FAQ Regarding The Use of FAA Form 8130-3 for Domestic Shipments / Domestic Airworthiness
Is an FAA PAH required to provide FAA Form 8130-3 with its shipments to customers?
No. An FAA PAH is not required to use this form for domestic use. The FAA encourages the use of FAA Form 8130-3 for documenting the airworthiness status of FAA-approved products and articles. This will help provide traceability and ease the movement of products and articles throughout the aviation system. However, the final decision is yours regarding whether or not to use this form.
Why is the use of FAA Form 8130-3 voluntary for domestic use?
Although prior rulemaking activities proposed making this form mandatory for domestic use, that proposal was not implemented. The FAA encourages use of this form to record the airworthiness status of products and articles and to help with identification and traceability of these items, but domestic use of this form is not mandatory. End users have various means at their disposal to verify conformity of products and articles and to establish installation eligibility.
Can FAA Form 8130-3 be issued for products/articles that are not FAA-approved?
It is generally not permissible to issue FAA Form 8130-3 for products or articles that are not FAA-approved. However, two exceptions exist:
- FAA Form 8130-3 may be issued to ship a prototype part to support an ongoing FAA certification project. Refer to FAA Order 8130.21, paragraph 2-2, for related procedures.
- A foreign company may manufacture a prototype product or article in the United States under the jurisdiction of a foreign CAA. In such cases, that CAA may request technical assistance from the FAA to conduct conformity inspections of that prototype product or article if the applicable bilateral agreement includes provisions for such assistance. If the FAA agrees to provide that assistance, the FAA would use its own forms, including FAA Form 8130-3, to signify conformity and ship that prototype product or article. Note that only the FAA Directorate Manufacturing Inspection Office, which has geographic responsibility for the location of the product, article, or appliance, may obligate the FAA to provide such technical assistance. Otherwise, the FAA only issues this form for approved products and articles under its jurisdiction. For example, the FAA would not issue this form to release a product or article from a foreign supplier even if that supplier is manufacturing that product or article in the United States. As a foreign supplier, its manufacturing occurs under the jurisdiction of a foreign CAA.
When can FAA Form 8130-3 be issued for domestic airworthiness approvals of a new product or article?
FAA Form 8130-3 may only be issued for new parts under the following circumstances:
- An authorized person may issue the form while the product/article is within the PAH’s quality system.
- The product/article has never been issued an original FAA Form 8130-3 and is located at a distributor’s facility. The airworthiness of the products/articles must be established, as well as positive traceability to a PAH via acceptable documentation by an authorized designated airworthiness representative (DAR). (Refer to FAA Order 8130.21 for further instructions.)
- The end user returns the product/article to the PAH, and the PAH routes the products/articles through its quality control system to determine if the products/articles still conform to the type design they were produced under. If the PAH makes that determination, the designee or FAA could issue an original FAA Form 8130-3 with “NEW” documented in Block 11, and complete Blocks 13a through 13e.
What number is required to be placed in Block 4 with the organization name and address?
Concerning Block 4, FAA Order 8130.21, paragraph 2-8(d), specifies, “Enter the full name and physical address (no post office box numbers) of the organization or facility for which the form is being issued, and the PAH certificate or project number (for example, certificate No. LI1R 123K or X9MA123H), as appropriate. A logo or other identification of the organization is permitted if it can be contained within the block.”. However, if FAA Form 8130-3 is issued at a PAH’s extension facility and that facility is issued its own project number by the geographic managing office, that project number will be used, along with the full name and address of the extension facility.
How is the quality of articles ensured when a FAA Form 8130-3 is issued at a PAH supplier’s or associated facilities? How is traceability ensured if the PAH issues FAA Form 8130-3 for articles manufactured by its suppliers?
An FAA Form 8130-3 may be issued to document airworthiness approvals at PAH facilities, including PAH suppliers and associate facilities identified in the PAH’s approved procedures. The form also may be issued by a designee at PAH suppliers with direct shipment authorization or associate facilities outside the United States, if the FAA finds there is no undue burden associated with the form’s issuance. Quality and traceability are ensured through compliance with the documented, approved quality system procedures of the PAH.
How long must the originator retain FAA Form 8130-3 when issued for domestic airworthiness and export airworthiness approvals for a new product or article (to include conformity inspections, prepositioning, and splitting of bulk shipments)?
The originator must retain FAA Form 8130-3 for no less than 5 years for products and articles, and 10 years for critical parts.
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