Transfer of maintenance records

When you sell a U.S.-registered aircraft, you must transfer certain maintenance records to the buyer at the time of sale. The buyer can choose whether to receive these records in plain language or coded form, as long as the coded format meets FAA standards for preserving and retrieving information.

You must transfer:

• Records of the aircraft's current status (total time, major alterations, inspections due, etc.)
• Individual maintenance records for airframe, engine, propeller, and appliances

For the individual maintenance records, the buyer may allow you to keep physical possession of them. However, even if you retain the physical records, the buyer becomes legally responsible for making them available to the FAA or NTSB upon request.

This regulation ensures continuity of the aircraft's maintenance history, which is essential for airworthiness compliance and helps the new owner understand what maintenance is due and what has been completed.

*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.*