Definition
A specific subsection of Federal Aviation Regulations (Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, Section 91.213, paragraph (a)(3)(ii)) that governs operations of aircraft with inoperative instruments or equipment. This particular subsection states that an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL) must include procedures for the pilot to follow when operating the aircraft with the listed inoperative items.
Plain English
A rule in the federal aviation regulations that says: if an aircraft has an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL), that MEL must spell out the steps a pilot has to follow when something on the aircraft is broken but the aircraft is still legal to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen when learning how to decide whether an airplane may legally fly with inoperative equipment under a Minimum Equipment List.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the official compilation of U.S. federal rules. Title 14 covers Aeronautics and Space. Part 91 contains the General Operating and Flight Rules. The numbers and letters after the section identify a specific paragraph within that rule, read as: section 91.213, paragraph (a), sub-paragraph (3), sub-sub-paragraph (ii).
Why Pilots Care
It provides the legal basis for a go/no-go decision when equipment fails before flight and no approved MEL exists for the aircraft.
Grounding Statement
If a required-looking item is broken, the pilot must find a specific approved path that allows the flight, not just assume the airplane is acceptable.
Intuition Check
Do not read this citation as blanket permission to fly with broken equipment. It is only one requirement inside the rule, and the MEL must specifically allow the aircraft to be operated with that item not working.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor pointed to 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213(a)(3)(ii) to show the student that the MEL has to include pilot procedures, not just a list of deferrable items.
Example Sentence 2
Because the aircraft lacked an approved MEL, the mechanic and pilot used 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213(a)(3)(ii) to decide whether the flight could proceed with the non-functional attitude indicator.