Maintenance log: Aircraft

This regulation requires anyone who takes action on a critical safety-related failure or malfunction to document it in the aircraft's maintenance log. This applies to problems with the airframe, engines, propellers, or appliances that could affect flight safety.

The certificate holder (airline) must establish an FAA-approved procedure for keeping adequate copies of these maintenance records on board the aircraft where flight crew can easily access them. This procedure must be included in the company's manual.

In practice, this ensures flight crews can review the maintenance history of problems and repairs before flying. If a pilot reports a landing gear issue that gets fixed, for example, the next crew can see what was done. This continuity of information helps crews make informed decisions about aircraft airworthiness and understand any limitations or precautions related to recent maintenance actions.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*