Definition
A specific paragraph within Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91 (General Operating and Flight Rules), Section 91.213 (Inoperative instruments and equipment), that allows certain small aircraft to be flown with inoperative instruments or equipment without an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL), provided the inoperative items are not required by the type certificate, airworthiness regulations, the equipment list, the kinds of operations equipment list, or an airworthiness directive, and are either removed or deactivated and placarded 'Inoperative,' with a determination by a pilot or mechanic that the aircraft remains safe to fly.
Plain English
This is the rule that lets a pilot fly a small aircraft with something broken on board, as long as that broken item isn't required for the flight, it's properly disabled and labeled 'Inoperative,' and someone qualified has agreed the airplane is still safe to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen when a pilot finds broken or inoperative equipment before flight and must decide whether the aircraft is legal and safe to fly.
Derivation
The citation breaks down as: '14 CFR' is Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (the body of aviation rules). 'Part 91' covers general flight rules for most non-commercial flying. 'Section 91.213' is the specific rule about inoperative instruments and equipment. The '(d)' identifies the fourth paragraph within that section, which is the paragraph that provides the option used when no MEL exists.
Why Pilots Care
It determines whether a flight can legally continue after discovering broken equipment without needing special approval.
Grounding Statement
A broken installed item does not automatically ground the aircraft, but it must pass the checks in this rule before the aircraft is flown.
Intuition Check
Do not read 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213(d) as permission to ignore broken equipment. It is a checklist-like legal path for deciding whether that broken item is allowed to remain in the aircraft for that flight.
Example Sentence 1
When the cabin dome light failed during preflight, the pilot used 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213(d) to deactivate it, placard it 'Inoperative,' and continue with the flight.
Example Sentence 2
Per 14 CFR part 91, section 91.213(d), the aircraft remained legal for the short VFR trip despite the non-working transponder.