Definition
A section of the Federal Aviation Regulations that specifies the content, form, and disposition of maintenance records for inspections performed under 14 CFR parts 91, 125, and 135, including the 100-hour, annual, and progressive inspections. It requires the person approving or disapproving an aircraft for return to service after such an inspection to make an entry in the maintenance record stating the aircraft total time-in-service, the date, the type of inspection, a signature, certificate number, and kind of certificate held, along with a specific approval or disapproval statement and, if disapproved, a list of discrepancies.
Plain English
This is the rule that says exactly what a mechanic must write in the aircraft logbook after doing a major inspection like an annual or 100-hour. It spells out what the entry has to say and whether the aircraft is cleared to fly or not.
Context Anchor
Seen when studying annual inspections, 100-hour inspections, progressive inspections, and the logbook entries that show an aircraft is legal to operate after inspection.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the official collection of rules issued by U.S. government agencies. Part 43 of Title 14 is the part dealing with aircraft maintenance, and section 43.11 is the specific rule within it covering inspection record entries. The numbering simply locates the rule within that larger code.
Why Pilots Care
Compliance ensures the aircraft remains airworthy and that records will satisfy FAA audits or pre-purchase reviews.
Intuition Check
Do not read “part” and “section” as physical pieces of the aircraft. In this term, they are divisions of the federal aviation rules.
Example Sentence 1
After completing the annual inspection, the IA made the logbook entry required by 14 CFR part 43, section 43.11, approving the aircraft for return to service.
Example Sentence 2
The buyer’s pre-purchase review confirmed that every inspection entry met the content rules in 14 CFR part 43, section 43.11.