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:

Determining aircraft airworthiness with inoperative equipment primarily involves consulting FAR 91.213 (including 91.205, 91.207), the aircraft's POH/AFM (equipment list, supplements), and applicable Airworthiness Directives, with requirements varying based on the planned flight conditions (e.g., day/night, VFR/IFR).
If the inoperative equipment is not legally required for the flight according to regulations and aircraft documentation, it must be placarded "INOPERATIVE" and physically deactivated or removed before flight.
Beyond legal compliance, the Pilot in Command holds the ultimate responsibility for a safety assessment, deciding if the flight can be safely completed with the inoperative equipment, considering all operational factors and risks.

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.