FAR 21.49 — Type Certificate Availability
FAR 21.49 requires type certificate holders to make the certificate available for FAA or NTSB examination upon request. Plain-English summary and oral prep.
FAR 21.49 is a short but important rule that applies to anyone who holds a type certificate (TC) for an aircraft, engine, or propeller design. The regulation simply requires that the certificate holder make the type certificate available for examination whenever it is requested by either the FAA or the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Why does this matter operationally?
- A type certificate is the FAA's formal approval of a particular aircraft, engine, or propeller design and is foundational to airworthiness.
- Regulators and accident investigators may need to verify the certificate during oversight, audits, or accident investigations.
- Failing to produce the certificate on request could raise compliance concerns for the TC holder.
For student pilots, the key takeaway is understanding the chain of certification: manufacturers hold type certificates, and those certificates must be available to government authorities at any time. This supports the integrity of the certification system you rely on every time you fly a certificated aircraft.