Definition
A specific paragraph within Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91 (General Operating and Flight Rules), Section 91.213, that allows a pilot to operate an aircraft with certain inoperative instruments or equipment without an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL), provided a defined set of conditions is met. These conditions include verifying the inoperative item is not required by the aircraft's type certificate, the equipment list, the kinds of operations equipment list, 14 CFR Part 91 itself, or an airworthiness directive; deactivating or removing the inoperative item and placarding it 'Inoperative'; and having a pilot or mechanic determine that the aircraft is safe to fly with the equipment inoperative.
Plain English
This is the rule that lets you legally fly a small aircraft with something broken on board, as long as it isn't required equipment, it's been properly disabled and labeled 'Inoperative,' and a pilot or mechanic has confirmed the aircraft is still safe to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen when deciding whether a general aviation aircraft can be flown with a broken gauge, light, radio, or other installed item when there is no approved Minimum Equipment List for that aircraft.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations. '14 CFR' refers to Title 14, which covers Aeronautics and Space. 'Part 91' is the section governing general flight rules for civil aircraft, and 'section 91.213(d)' is the specific paragraph addressing inoperative equipment when no MEL is in use. The numbering is hierarchical: Title, Part, Section, paragraph.
Why Pilots Care
It determines whether a planned flight can proceed legally with certain equipment inoperative instead of requiring an immediate repair or grounding.
Grounding Statement
If something installed in the aircraft is not working, this rule is one of the main checks a part 91 pilot uses before deciding whether the aircraft can still legally depart.
Intuition Check
Do not assume 14 CFR part 91 section 91.213(d) means “small aircraft can fly with broken equipment.” It means “some aircraft may fly with some broken items only after the required legal and safety checks are satisfied.”
Example Sentence 1
The landing light was burned out, so the pilot used 14 CFR part 91 section 91.213(d) to placard it 'Inoperative' and confirm the aircraft was legal and safe for the daytime flight.
Example Sentence 2
The mechanic and pilot reviewed 14 CFR part 91 section 91.213(d) together to decide if the broken landing light prevented the night flight.