If a repair uses data beyond approved sources, how should it be treated?

If a repair uses data beyond approved sources, how should it be treated?

• A. It should be treated as minor if time is short.
• B. It should be treated as a major alteration/repair, requiring IA or approved authority sign-off.
• C. It doesn't require sign-off.
• D. It requires only the owner's approval.

Answer: (B)

Using data that isn’t from FAA-approved sources means the repair isn’t backed by accepted airworthiness data. When the maintenance data isn’t approved, the repair can’t be treated as minor because even small deviations from approved procedures can affect strength, performance, or other flight characteristics. Therefore, it must be treated as a major alteration or repair. Because it’s a major repair, it requires sign-off by an Inspection Authorization or by another approved authority to approve the work and return the aircraft to service. This ensures the repair is evaluated against authorized data and any necessary calculations or verifications are completed. Owner’s approval alone isn’t sufficient, and time constraints don’t change the requirement for proper sign-off.

Using data that isn’t from FAA-approved sources means the repair isn’t backed by accepted airworthiness data. When the maintenance data isn’t approved, the repair can’t be treated as minor because even small deviations from approved procedures can affect strength, performance, or other flight characteristics. Therefore, it must be treated as a major alteration or repair.

Because it’s a major repair, it requires sign-off by an Inspection Authorization or by another approved authority to approve the work and return the aircraft to service. This ensures the repair is evaluated against authorized data and any necessary calculations or verifications are completed.

Owner’s approval alone isn’t sufficient, and time constraints don’t change the requirement for proper sign-off.