FAR 21.140 — Production Certificate Inspections
FAR 21.140 requires production certificate applicants and holders to allow FAA inspections of their quality system, facilities, data, products, and tests.
FAR 21.140 covers what an applicant for, or holder of, a production certificate must allow the FAA to inspect and observe in order to verify compliance with the production rules in Subchapter C.
Under this section, the certificate holder must let the FAA:
- Inspect its quality system
- Inspect its facilities
- Inspect its technical data
- Inspect any manufactured products or articles
- Witness any tests the FAA deems necessary to confirm compliance
Importantly, this inspection authority extends beyond the manufacturer's own shop — it also applies to supplier facilities, where many parts and subassemblies are actually built.
Why it matters operationally: Production certificates are how the FAA ensures that aircraft and parts coming off the line consistently match their approved design. By keeping inspection access open at every level of the supply chain, the FAA can catch quality issues before unsafe products reach pilots and operators.