FAA Feedback: Approved Data

A recent conversation with a technician/IA in Texas centered on work he was performing: An alteration to an engine which involved using a supplemental type certificate (STC).

Several of his questions focused around how the STC should be recorded on Form 337. Is the STC approved data, he asked, or is it acceptable data? And if its acceptable data, how should he get the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) to field approve it.

Two minutes into our conversation I realized that he wasnt quite sure of the basic definition of the terms we were discussing. He was not alone, I told him.

In the bowels of Part 43 sits a pretty important rule that says we have to use data. Its FAR 43.13(a) Performance Rules (general) which says:

Each person performing maintenance, alteration or preventive maintenance on an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller or appliance SHALL use the methods, techniques and practices prescribed in the CURRENT manufacturers maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness prepared by its manufacturer or other methods, techniques, and practices ACCEPTABLE to the Administrator (FAA).

This is also the same rule the FAA uses to discourage technicians and repairmen from using unsafe methods to maintain aircraft.

Acceptable data is found in aircraft maintenance documents such as manufacturers maintenance manuals, service bulletins and letters, advisory circular AC 43.13-1A and 2A, and FAR Part 121 and Part 135 air carrier maintenance manuals.

If you read FAR 43.13(a) again, carefully, you can see that the rule allows you to use acceptable data for all maintenance, alterations or preventive maintenance on the entire aircraft.

However, the FAR 43.13 rule, doesnt say that you can use acceptable data for major repairs and major alterations. You need approved data to handle that!

Approved data is data that the FAA has approved and is usually identified as such. Approved data includes: Type certificate data and specification sheets, supplemental type certificates (STC), Airworthiness Directives (AD), manufacturers FAA approved data under a DOA, FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) data, FAA Designated Alteration Station (DAS) data and appliance manufacturers manuals, even though they dont have FAA Approved Data stamped on them.

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FAA Feedback: Approved Data