FAQ Regarding the Use of FAA Form 8130-3 for Return to Service / Maintenance
Who can issue FAA Form 8130-3 as approval for return to service?
Air agencies certificated under Part 145, or the holder of a U.S. air carrier certificate operating under Part 121 or Part 135, with an approved continued airworthiness maintenance program may issue an FAA Form 8130-3 for approval for return to service for a product or article maintained or altered under Part 43.
A Production Approval Holder (PAH) may issue an FAA Form 8130-3 for approval for return to service after rebuilding, altering, or inspecting its product/article in accordance with §§ 43.3(j) and 43.7(d). The use of FAA Form 8130-3 for this purpose is optional, but the FAA recommends its use. This will help aviation authorities and industry to ensure complete traceability and ease the movement of products and articles through the aviation system.
Can an independent Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic issue an FAA Form 8130-3 for returning an article to service?
No. FAA Order 8130.21 does not authorize an independent mechanic to issue this form.
What is the purpose of Block 3 ‘FAA Form Tracking Number’?
Unique identification is required to enable or provide product or article traceability. The preferred method is a unique form tracking number in Block 3. However, if traceability is provided through other information on the form combined with a number in Block 3, this is also acceptable.
What Blocks are used to indicate approval for return to service?
Blocks 14a through 14e on FAA Form 8130-3 are used to indicate approval for return to service along with the information contained in Blocks 1 through 12.
When would “INSPECTED” and/or “TESTED” be placed in Block 11 for approval for return to service?
The term entered in Block 11 should reflect the majority of the work performed by the organization. Entry of either term or both terms is acceptable as applicable.
Which Block should be checked when returning an article to service after maintenance when the organization that performed the service is both FAA- and CAA-certified?
When FAA Form 8130-3 is used as an approval for return to service to meet the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement’s Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP) or the Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG), the air agency or air carrier must check both boxes in Block 14a stating: “14 CFR 43.9 Return to Service” and “Other regulations specified in Block 12” and provide the appropriate information in Blocks 11 and 12.
This is considered a dual release FAA Form 8130-3. This action should also be contained in the air agency’s supplement. The regulations of the other CAA must be specifically identified in Block 12.
The completed work can be accomplished in accordance with the regulations of the FAA, or the regulations of the FAA and another CAA. The data used to complete the work must be clearly stated in Block 12 or attached to the form, and the attachment must be identified in Block 12. If the work has been done in accordance with the regulations of both the FAA and another CAA, both boxes must be checked. Attachments should include the form tracking number of the corresponding FAA Form 8130-3.
Aviation Authorities (AA) in the European Union (EU) may recognize an approval for return-to-service FAA Form 8130-3 only from Part 145 repair stations or air carriers that also obtained a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval appropriately rated for the product or article at the time the product or article was approved for return to service.
What information should Block 12 contain?
The information contained in Block 12 ‘Remarks’ should describe the work identified in Block 11 and associated results necessary for the user or installer to determine the airworthiness of the product or article in relation to the work being certified. This can be done either directly or by reference to supporting documentation. If necessary, a separate sheet may be used and referenced from the main FAA Form 8130-3. Each statement must clearly identify which product or article in Block 6 it relates to.
Some examples of conditions that could necessitate a statement in this Block. These statements may or may not be appropriate depending on the form’s purpose.
- Data required by § 43.9, including the reference and revision status. If other documents such as work orders, shop travelers, or FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration (Airframe, Powerplant, Propeller, or Appliance), are used by the certificate holder to comply with §§ 43.9 and 43.11, they must be specifically referenced in this Block;
- Compliance with Airworthiness Directives or Service Bulletins;
- Repairs carried out;
- Modifications carried out;
- Replacement articles installed;
- Life-limited parts status (for example, total time, total cycles, time since new);
- If a specific batch or lot number is used to control or trace the product or article, enter the batch or lot number in this Block;
- Deviations from the customer work order;
- Release statements to satisfy a CAA maintenance requirement;
- Information needed to support shipment with shortages or re-assembly after delivery.
How long must an FAA Form 8130-3 be retained for when issued for return to service?
If FAA Form 8130-3 is issued as an approval for return to service by a Production Approval Holder or 14 CFR Part 121, 135, or 145 organization, the originator should retain a copy of FAA Form 8130-3 for a period of 2 years after the work is approved for return to service, unless the work is repeated or superseded. An air carrier’s manual requirements may require a longer retention period.
If a certificated repair station uses FAA Form 8130-3 as the approval for return to service for a major repair in accordance with Part 43, the repair station should retain a copy of the document for 2 years.
When FAA Form 8130-3 is issued for approval for return to service in accordance with FAA Order 8130.21, a copy of FAA Form 8130-3 that accompanied each shipment, product, or article must comply with the recordkeeping requirements of 14 CFR Parts 43, 91, 121, 135, and 145. These forms must be retained by the facility where the form was issued.
Duplicates of FAA Form 8130-3, including signatures retained in an electronic file, do not need to be graphic images of the documents. However, when a supplemental FAA Form 8130-3 is issued as described by FAA Order 8130.21, traceability back through a system that ensures the products and articles were received with FAA Form 8130-3 must be possible.
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