Inoperative Equipment

The overall reason we conduct a preflight inspection is to verify everything on the airplane is both present and working. We check fluids, tire and strut inflation, look for damage and wiggle things like ailerons and rudders to ensure theyre working as they should. Once were satisfied the airplane is ready to fly, we mount up and launch. But what if we find a piece of equipment thats not working? Can we still fly?

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Monday, May 16, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

When inoperative equipment is found during a preflight, pilots must determine legal airworthiness by consulting FAR 91.213 (including reference to a Minimum Equipment List if applicable, or 91.213(d) otherwise), other relevant FARs (91.205, 91.207), the aircraft's POH/AFM equipment list, and any applicable Airworthiness Directives or supplements.
The necessity of specific equipment for flight depends on the planned conditions (e.g., day VFR, night, IFR), and any inoperative item must be properly placarded and disabled (or removed) before flight.
Ultimately, beyond legal compliance, the Pilot in Command bears the responsibility to make a final safety assessment, ensuring the flight can be safely completed with the inoperative equipment, considering all operational risks and variables.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The overall reason we conduct a preflight inspection is to verify everything on the airplane is both present and working. We check fluids, tire and strut inflation, look for damage and wiggle things like ailerons and rudders to ensure they’re working as they should. Once we’re satisfied the airplane is ready to fly, we mount up and launch. But what if we find a piece of equipment that’s not working? Can we still fly?

The quick answer is it depends on the equipment that’s broken and the conditions of the planned flight. To help us make the correct determination, one that is both legal and safe, there are some regulations to follow and some paperwork to check. If the failed equipment isn’t required by regulation or the airplane’s documentation, it’s likely we can fly but we may need one more piece of paper to make it all legal.