What is the IA's responsibility when an aircraft’s airworthiness status changes between inspections?

What is the IA's responsibility when an aircraft’s airworthiness status changes between inspections?

• A. Notify the flight crew only.
• B. Reevaluate the aircraft, perform necessary maintenance or corrective actions, and re-sign to restore airworthiness before flight.
• C. Document the change and wait for the next inspection.
• D. Cancel the next inspection and file a deviation report.

Answer: (B)

When airworthiness must be reestablished between inspections, the IA must take action to restore the aircraft to a flight‑worthy condition before it flies again. If something changes that affects airworthiness, the IA reevaluates the aircraft, carries out or oversees the necessary maintenance or corrective actions, and then signs off to certify that the aircraft meets the required standards and is airworthy for return to service. This ensures any nonconformities are properly addressed and documented in the records before flight. Simply notifying the flight crew, waiting for the next inspection, or canceling the next inspection without restoring airworthiness would leave the aircraft unsafe to fly. Filing a deviation report also doesn’t address restoring airworthiness for immediate flight operation.

When airworthiness must be reestablished between inspections, the IA must take action to restore the aircraft to a flight‑worthy condition before it flies again. If something changes that affects airworthiness, the IA reevaluates the aircraft, carries out or oversees the necessary maintenance or corrective actions, and then signs off to certify that the aircraft meets the required standards and is airworthy for return to service. This ensures any nonconformities are properly addressed and documented in the records before flight.

Simply notifying the flight crew, waiting for the next inspection, or canceling the next inspection without restoring airworthiness would leave the aircraft unsafe to fly. Filing a deviation report also doesn’t address restoring airworthiness for immediate flight operation.