Operation / Maintenance
Federal Aviation
Administration
Presented by the FAA Safety Team
FY 2012

Small, Simple, Low-performance, Other Than a Helicopter That:
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FY 2012
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• Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA)
– Reference: 14 CFR Part 21.190
– Ready To Fly From Manufacturer
– Uses: Personal, Towing, Flight Training
• Experimental – Operating Light Sport Aircraft
– Reference: 14 CFR Part 21.191(i)
– Light Sport Kit Aircraft
– Kit-built Light Sport Aircraft
– Downgrade From SLSA
– Personal Use Only
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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CLASSES
Airplane
Glider
Powered Parachute
Weight Shift Control
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
Gyroplane
Lighter-Than-Air
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• Registration Markings
– Special LSA – At Least 12 Inches High
– Experimental – LSA – At Least 3 Inches High
• Placarding - 2 Inches To 6 Inches High:
– SLSA – The Word, “ Light Sport ”
– ELSA – The Word “ Experimental ”
Reference AC 45-2
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FY 2012
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LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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• Special Light Sport (SLSA)
– Annual Condition Inspections
– Used For Towing or Flight Training
• 100 hour inspections
• Experimental Light Sport (ELSA)
– Annual Condition Inspections
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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There is One Light Sport Repairman Certificate.
Two Ratings:
– Inspection
– Maintenance
14 CFR Part 65.107
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• Inspection Rating
– Certificate Issued To Aircraft Owner (ELSA Only)
• Aircraft Class, S/N, “N” Number
– Requires 16 Hours Of Training In Aircraft Class
– Suspended Upon Sale Of Aircraft
– Privileges
• Annual Condition Inspection Of Owner’s Aircraft
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• Maintenance Rating
– Issued By Class of Aircraft
• Not Issued For Gyroplanes
– Must Complete Required Training For Class
– Privileges:
• Annual Condition Inspections (Both SLSA/ELSA)
• Maintenance on SLSA Aircraft By Class
– 100 Hour Inspections (Towing, Flight Training)
– Perform FAA Airworthiness Directives
– Perform Manufacturer’s Safety Directives
– Major Repair & Alterations
» Only By Approval of Manufacturer
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FY 2012
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CORE MODULES
1 Regulatory & Maintenance Overview
2 Airframe (General)
3 Engine & Propeller
CLASS MODULES
4 Airplane
5 Weight Shift Control
6 Powered Parachute
7 Lighter-Than-Air
8 Glider
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
HOURS
16
24
45
85
35
19
19
64
40
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CLASS
Airplane
Weight Shift
Powered Parachute
Lighter-Than-Air
Glider
Powered Glider
1 2 3 4
✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔
✔
✔ ✔ ✔
MODULE
5 6 7 8
✔
✔
✔
TOTAL
HOURS
120
104
104
80
✔ 80
✔ 125
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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• ELSA –
– Owner With Inspection Rating
– Repairman With Maintenance Rating
– Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic
– Appropriately Rated Part 145 Repair Station
• SLSA –
– Repairman With Maintenance Rating
– Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic
– Appropriately Rated Part 145 Repair Station
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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• ELSA
– Anyone
• SLSA
– Repairman: Maintenance Rating
• With The Appropriate Class
– Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic
• Must Meet Part 65.81 – Previously Performed
– Appropriately Rated Part 145 Repair Station
• Preventive Maintenance
– Part 43, Appendix A (c)
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A consensus standard is an INDUSTRY DEVELOPED standard that APPLIES TO AIRCRAFT DESIGN , production, and
AIRWORTHINESS . It is ACCEPTED BY THE FAA for the purpose of certificating light-sport aircraft. It includes, but is not limited to, STANDARDS for aircraft design and performance, required equipment, manufacturer quality assurance systems, production acceptance test procedures,
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS , MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
PROCEDURES , IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING OF MAJOR
REPAIRS AND MAJOR ALTERATIONS , AND CONTINUED
AIRWORTHINESS .
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LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – FAA SAFETY TEAM
FY 2012
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Continued Operational Safety
• Owner/Operator Responsibilities
– Shall Comply With Manufacturer’s Instructions
– Shall Provide Mfg With Current Contact Information
– Shall Notify The Mfg of Safety of Flight or Significant
Service Difficulty Upon Discovery
– Shall Comply With All Mfg. Notices, Corrective
Actions, And CAA Regulations
– Shall Ensure Needed Corrective Actions Completed
– If Owner Does Not Comply With Mandatory Service
Requirement, ASTM Considered Not Met.
ASTM F2295-06, 5.4
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(6) Noncompliance with these operating limitations will render the airworthiness certificate invalid . Any change, alteration, or repair not in accordance with the manufacturer ’s instruction and approval will render the airworthiness certificate invalid , and the owner of the aircraft must apply for a new airworthiness certificate under the provisions of 14
CFR § 21.191 with appropriate operating limitations before further flight .
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Certification of LSA Repairman
NOTE: If a major malfunction or defect is found during the annual condition inspection, it is strongly recommended that the repairman, mechanic, or repair station report the problem to the FAA via the Internet at: http://av-info.faa.gov/sdrx/ within 72 hours and also to the aircraft ’s manufacturer.
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• Inspection Rating:
– ELSA Only
– 16hrs Training; Issued To Aircraft Owner
– Annual Condition Inspections For Owner’s Aircraft
• Maintenance Rating:
– SLSA & ELSA
– Appropriate “Class” Training Before Issue
– Perform Annual Condition Inspection/100 Hour
– Major Repairs & Alterations – Only Per Manufacturer
• May Require Additional Training (Decision Of Mfg)
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• No TCDS - All LSA “ Built ” To Consensus Standard (ASTM)
• SLSA Must Be Maintained To An ASTM
• No “Type Design” To Meet The Definition of “Airworthy”
– “In a Condition For Safe Operation”
• Manufacturer’s Maintenance Manuals
• Safety Directives
• Major Repairs & Alterations
– ASTM States They Are To Be Defined By The Manufacturer
» Manufacturer Also Determines Required Training
» Contact The Manufacturer!
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26

Contains Information Such As:
• Ground Test.
• Check of Liquid Levels.
• Re-torque Cylinder Head
Nuts.
• Re-torque Exhaust Manifold
Screws.
• Check of Rewind Starter
Rope.
• Rewind Starter Dismantling.
• Rewind Starter Reassembly.
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FY 2012
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Rotax 912
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FY 2012
Rotax 914
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Rotax LMM-912
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14 CFR Part 21.190(c)
• Manufacturer ’s Statement of Compliance
– The Aircraft Meets its Design Data & ASTM
– Manufacturer Will Make Available to Any Interested
Party:
• Aircraft Operating Instructions
• Aircraft’s Maintenance & Inspection Procedures
• Manufacturer Will Monitor And Correct Safety-of-flight
Issues Through The Issuance of SAFETY DIRECTIVES .
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• 14 CFR Part 43.13(a)
– Each Person Performing Maintenance Shall:
• Use The Methods, Techniques, & Practices Prescribed In
The “Current” Manufacturer’s Maintenance Manual .
• Use The Proper Tools & Equipment
• Special Equipment or Test Apparatus
• 14 CFR Part 43.13(b)
– Shall Do Quality Work
– Use Quality Materials
– Equal To Its Original or Properly Alter Condition
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14 CFR Part 65.81
•Mechanic May Not Approve For Return To Service…
– Unless He Has Satisfactorily Performed It At An Earlier Date.
– Must Understand The Current Instructions of The Mfg.
14 CFR Part 65.85/87(b) [For LSA]
•An A&P Can Approve And Return To Service…
– A Major Repair or Major Alteration Provided…
– The Work Was Performed Per Instructions Developed By The
Manufacturer.
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FY 2012
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14 CFR Part 65.107(d)
• LSA Repairman With Maintenance Rating May Not
Approve For Return To Service An Aircraft/Part…
– Unless He Has Previously Performed The Work Satisfactorily In
The Past.
• LSA Repairman May Not Exercise His Certificate Unless:
– He Understands The Current Instructions of The Manufacturer…
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33

14 CFR Part 91.327 LSA Operating Limitations
• No Person May Operate An LSA Unless:
– Aircraft Is Maintained By An Appropriately Rated Person
– Aircraft Has Had A Condition Inspection In The Last 12 Months
– If Use For Towing/Flight Training, Has Had a 100 Hr. Inspection
– Aircraft Complies With All Airworthiness Directives
– Aircraft Complies With All Safety Directives
– Each Alteration Complies With The ASTM & Authorized By Mfg.
– Each Major Alteration Is Authorized, Performed, & Inspected Per
The Manufacturer ’s Maintenance & Inspection Procedures.
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14 CFR Part 91.417(a)
•Aircraft Owner or Operator Shall Keep:
• Records of Maintenance, Including…
• The Current Status of Applicable…
• Safety Directives
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NOTE: T O WORK ON A S PECIAL OR E XPERIMENTAL
L IGHT S PORT A IRCRAFT , certificated Part 145 repair stations, airframe mechanics, powerplant mechanics, and repairmen (Light Sport Aircraft) must be QUALIFIED AND TRAINED on the maintenance of Light Sport Aircraft, and have the necessary DATA AND TOOLS to inspect the aircraft and maintain them in a condition for safe operation.
AC 65-32
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• 14 CFR Part 21.190 – SLSA
• 14 CFR Part 21.191(i) – ELSA
• 14 CFR Part 43.1(b)(2); (d) Applicability
• 14 CFR Part 65.107 – LSA Repairman
• 14 CFR Part 91.319 – ELSA Ops Limits
• 14 CFR Part 91.327 – SLSA Ops Limits
• FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5 – Repairman
• FAA Order 8130.2 – Cert. of Aircraft
• AC 65-32 – Certification & Training of LSA Repairman
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FY 2012
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http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs600/afs610/
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Contact Information
Larry L. Buchanan Branch Manager AFS-610
Phone: (405) 954-6400
Fax: (405) 954-6688
Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
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