FAR 21.316 — PMA Holder Responsibilities
FAR 21.316 outlines the duties of Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) holders, including quality systems, marking, and design data access requirements.
In Plain English
FAR 21.316 spells out the ongoing duties of any holder of a Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) — the FAA approval that lets a company produce replacement and modification parts for type-certificated aircraft. While this rule sits squarely in the manufacturing world, pilots should know the basics because every approved replacement part on your airplane traces back to these requirements.
A PMA holder must:
- Update its organizational document (required by § 21.305) and send amendments to the FAA.
- Maintain the quality system under the approved data and procedures.
- Ensure each PMA article conforms to its approved design and is safe to operate.
- Mark each article per Part 45, including any critical parts.
- Identify sub-assemblies, components, and replacement articles leaving the facility with the manufacturer's part number and name, trademark, or other FAA-approved ID.
- Have access to design data needed to confirm conformity and airworthiness.
- Retain the PMA document and make it available to the FAA on request.
- Disclose delegations of authority to suppliers.
This is what gives you confidence that a PMA part installed on your aircraft is traceable, properly marked, and airworthy.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 21.316§ 21.316 Responsibility of holder.
Each holder of a PMA must—
(a) Amend the document required by § 21.305 as necessary to reflect changes in the organization and provide these amendments to the FAA;
(b) Maintain the quality system in compliance with the data and procedures approved for the PMA;
(c) Ensure that each PMA article conforms to its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation;
(d) Mark the PMA article for which an approval has been issued. Marking must be in accordance with part 45 of this chapter, including any critical parts;
(e) Identify any portion of the PMA article (sub-assemblies, component parts, or replacement articles) that leave the manufacturer's facility as FAA approved with the manufacturer's part number and name, trademark, symbol, or other FAA approved manufacturer's identification;
(f) Have access to design data necessary to determine conformity and airworthiness for each article produced under the PMA;
(g) Retain each document granting PMA and make it available to the FAA upon request; and
(h) Make available to the FAA information regarding all delegation of authority to suppliers.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are a PMA holder's responsibilities for ensuring the parts it produces are airworthy?
Under FAR 21.316(b) and (c), the PMA holder must maintain the quality system in compliance with approved data and procedures and ensure each PMA article conforms to its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation.
Q2How must a PMA article be marked, and what regulation governs that marking?
Per FAR 21.316(d), PMA articles — including any critical parts — must be marked in accordance with Part 45 of the regulations.
Q3What identification must appear on PMA sub-assemblies or replacement parts leaving the manufacturer's facility?
FAR 21.316(e) requires that such articles be identified with the manufacturer's part number and name, trademark, symbol, or other FAA-approved manufacturer's identification.
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Related Sections in Part 21