(Pleasenotethe followingstatementsfrom
FAA
Advisory Circular 20-62C entitled"ELIGIBILITY, QUALITY, AND IDENTIFICATION
OF
APPROVED REPLACEMENT PARTS"):
3.
BACKGROUND.
An increasingamountof replacement parts(includingstandardparts),materials,
appliances,and instrumentsare offered for sale as being of aircraft qualitywhen actuallythe quality and
originof theseunitsareunknown.Usersof suchunitsareusuallynotawareofthepotentialhazardsinvolved
with replacement parts that are not eligible for use on certificated aircraft. Frequently such units are
deceptively advertised or presentedas "unused," "likenew," or "remanufactured!' This impliesthat the
qualityof such units is equal to an originalor appropriatelyrepairedor overhauledunit.
The performancerulesfor replacementof parts and materials used inthe maintenance and alteration of
U.S. certificatedaircraft are specified inFederalAviation Regulations (FAR) 43.13 and FAR 145.57. The
responsibilityforthecontinuedairworthinessoftheaircraft,whichincludesthereplacementof parts, isthe
responsibility of the ownerioperatoras outlined inFAR 91.163, FAR 121.363, FAR 123.45, FAR 127.131
and FAR 135.143 (a).
4.
I
DENTIFICATIONOFTHEAPPROVED PARTS.
Approved serviceablereplacement
partsare identifiedas follows:
a. By an FAA Form 8130-3 (Formerly FAA Form 186),Airworthiness Approval Tag. An Airworthiness
Approval Tag identifies a part or group of parts that have been approved by authorized FAA
representatives.
b. Byan FAATechnicalStandardOrder 0)numberand identificationmarkthat indicatesthe part or
appliancehas been manufactured under the requirementsof FAR 37.
c. Byan FWPMAsymbol,togetherwiththe manufacturer'sname,trademark or symbol, partnumber,
andthe make and modelof the type certificatedproduct on which the part iseligiblefor installation,
stamped on the part. An FAA Parts ManufacturerApproval (FWPMA) is issued under FAR 21.305.
The makeand model informationmay beon atag attachedtothe part.
d. Byshippingticket, invoice, or other documentwhich providesevidencethat the partwas produced
bya manufacturer holdingan FAA Approved ProductionInspectionSystem issued utlder FAA 21,
SubpartF, orbyamanufacturerholdingan FAA ProductionCertificateissuedunderFAA 21, Subpart
G.
e. By a certificate of airworthiness for export issued bya foreigngovernment underthe provisionsof
FAR 21, Subpart
N.
I
I.
KNOW
YOUR SUPPLIER.
It has come to our attention that many reproduced parts and
components, particularly instrumentswhich have been manufactured by persons other than the original
manufacturer,areavailablefor purchaseand installationon U.S. certificatedaircraft. Often, an originalpart
isusedas asampleto produceduplicates. The reproducedpartsappeartobeas goodasthe originalpart;
however, there are many unknown factors to be considered that may not be readily apparent to the
purchaser,i.e., heattreating, plating,inspections,tests and calibrations.All too oftenthefaulty part is not
discovered until
a
malfunctionor an accident occurs.
I
2.
SUM
MARY.
inaccordancewithFAR'S, certificationofmaterials, parts,andappliancesforreturn
to service, for useonaircraft,
is
the responsibilityof the personor agencywho signstheapproval.
The ownerloperator, as denoted inparagraph
3
of this advisorycircular, is responsiblefor the continued
airworthinessof theaircraft.To assurecontinuedsafety inaircraft operation,
it
isessential that great care
be usedwhen inspecting, testing, and determiningthe acceptabilityof all parts and materials. Particular
cautionshould be exercised when the identityof materials, parts, and appliances cannot be established
or whentheir originis indoubt.
