Which statement best defines a major alteration or major repair for IA purposes?

Which statement best defines a major alteration or major repair for IA purposes?

• A. A repair that does not affect structure.
• B. A change that would or could appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, flight characteristics, or that requires data beyond approved data.
• C. A cosmetic modification with no performance impact.
• D. A change limited to replacing tires.

Answer: (D)

Major alteration or major repair is defined by whether the work would appreciably affect airworthiness attributes such as weight, balance, structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics, or if it requires data beyond what is approved for the aircraft. If a modification could appreciably change any of those factors or needs data outside the approved scope, it’s considered major and requires appropriate FAA data and oversight. Replacing tires is a routine maintenance task that does not meaningfully affect weight, balance, structural strength, or flight characteristics, and it uses standard approved data. Therefore it is categorized as a minor modification/repair. Cosmetic changes likewise fall under minor because they don’t impact airworthiness attributes. So the statement that best aligns with the IA definition is the one describing a change that would appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics, or that requires data beyond approved data.

Major alteration or major repair is defined by whether the work would appreciably affect airworthiness attributes such as weight, balance, structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics, or if it requires data beyond what is approved for the aircraft. If a modification could appreciably change any of those factors or needs data outside the approved scope, it’s considered major and requires appropriate FAA data and oversight.

Replacing tires is a routine maintenance task that does not meaningfully affect weight, balance, structural strength, or flight characteristics, and it uses standard approved data. Therefore it is categorized as a minor modification/repair. Cosmetic changes likewise fall under minor because they don’t impact airworthiness attributes.

So the statement that best aligns with the IA definition is the one describing a change that would appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics, or that requires data beyond approved data.