Definition
The section of U.S. federal aviation regulations that sets the rules for maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration of aircraft. It specifies who is authorized to perform these tasks, how the work must be done, what must be inspected, and how the work must be recorded.
Plain English
The federal rulebook that governs how aircraft are maintained, who is allowed to work on them, and how that work has to be recorded.
Context Anchor
You will see 14 CFR part 43 when studying aircraft maintenance responsibilities, airworthiness, inspections, and what a pilot-owner may or may not do to an aircraft.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the official collection of U.S. government rules. Title 14 covers Aeronautics and Space, and within it, part 43 is the specific chapter dealing with aircraft maintenance.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must know which simple maintenance tasks they may legally perform themselves and when a certified mechanic is required to keep the aircraft airworthy.
Intuition Check
“Part” does not mean a physical piece of the airplane here. In 14 CFR part 43, “part” means a numbered section of federal aviation rules.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying the rental, the pilot confirmed the recent oil change had been signed off in accordance with 14 CFR part 43.
Example Sentence 2
The mechanic documented the repair in the logbook in accordance with 14 CFR Part 43 so the aircraft could return to service.