14 CFR 91.407 — Operation After Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, or Alteration
Aircraft may not be operated after maintenance unless approved for return to service and a maintenance record entry is made.
Regulation Text
No person may operate an aircraft that has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration unless: it has been approved for return to service by a person authorized under 43.7; and the maintenance record entry required by 43.9 or 43.11 has been made. No person may carry any person (other than crewmembers) in an aircraft that has been maintained, rebuilt, or altered in a manner that may have appreciably changed its flight characteristics or substantially affected its operation in flight until an appropriately rated pilot with at least a private pilot certificate flies the aircraft, makes an operational check of the maintenance performed, and logs the flight in the aircraft records.
Note: This is an excerpt. Refer to the full regulation in eCFR for the complete text.
Plain-English Explanation
After any maintenance, the aircraft must be formally approved for return to service (signed off) by a qualified person. If the maintenance might have changed how the aircraft flies (like control rigging, engine work, or major repairs), a rated pilot must fly it and verify everything works before passengers can be carried. This test flight must be logged. This protects passengers from potential post-maintenance issues.
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Related Regulations
14 CFR 91.403 — General Maintenance Requirements
The owner or operator is primarily responsible for maintaining the aircraft in an airworthy condition, including compliance with ADs.
§91.40914 CFR 91.409 — Inspections
Requires annual inspections within the preceding 12 calendar months and 100-hour inspections for aircraft used for hire or flight instruction.
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