Definition
FAA Form 8330-3, Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) Supplement, is the form used to identify a part produced under a PMA. It lists the part number, the make and model of the type-certificated product on which the part is eligible for installation, and the PMA holder's information, providing traceability between an approved replacement or modification part and the aircraft, engine, or propeller it is approved to be installed on.
Plain English
It is the paperwork that proves a replacement part was made under FAA approval and shows exactly which aircraft or engine the part is allowed to go on.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance records, maintenance handbook glossary entries, and reports about defects or malfunctions found during inspection or repair.
Derivation
FAA means Federal Aviation Administration. “Form” here means a standard document with a fixed layout, and “8330” is the FAA’s identifying number for that document reference; the number itself does not describe the problem.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures defects are tracked and addressed before they affect flight safety.
Intuition Check
Do not read “FAA Form 8330” as just any FAA paperwork. It points to a specific FAA form reference used for reporting a malfunction or defect.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic checked the FAA Form 8330 that came with the new cylinder to confirm it was approved for installation on that engine model.
Example Sentence 2
FAA Form 8330 reports are reviewed to spot patterns that may require fleet-wide action.