Inoperable instruments and equipment

This regulation governs when aircraft operating under Part 91 subpart K (fractional ownership programs) may fly with broken instruments or equipment. You cannot take off with inoperable items unless the aircraft has an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL) and the program manager has authorization to use it in their management specifications.

The MEL must be accessible to the flight crew and identifies which items can be inoperative under specific conditions. However, certain items can never be included in an MEL: equipment specifically required by the aircraft's type certificate that's essential for safe operation, items required operable by airworthiness directives (unless the AD says otherwise), and equipment required by Part 91 for specific operations.

Records of inoperable items must be available to the pilot, and all MEL conditions and limitations must be followed. If you're already authorized to use an MEL under Parts 121, 125, or 135, you must use that same MEL for these operations.

*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.*