corrected or the work is re-accomplished. Logbook entries cannot be erased — errors are corrected by lining through the error, initialing the correction, and making the correct entry. If required records are missing, the FAA may require re-inspection of the work or acceptance of alternative evidence per FAA guidance. For A&P mechanics, the practical consequences include failed inspections, certificate action, and liability. Learning to make complete, accurate entries the first time is a professional skill the FAA evaluates throughout your career — and tests on the written exams.
How does SkyLicense help me master FAA standards and documentation?
SkyLicense includes a dedicated regulations and documentation module within its General bank — free to access — covering 14 CFR Part 43 (records, performance rules, inspection reports), Part 65 (mechanic privileges and limits), Part 91 (inspection requirements), AD compliance, and FAA Form 337 scenarios. Features include AI-powered adaptive difficulty, detailed explanations with exact regulatory references, timed mock exams, and analytics showing your accuracy by regulation section. Pro unlocks the full Airframe and Powerplant banks with unlimited practice. Create a free account at SkyLicense to start mastering the standards today.
For a deeper look at the FAA documentation rules, check out our aviation maintenance glossary and A&P written test study guide. Visit the main SkyLicense FAQ for platform-related questions.
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