Definition
A structured maintenance inspection required after an airplane lands at a weight greater than its maximum certificated landing weight. The inspection looks for damage to the landing gear, supporting structure, wing attach points, and other components that may have been overstressed by the higher-than-allowed touchdown forces. The aircraft must not be returned to service until the inspection is completed and any required repairs are signed off.
Plain English
If a plane lands heavier than it is allowed to, a mechanic has to check it carefully for hidden damage before it can fly again.
Context Anchor
Encountered in weight-and-balance planning, abnormal or emergency landing decisions, and maintenance follow-up after a landing above the airplane’s landing weight limit.
Why Pilots Care
Higher landing weights increase impact loads on the airframe and gear; the inspection confirms no hidden damage before the next flight.
Grounding Statement
A heavy airplane can land gently and still put more stress into the structure than the airplane is approved to take during a normal landing.
Intuition Check
Do not read “overweight” here as a general comment about carrying too much stuff. In this term, it means the airplane’s actual landing weight was above its approved landing weight limit.
Example Sentence 1
After the engine failure forced an immediate return, the captain noted the fuel load and advised maintenance that an overweight landing inspection would be required before the next flight.
Example Sentence 2
Maintenance completed the overweight landing inspection and released the airplane for the next leg.