U.
S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular Subject: Eligibility and Evaluation of U.S.
Military Surplus Flight Safety Critical Aircraft Parts, Engines, and Propellers Date: 4/10/10 AC No: 20-142 Initiated by: AFS-300 Change: 1
1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular (AC) provides information and guidance for use in evaluating and determining the eligibility of U.S. military surplus flight safety critical aircraft parts (FSCAP), engines, and propellers for installation on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type-certificated products. This AC is applicable to all U.S. military surplus FSCAP, engines, and propellers, irrespective of when and by what process these products or parts became available. In the absence of FSCAP classification of military surplus parts by the Department of Defense (DoD), such parts should be identified and classified as FSCAP using the guidance contained in this AC. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
2. PRINCIPAL CHANGES. This AC incorporates minor changes to paragraphs 6, 10 and 13.
PAGE CONTROL CHART Remove Pages Dated Insert Pages Dated Pages 1 thru 18 2/25/00 Pages 1 thru 18 4/10/10
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY /s/ John M. Allen Director, Flight Standards Service
U.
S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular Subject: Eligibility and Evaluation of U.S.
Military Surplus Flight Safety Critical Aircraft Parts, Engines, and Propellers Date: 2/25/00 AC No: 20-142 Initiated by: AFS-300 Change:
1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular (AC) provides information and guidance for use in evaluating and determining the eligibility of U.S. military surplus flight safety critical aircraft parts (FSCAP), engines, and propellers for installation on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type-certificated products. This AC is applicable to all U.S. military surplus FSCAP, engines, and propellers, irrespective of when and by what process these products or parts became available. In the absence of FSCAP classification of military surplus parts by the Department of Defense (DoD), such parts should be identified and classified as FSCAP using the guidance contained in this AC. For information and guidance on determining the eligibility of parts other than FSCAP, refer to AC 20-62, Eligibility, Quality, and Identification of Aeronautical Replacement Parts. Like all AC material, this AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. It is issued for guidance purposes and to outline one method of compliance with the rules. In lieu of following the method(s) prescribed herein without deviation, a person may elect to follow an alternative method, provided the FAA finds the alternative method to be an acceptable means of complying with the applicable requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).
2. AUDIENCE. This AC is intended for use by aircraft operators, maintenance organizations, and maintenance personnel in evaluating and determining the eligibility of U.S. military surplus FSCAP, engines, and propellers for installation on FAA type-certificated products.
3. WHERE YOU CAN FIND THIS AC. You can find this AC on the FAA’s website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars.
4. RELATED 14 CFR PARTS.
a. Part 1, Definitions and Abbreviations.
b. Part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Articles.
c. Part 23, Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category Airplanes.
d. Part 25, Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes.
e. Part 27, Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category Rotorcraft.
f. Part 29, Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Rotorcraft.
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g. Part 33, Airworthiness Standards: Aircraft Engines.
h. Part 35, Airworthiness Standards: Propellers.
i. Part 39, Airworthiness Directives.
j. Part 43, Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration.
k. Part 45, Identification and Registration Marking.
l. Part 91, General Operating and Flight Rules.
5. DEFINITIONS. The following terms have the meaning listed when used in this AC:
a. Critical Characteristic. Any feature throughout the life cycle of a FSCAP which, if nonconforming, missing, or degraded, could cause a catastrophic failure resulting in loss or serious damage to the aircraft or an uncommanded engine shutdown resulting in an unsafe condition. A characteristic can be critical in terms of a dimension, tolerance, finish, or material;
an assembly, manufacturing, or inspection process; or an operational, field maintenance, or depot overhaul requirement.
(1) A manufacturing critical characteristic is produced during the manufacturing process.
(2) An installation critical characteristic is critical in terms of assembly or installation
(e.g., torque).
b. DoD CAGE Code. The DoD Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code identifies the manufacturer of the part or product produced under government contract.
c. Dual Use Product/Part. Any product or part manufactured for civil application by a Production Approval Holder (PAH) authorized by the FAA which is also procured under a U.S. military contract. The product or part has the identical part number and configuration as its civil counterpart; it was manufactured using the same FAA-approved design, materials, and manufacturing processes. These could also include any product (or part thereof) originally produced for the military which currently holds a normal, utility, acrobatic, or transport type certificate (TC) issued under 14 CFR part 21, § 21.27.
d. Flight Safety Critical Aircraft Part (FSCAP). Any part, assembly, or installation containing a critical characteristic whose failure, malfunction or absence could cause a catastrophic failure resulting in loss or serious damage to the aircraft or an uncommanded engine shutdown resulting in an unsafe condition.
e. Military Surplus Product/Part. A product or part that has been originally released as surplus by the U.S. military, even if subsequently resold by a manufacturer, owner/operator, repair facility, or any other parts supplier.
f. Military Unique FSCAP. Any FSCAP specifically and uniquely designed and manufactured for the U.S. military, for which there is no corresponding FAA-approved type
Par 5 Page 3 design or PAH engine, propeller or part produced for civil application. “Breakout” products or parts, produced specifically for military use by a manufacturer other than an FAA PAH using military-provided designs/drawings and specifications, are also considered military unique.
g. Part Out. To remove a part from, or disassemble, an aircraft, engine, propeller, or assembly of parts.
6. RELATED READING MATERIAL.
a. The current edition of FAA Order 8900.1 Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS), may be viewed online at https://fsims.faa.gov.
b. Copies of current editions of the following documents may be obtained free of charge from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Subsequent Distribution Office, Ardmore East Business Center, 3341 Q 75th Avenue, Landover, MD 20785:
(1) FAA Order 8110.4, Type Certification.
(2) FAA Order 8110.42, Parts Manufacturer Approval Procedures.
(3) FAA Order 8130.2, Airworthiness Certification of Aircraft.
(4) FAA Order 8130.21, Procedures for Completion and Use of FAA Form 8130-3, Airworthiness Approval Tag.
(5) AC 20-62, Eligibility, Quality, and Identification of Aeronautical Replacement Parts.
(6) AC 21-13, Standard Airworthiness Certification of Surplus Military Aircraft and Aircraft Built from Spare and Surplus Parts.
(7) AC 21-23, Airworthiness Certification of Civil Aircraft Engines, Propellers, and Related Products Imported to the United States.
(8) AC 21-29, Detecting and Reporting Suspected Unapproved Parts.
(9) AC 21-54, Experimental Airworthiness Certification of Certain Former Military Aircraft.
7. BACKGROUND.
a. The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (Public Law (PL) 81-152), as amended, requires the DoD to dispose of its surplus property. However, the DoD is prevented from destroying property with economic value. Consequently, since the end of World War II various U.S. manufactured, DoD surplus military aircraft of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their parts, have been available for sale to or within the civil sector. Depending on the aircraft type and/or whether or not these surplus military products have had civilian counterpart models for which an FAA type certificate had been issued, such aircraft may have eligibility for either “standard” airworthiness certification under § 21.183(d), or “special”
Par 7 Page 4 airworthiness certification under § 21.185. With the “downsizing” of military requirements, increasing quantities of surplus DoD aviation products and their parts have become available for civil purchase.
b. In 1993 and 1994, various concerns regarding military surplus aircraft parts, specifically those parts designated by the proponent military service as FSCAP, entering into the civil market place led to the forming of a joint DoD and FAA FSCAP Process Action Team (PAT). This team, representing the Defense Logistics Agency, the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the FAA, produced recommendations related to the identification, disposition and control of FSCAP. The DoD and the FAA accepted the PAT recommendations and jointly signed the implementation plan memorandum in 1995. This AC is part of the FSCAP PAT implementation plan and provides guidance that is pertinent to the aviation community regarding the potential installation of military surplus FSCAP on FAA type certificated products.
8. DISCUSSION.
a. Any military surplus FSCAP may have the potential to be considered for approval to be installed on an aircraft which holds a special or Standard Airworthiness Certificate.
b. While many military parts may appear to be the same as their FAA-approved civil counterparts, they are not automatically FAA-approved for installation. Typically, the procuring military service specifies requirements for the design, production, and acquisition of its parts, which may not meet the requirements of 14 CFR; however, certain parts procured by the DoD also have the potential to be approved for civil use. In fact, certain military unique FSCAP are currently part of FAA-certificated, restricted category military surplus products. These military unique parts sometimes have no replacement source other than the military surplus stocks originally procured solely for U.S. Armed Forces use.
c. The DoD makes no representation as to a part’s eligibility for installation on FAA type-certificated products. Therefore, prior to installing the part on a type-certificated product, the receiving person, organization, or installer must determine that the part is eligible for installation and is airworthy. Failure to comply with FAA requirements can subject the owner and/or installer to enforcement actions. Since the FSCAP may not meet FAA type design and/or may have been operated outside the limitations specified by 14 CFR, additional inspections and/or FAA approval may be needed to determine the part’s condition for safe operation or eligibility for installation on civil aircraft.
d. In order to maintain the airworthiness of any aircraft, parts used to maintain the aircraft must meet that aircraft’s applicable airworthiness requirements. Title 14 CFR part 43, § 43.13 requires the installer of a part on an FAA type-certificated product to ensure that the condition of the product is at least equal to that product’s original or properly altered condition.
e. There are certain unique design considerations and FAA certification requirements for engines and propellers. Therefore, the eligibility and evaluation processes for military surplus engines, propellers, accessories, and their parts, whether dual use or military unique, are described separately from other FSCAP in paragraphs 11 through 13.
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f. Military surplus FSCAP, whether new, used, or parted out, should not be presumed to be eligible for installation on FAA type-certificated products. As shown in Figure 1 and discussed in paragraphs 9 through 13, pertinent accompanying historical records/documentation are essential for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Disposition Services public sale of FSCAP, engines, and propellers, and subsequently for categorizing FSCAP, engines, or propellers as either dual use or military unique, to establish installation eligibility, and to evaluate for airworthiness in accordance with this AC. With appropriate documentation, the installer should be able to determine that the installation of that FSCAP will maintain the aircraft in compliance with the pertinent regulation(s) and in condition for safe operation.
9.
DUAL USE FSCAP. The process for eligibility screening and airworthiness evaluation of dual use FSCAP by individuals authorized under § 43.7 is illustrated in Figure 2 and described in
Par 9 Page 6 subparagraphs 9a through 9e. The authorized individual completing the eligibility screening and/or the airworthiness evaluation should make a record entry to document the result(s).
a.
Eligibility. New or used dual use FSCAP, as defined in subparagraph 5c, may be considered eligible for installation on FAA type-certificated products based upon the requisite evaluation findings when accompanied by pertinent DoD historical records detailing the following information:
(1) Part identification - part number, DoD National Stock Number and serial number;
(2) Manufacturer, DoD CAGE code, and date of manufacture;
(3) Total time-in-service;
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(4) Current status of life-limited parts;
(5) Time since the last overhaul of each part which is required to be overhauled on a specified time basis;
(6) Identification of current inspection status, including time since last required inspection or maintenance performed;
(7) Current status of applicable Airworthiness Directives (AD) and DoD directives
(i.e., engineering change, technical order, maintenance work order, etc.), including the date, method, and compliance requirement; if the AD involves recurring action, then also include the time and date when the next action is required;
(8) A list of current major alterations, repairs or modifications for each part;
(9) Date any work was accomplished; and
(10) Work authentication.
b. Evaluation of New Dual Use FSCAP for Installation on Products with Standard Airworthiness Certificates. In addition to verifying that the part is eligible for installation using pertinent items listed in subparagraph 9a, the evaluation shall determine that the part conforms to its FAA-approved type design, and that the part is in condition for safe operation.
c. Evaluation of New Dual Use FSCAP for Installation on Products with Special Airworthiness Certificates. In addition to verifying that the part is eligible for installation by reviewing applicable records listed in subparagraph 9a, the evaluation should ensure that the part is cited in the FAA-accepted maintenance manual and Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) specified on the applicable aircraft Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS), and that the part is in condition for safe operation.
d. Evaluation of Used Dual Use FSCAP for Installation on Products with Standard or Special Airworthiness Certificates. In addition to successfully completing the eligibility screening by reviewing applicable records listed in subparagraph 9a, plus those evaluation procedures specified for new dual use FSCAP in either subparagraph 9b (standard) or 9c (special), to establish used dual use FSCAP airworthiness in accordance with § 43.13, further evaluation should be performed by persons authorized under § 43.7(a), (c), (d), or (e) using the following applicable methods, means or data sources:
(1) Differences between military and civil version (possible DoD modification, alteration, repair, etc., performed);
(2) Current manufacturer’s or DoD technical data and procedures to perform tests and inspections including current life-limited parts list;
(3) Comparison of military time and/or cycle count for accumulated operational time versus civil (e.g., “Did the military use a different method than civil operators to account for accumulated operational time?”);
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(4) Non-destructive tests, as required;
(5) Bench testing or functional test, as required;
(6) Results of tests and inspection recorded;
(7) Complete historical and modification/alterations/repair records;
(8) Manufacturer’s identification plate;
(9) Flight, maintenance, and/or structural manual(s), and IPC; and
(10) Instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA).
e. Approval for Installation of Dual Use FSCAP. Persons authorized under § 43.7 may approve for installation dual use FSCAP that have successfully completed airworthiness evaluation in accordance with subparagraph 9b, 9c, or 9d. The installer must be able to determine that the installation of the FSCAP will leave the product in compliance with all regulations and in condition for safe operation.
10. MILITARY UNIQUE FSCAP. The process of eligibility screening and airworthiness evaluation of military unique FSCAP by individuals authorized under § 43.7 is illustrated in Figure 3 and described in subparagraphs 10a through 10d. The authorized individual completing the eligibility screening and/or the airworthiness evaluation should make a record entry to document the result(s).
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a.
Eligibility. Military unique FSCAP may be eligible for installation on civil products with Special Airworthiness Certificates under either § 21.8 in conjunction with type certification procedures for a product, or in accordance with a TCDS. Military unique FSCAP is not eligible for installation on a civil product with a Standard Airworthiness Certificate. At a minimum, the accompanying historical records for military unique FSCAP should contain the following pertinent information:
(1) Part identification - part number, DoD National Stock Number and serial number;
(2) Manufacturer, DoD CAGE code, and date of manufacture;
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(3) Total time-in-service;
(4) Current status of life-limited parts;
(5) Time since the last overhaul of each part which is required to be overhauled on a specified time basis;
(6) Identification of current inspection status, including time since last required inspection or maintenance performed;
(7) Current status of applicable ADs and DoD directives, (i.e., engineering change, technical order, maintenance work order, etc.) including the date, method, and compliance requirement; if the AD involves recurring action, then also include the time and date when the next action is required;
(8) A list of current major alterations, repairs, or modifications for each part;
(9) Date any work was accomplished; and
(10) Work authentication.
b. Evaluation of New Military Unique FSCAP for Installation on Products With Special Airworthiness Certificates. In addition to verifying that the part is eligible for installation by reviewing applicable records listed in subparagraph 10a, the evaluation should ensure that the part is cited in the FAA-accepted, military-approved maintenance manual and IPC specified on the applicable aircraft TCDS, and that the part is in condition for safe operation.
c. Evaluation of Used Military Unique FSCAP for Installation on Products With Special Airworthiness Certificates. In addition to verifying that the part is eligible for installation by reviewing applicable records listed in subparagraph 10a, the evaluation should ensure that the part is cited in the FAA-accepted, military-approved maintenance manual and IPC specified on the applicable aircraft TCDS, and that the part is in condition for safe operation.
To establish the airworthiness of used military unique FSCAP in accordance with § 43.13, further evaluation should be performed using the following applicable methods, means, or data sources:
(1) Special equipment or test apparatus, as required;
(2) Current manufacturer’s or DoD technical data and procedures to perform tests and inspections;
(3) Comparison of military time and/or cycle count for accumulated operational time versus civil (e.g., “Did the military use a different method than civil operators to account for accumulated operational time?”);
(4) Non-destructive tests, as required;
(5) Bench testing or functional test, as required;
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(6) Results of tests and inspection recorded;
(7) Complete historical and modification/alterations/repair records;
(8) Manufacturer’s identification plate;
(9) Flight, maintenance, and/or structural manual(s), and IPC; and
(10) ICA.
d. Approval for Installation of Military Unique FSCAP. Persons authorized under § 43.7 may approve for installation military unique FSCAP that have successfully completed airworthiness evaluation in accordance with subparagraph 10b or 10c. The installer must be able to determine that the installation of the FSCAP will leave the product in compliance with the TCDS, and in condition for safe operation.
11. MILITARY SURPLUS ENGINES, PROPELLERS, ACCESSORIES, AND THEIR PARTS.
a. Military surplus engines, propellers, accessories, and their parts, whether new, used, or parted out, should not be presumed to be eligible for installation on FAA type-certificated aircraft. The pertinent accompanying historical records documentation is essential for the DLA public sale of engines, propellers, accessories, and their parts, for subsequently categorizing them as either dual use or military unique, and for establishing their eligibility and airworthiness in accordance with either paragraph 12 or 13.
b. Military engines and propellers may be type-certificated under § 21.17, which requires issuance of a new TC and compliance with the applicable requirements, such as 14 CFR part 33 for engines and 14 CFR part 35 for propellers. For a military aircraft issued a TC under § 21.25 or 21.27, the applicable engine or propeller is not required to be issued a separate TC. However, it should be noted that the engine and propeller cannot be certificated separately under these two sections. Any eligible military surplus engines or propellers will be referenced on the aircraft’s TCDS.
c. Dual use military surplus engines and propellers which hold a TC, and their accessories and parts, may be eligible for installation on civil aircraft, engines, or propellers, respectively, in accordance with the applicable regulations. However, military unique engines, propellers, accessories, or their military unique parts, may be eligible for installation only on civil military surplus aircraft with Special Airworthiness Certificates.
d. Engines, propellers, accessories, or their parts are deemed flight safety critical if their failure, malfunction, or absence could cause a catastrophic failure resulting in loss or serious damage to the aircraft or an uncommanded engine shutdown resulting in an unsafe condition.
Such conditions include, but are not limited to:
(1) Release of engine or propeller debris, or propeller separation; and
(2) In rotorcraft, a transient or continuous power loss, or loss of power response.