FAR 43.16 — Airworthiness Limitations
FAR 43.16 requires inspections and maintenance in the Airworthiness Limitations section be performed per the manual or approved program. Study guide for pilots.
FAR 43.16 tells anyone performing maintenance or an inspection that's listed in an aircraft's Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) how that work must be done. The ALS is part of the manufacturer's maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) and contains mandatory items the FAA approved as a condition of certification — things like life-limited parts, retirement times, and required overhauls.
Under this section, the inspection or maintenance must be performed in accordance with one of the following:
- The Airworthiness Limitations section of the manufacturer's maintenance manual or ICA, or
- Operations specifications approved by the Administrator under part 121 or 135, or
- An inspection program approved under § 91.409(e).
Why this matters operationally: ALS items are not optional. As a pilot, before flight you're verifying the aircraft is airworthy, which includes confirming life-limited components haven't expired and required ALS inspections are current in the logbooks. Missing or overflown ALS items make the aircraft unairworthy, regardless of annual or 100-hour status.