FAR 91.417 — Maintenance Records
FAR 91.417 explains what maintenance records owners and operators must keep, what each entry must contain, and how long to retain them before transfer or disposal.
In Plain English
FAR 91.417 tells you what maintenance paperwork the registered owner or operator has to keep for an aircraft, and how long to keep it. Two categories of records matter:
- Short-term records of maintenance, preventive maintenance, alterations, and required inspections (100-hour, annual, progressive, etc.). Each entry must include a description of the work, the date completed, and the signature and certificate number of the person approving return to service. Keep these until the work is repeated or superseded, or for 1 year.
- Permanent records that travel with the aircraft when sold, including total time in service of the airframe, engines, props, and rotors; status of life-limited parts; time since last overhaul; current inspection status; current airworthiness directive (AD) compliance (method, AD number, revision date, next due time); and FAA Form 337 for major alterations.
A list of defects issued under §43.11 must be retained until repaired. Records must be available to the FAA or NTSB, and if a fuel tank is installed in a passenger or baggage compartment, Form 337 must be kept on board. Why it matters: as PIC, §91.7 makes you responsible for airworthiness — and these records are how you prove it.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.417§ 91.417 Maintenance records.
(a) Except for work performed in accordance with §§ 91.411 and 91.413, each registered owner or operator shall keep the following records for the periods specified in paragraph (b) of this section:
(1) Records of the maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration and records of the 100-hour, annual, progressive, and other required or approved inspections, as appropriate, for each aircraft (including the airframe) and each engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance of an aircraft. The records must include—
(i) A description (or reference to data acceptable to the Administrator) of the work performed; and
(ii) The date of completion of the work performed; and
(iii) The signature, and certificate number of the person approving the aircraft for return to service.
(2) Records containing the following information:
(i) The total time in service of the airframe, each engine, each propeller, and each rotor.
(ii) The current status of life-limited parts of each airframe, engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance.
(iii) The time since last overhaul of all items installed on the aircraft which are required to be overhauled on a specified time basis.
(iv) The current inspection status of the aircraft, including the time since the last inspection required by the inspection program under which the aircraft and its appliances are maintained.
(v) The current status of applicable airworthiness directives (AD) including, for each, the method of compliance, the AD number and revision date. If the AD involves recurring action, the time and date when the next action is required.
(vi) Copies of the forms prescribed by § 43.9(d) of this chapter for each major alteration to the airframe and currently installed engines, rotors, propellers, and appliances.
(b) The owner or operator shall retain the following records for the periods prescribed:
(1) The records specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be retained until the work is repeated or superseded by other work or for 1 year after the work is performed.
(2) The records specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall be retained and transferred with the aircraft at the time the aircraft is sold.
(3) A list of defects furnished to a registered owner or operator under § 43.11 of this chapter shall be retained until the defects are repaired and the aircraft is approved for return to service.
(c) The owner or operator shall make all maintenance records required to be kept by this section available for inspection by the Administrator or any authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). In addition, the owner or operator shall present Form 337 described in paragraph (d) of this section for inspection upon request of any law enforcement officer.
(d) When a fuel tank is installed within the passenger compartment or a baggage compartment pursuant to part 43 of this chapter, a copy of FAA Form 337 shall be kept on board the modified aircraft by the owner or operator.
[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34311, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-311, 75 FR 5223, Feb. 1, 2010; Amdt. 91-323, 76 FR 39260, July 6, 2011; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 91-381, 90 FR 35222, July 24, 2025]
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2120-0005)
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What maintenance records must an owner or operator keep, and which ones transfer with the aircraft when sold?
FAR 91.417(a) requires records of all maintenance, preventive maintenance, alterations, and required inspections, plus permanent records like total time in service, life-limited part status, time since overhaul, current inspection status, AD compliance, and Form 337s. Per FAR 91.417(b)(2), the permanent records in (a)(2) transfer with the aircraft at sale.
Q2What three pieces of information must every maintenance entry contain?
Per FAR 91.417(a)(1), each entry must include a description of (or reference to) the work performed, the date the work was completed, and the signature and certificate number of the person approving the aircraft for return to service.
Q3How long must routine maintenance records be retained, and to whom must records be made available?
FAR 91.417(b)(1) requires routine maintenance records to be kept until the work is repeated or superseded, or for 1 year after the work is performed. FAR 91.417(c) requires the owner or operator to make them available to the FAA Administrator or any authorized NTSB representative.
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Related Sections in Part 91