How must Airworthiness Directives (ADs) be treated during IA maintenance?

How must Airworthiness Directives (ADs) be treated during IA maintenance?

• A. All applicable ADs must be identified and complied with; compliance must be documented in the maintenance records.
• B. ADs are optional suggestions from the manufacturer.
• C. ADs only apply to new aircraft.
• D. ADs must be complied with only if the owner requests.

Answer: (A)

Airworthiness Directives are mandatory regulatory actions issued by the FAA to correct an unsafe condition in a specific aircraft, engine, propeller, or equipment. When performing IA maintenance, you must review every AD that applies to the aircraft or its components, identify which actions are due, perform the required work, and record the compliance in the maintenance records. The record should show the AD number (and revision), the date of compliance, and what was done. This keeps the aircraft legally airworthy and provides traceability for regulators. ADs are not optional suggestions, they apply to existing aircraft and components, and they are not dependent on the owner requesting action. If an AD is reviewed and found not applicable, that should be noted in the records.

Airworthiness Directives are mandatory regulatory actions issued by the FAA to correct an unsafe condition in a specific aircraft, engine, propeller, or equipment. When performing IA maintenance, you must review every AD that applies to the aircraft or its components, identify which actions are due, perform the required work, and record the compliance in the maintenance records. The record should show the AD number (and revision), the date of compliance, and what was done. This keeps the aircraft legally airworthy and provides traceability for regulators.

ADs are not optional suggestions, they apply to existing aircraft and components, and they are not dependent on the owner requesting action. If an AD is reviewed and found not applicable, that should be noted in the records.