Unapproved Aircraft Parts or Suspect Parts – Industry Action to Manage

Sofema Online www.sofemaonline.com considers issued related to FAA & EASA Suspect Unapproved Parts (SUP)

Introduction

Both EASA and the FAA take very seriously the potential exposure regarding Suspect Parts and will typically take positive action to address once informed by Industry of the reason for the Suspect Part.

Parts manufactured without an appropriate and legal authorized release are described as "unapproved"; they may, in fact, be inferior counterfeits, or be original parts but have in fact been used beyond their time limits, or have not been correctly repaired or have been previously approved but not properly returned to service, be stolen, come with fraudulent labels, production overruns that were not sold with the agency's permission, and those that are untraceable.

Typically the parts are both cheaper to buy and yet more profitable to sell than approved parts.

What Are “Suspected” / Unapproved Parts?

Unapproved aircraft parts are aircraft parts not approved by national aviation authorities for installation on type certified aircraft.

Suspected Unapproved Part- A part that is suspected of failing to meet any of the criteria pursuant to FAR Part 21 Requirements (21.8 or 21.9.) A part that for any reason, a person believes is not approved for use on a TC product. Reasons for suspecting a part is unapproved may include:

○ Differences in finish, size, or color,
○ Improper (or lack of) identification,
○ Incomplete or altered paperwork, or
○ Any other unusual or abnormal characteristic.

Note 1: An approved part used in the wrong application must be addressed as a potential part 43 violation. It should not be reported as a SUP.

Note 2: The term “part” does not include raw materials, (i.e., sheet metal stock, sealants, lubricants, raw forgings, casting, or billet material, etc.).

Indicators that a Part May be Problematic Include:

A quoted or advertised price that is significantly lower than the price quoted by other distributors and/or suppliers of the same part.

A delivery schedule that is significantly shorter than that of other distributors and/or suppliers (when the stock of a like item is exhausted).

Sales quotes or discussions from unidentified distributors that imply an unlimited supply of parts, components, or material are available to the end-user.

A distributor or supplier’s inability to provide substantiating documentation that the part was produced in accordance with an FAA approval or inspected, repaired, overhauled, rebuilt preserved, or altered, pursuant to 14 CFR, part 43

Sofema Aviation Services and Sofema Online provides a regulatory training course covering the important subject of Suspect Parts within both FAA and EASA Jurisdictions. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) & Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Suspect Parts Training – ½ Day course defines the SUPs policy of EASA & FAA; provides procedures to identify SUPs; and outlines investigative techniques which satisfy safety and enforcement responsibilities.

For additional information please see the website or email office@sassofia.com or online@sassofia.com