Who has primary responsibility for determining if a repair or alteration is major or minor?

Who has primary responsibility for determining if a repair or alteration is major or minor?

• A. The person making the repair or alteration.
• B. The FAA inspector and who is area of responsibility to work as accomplished.
• C. The FAA regional engineer responsible for the area where the work is performed.
• D. The aircraft owner and operator.

Answer: (A)

The person performing the repair or alteration is the one who determines whether it is major or minor. This classification hinges on how the work affects weight and balance, structural strength, performance, flight characteristics, or whether it is accomplished using approved data. If the change could appreciably affect any of these areas or isn’t within the approved data, it’s considered major and must be handled with the appropriate data and approvals. If it stays within the approved methods and doesn’t impact those critical factors, it’s minor and can be completed under the established data without triggering the more stringent requirements. The FAA inspector, regional engineer, or the aircraft owner/operator do not decide this classification at the point of work; they are involved later in inspection, approval, or certification processes. If you’re ever uncertain, treating it as major and following the proper data and approval pathways is the safest and proper approach.

The person performing the repair or alteration is the one who determines whether it is major or minor. This classification hinges on how the work affects weight and balance, structural strength, performance, flight characteristics, or whether it is accomplished using approved data. If the change could appreciably affect any of these areas or isn’t within the approved data, it’s considered major and must be handled with the appropriate data and approvals. If it stays within the approved methods and doesn’t impact those critical factors, it’s minor and can be completed under the established data without triggering the more stringent requirements. The FAA inspector, regional engineer, or the aircraft owner/operator do not decide this classification at the point of work; they are involved later in inspection, approval, or certification processes. If you’re ever uncertain, treating it as major and following the proper data and approval pathways is the safest and proper approach.