The Annual Inspection
What the annual inspection is, who can sign it off, the 12-calendar-month clock, and what happens when an aircraft is out of annual.
Every US-registered aircraft must have an annual inspection to remain airworthy. 14 CFR 91.409(a) prohibits operating an aircraft unless, within the preceding 12 calendar months, it has had a complete inspection and been approved for return to service.
Who can do it
An annual inspection must be performed and signed off by a mechanic holding an Inspection Authorization (IA) — not every A&P mechanic. The scope follows the checklist in Part 43, Appendix D: a thorough inspection of the airframe, powerplant, propeller, systems and required documents.
The 12-calendar-month clock
"12 calendar months" means the inspection is good through the last day of the twelfth month after it was signed. An annual completed any day in June 2026 is valid through 30 June 2027.
Out of annual
An aircraft past its annual is not airworthy and may not be flown for normal operations. If it needs to be moved to a facility where the inspection or repairs can be done, the owner can apply to the FAA for a special flight permit ("ferry permit"). If discrepancies are found at the annual, the aircraft may only return to service once they are corrected or properly deferred.
Owner's records
The signed inspection is entered in the maintenance records per 14 CFR 43.9; those records must be kept and transferred with the aircraft (14 CFR 91.417). Compare with the 100-hour inspection, which is an additional requirement for certain operations.
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*Reference and training only — not for navigation or as legal advice. Always consult the current 14 CFR, the AIM, your aircraft’s POH/AFM and a certificated flight instructor.*