Condition Inspection

[SeanB]

Okay, I've read MANY posts regarding Annual Condition Inspection, plus FAA protocol. I still walk away somewhat confused as to the clear answer to this question:

If I completed and signed-off on a Condition Inspection (I have my Repairman's Cert) on 05-15-2025, is my next deadline 05-15-2026, or is it 05-31-2026 (by the end of that same month)?

I have a plane currently in paint (several states away) and it will be close to completion to that date range. I'd like to avoid the Ferry Permit process if possible.

Thanks to your simple replies to this question. I appreciate it!

 

[RV-9erA]

Okay, I've read MANY posts regarding Annual Condition Inspection, plus FAA protocol. I still walk away somewhat confused as to the clear answer to this question:

If I completed and signed-off on a Condition Inspection (I have my Repairman's Cert) on 05-15-2025, is my next deadline 05-15-2026, or is it 05-31-2026 (by the end of that same month)?

I have a plane currently in paint (several states away) and it will be close to completion to that date range. I'd like to avoid the Ferry Permit process if possible.

Thanks to your simple replies to this question. I appreciate it!

You're good until the end of that month (05-31-2026).

And, if you complete your condition inspection in June of 2026, you now have until the end June 2027 to start your next condition inspection.

 

[AZSteve053]

If your Operating Conditions and Limitations (part of your Special Airworthiness Certificate) say "Within the preceding 12 calendar months" then you are good till the end of the calendar month.

 

[Desert Rat]

Additionally, If you bring it home in may start the inspection, but for some reason don't sign it off until 6-1-26 it would then be legal to fly until 6-30-27.

This is a one of the few situations where you're empowered to stick it to the man and get an extra month every year if you so choose.

 

[N40ES]

I have had 4 Planes painted. Each time the Paint shop usually had an A&P or IA available to inspect and approve the re-installation of all control surfaces during the process. (Especially if they also paint certified aircraft) Twice I met with the A&P and paid a reasonable upcharge to perform a complete Condition Inspection with entry in the logs prior to the first flight with new paint. It is worth considering. Ed S.

 

[SeanB]

I really appreciate it, everyone. Yes...I pursued having a A&P do this while it's torn apart at the paint shop. Unfortunately, not an option. As long as I can get it home by 05/31/2026, I can work out the rest. Thanks!

 

[Desert Rat]

It's obviously not ideal, but if for some reason you don't get paint wrapped up by 5-31, it's not the end of the world if you have to get a ferry permit.

 

[Ironflight]

It's obviously not ideal, but if for some reason you don't get paint wrapped up by 5-31, it's not the end of the world if you have to get a ferry permit.

Yeah….ferry permits and E-AB are sort of a Catch-22. In order to get a ferry permit, a person qualified to inspect the airplane (A&P, Repairman, etc) has to inspect it and sign the logbook that it is in a “Condition for Safe Operation”….which of course is the same sign off as for a CI, so the ferry permit is kind of useless for an E-AB - once you sign the logbook that way, its got a legal CI, and the ferry permit is superfluous….. I can technically issue Ferry Permits, but I have to inspect the aircraft to do it, so……

 

[dmattmul]

Okay, I've read MANY posts regarding Annual Condition Inspection, plus FAA protocol. I still walk away somewhat confused as to the clear answer to this question:

If I completed and signed-off on a Condition Inspection (I have my Repairman's Cert) on 05-15-2025, is my next deadline 05-15-2026, or is it 05-31-2026 (by the end of that same month)?

I have a plane currently in paint (several states away) and it will be close to completion to that date range. I'd like to avoid the Ferry Permit process if possible.

Thanks to your simple replies to this question. I appreciate it!

I inspected my airframe (I have a Repairman’s Certificate) and signed off after after paint and before I took it home.

 

[rv6n6r]

Who is putting the plane back together, you or the paint shop?

 

[SeanB]

The paint shop is reassembling. So, if I understand correctly, because I have my Repairman's Certificate, I can inspect the plane and sign it of for safe flight and not use a Ferry Permit?

 

[Ironflight]

So, if I understand correctly, because I have my Repairman's Certificate, I can inspect the plane and sign it of for safe flight and not use a Ferry Permit?

Absolutely - so long as you have the Repairman’s Certificate for that aircraft, you have the authority to sign it off.

 

[rv6n6r]

I hope you plan on doing a very thorough inspection after paint shop reassembly. Maybe this paint shop knows their stuff with regards to RV reassembly but still. As the builder you should know what to look at regardless of authority (which you have in any case).

 

[SeanB]

Again...thanks to all for your replies. I am VERY meticulous and will conduct a thorough inspection before flight. The shop is Evoke Aviation, so there will be experience at hand. But, I am the final authority.

 

[Desert Rat]

Yeah….ferry permits and E-AB are sort of a Catch-22. In order to get a ferry permit, a person qualified to inspect the airplane (A&P, Repairman, etc) has to inspect it and sign the logbook that it is in a “Condition for Safe Operation”….which of course is the same sign off as for a CI, so the ferry permit is kind of useless for an E-AB - once you sign the logbook that way, its got a legal CI, and the ferry permit is superfluous….. I can technically issue Ferry Permits, but I have to inspect the aircraft to do it, so……

Thats interesting. I didn't know that it worked that way for EAB. Thanks for clarifying

 

[rv6n6r]

Yeah….ferry permits and E-AB are sort of a Catch-22. In order to get a ferry permit, a person qualified to inspect the airplane (A&P, Repairman, etc) has to inspect it and sign the logbook that it is in a “Condition for Safe Operation”….which of course is the same sign off as for a CI, so the ferry permit is kind of useless for an E-AB - once you sign the logbook that way, its got a legal CI, and the ferry permit is superfluous….. I can technically issue Ferry Permits, but I have to inspect the aircraft to do it, so……

I'm going to go out on a limb here and nit-pick Paul's answer - the wording in my/our OpLims is specific to the annual condition inspection and says that it is to be "in accordance with the scope and detail of FAR 43 Appendix D." Which is a comprehensive inspection, and that language is supposed to be part of the logbook signoff. whereas a Special Flight Permit is for circumstances where the aircraft "may not currently meet applicable Airworthiness Requirements but is capable of safe flight", including "2.) Flying an aircraft whose annual inspection has expired to a base where an annual inspection can be accomplished". So for the purposes of the Special Flight Permit you would sign that the aircraft is "in condition for safe operation" but omit the the "IAW the scope and detail of part 43 Appendix D" language. I'm not sure how this differs for E-AB versus standard airworthiness certificates. Maybe you can clarify?

 

[Ironflight]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and nit-pick Paul's answer - the wording in my/our OpLims is specific to the annual condition inspection and says that it is to be "in accordance with the scope and detail of FAR 43 Appendix D." Which is a comprehensive inspection, and that language is supposed to be part of the logbook signoff. whereas a Special Flight Permit is for circumstances where the aircraft "may not currently meet applicable Airworthiness Requirements but is capable of safe flight", including "2.) Flying an aircraft whose annual inspection has expired to a base where an annual inspection can be accomplished". So for the purposes of the Special Flight Permit you would sign that the aircraft is "in condition for safe operation" but omit the the "IAW the scope and detail of part 43 Appendix D" language. I'm not sure how this differs for E-AB versus standard airworthiness certificates. Maybe you can clarify?

I won’t die on the hill of the interpretation I gave - it was from a hallway conversation with the instructors at the Aircraft Certification course at the FAA academy in OKC a couple of years ago. But the word “Annual Inspection” is generally interpreted to be for certified aircraft. The term is never actually used for Experimntal, where you have to have had an inspection to ensure that the aircraft is in a “condition for safe operation” within the past 12 calendar months. You are correct that the entry in the log for a certified airplane (for a ferry permit) doesn’t reference Appendix D….but I don’t think that I’d personally want to sign an aircraft as “in a condition for safe operation” unless I met that scope and detail. Honestly, it is the same as a 100 hour inspection, which most flight school mechanics can do in a day…..

Like I said - I got that from the FAA maintenance/Inspection instructors. Next, they were moving on to some discussion of angels dancing on pinheads……

 

[rv6n6r]

I won’t die on the hill of the interpretation I gave - it was from a hallway conversation with the instructors at the Aircraft Certification course at the FAA academy in OKC a couple of years ago. But the word “Annual Inspection” is generally interpreted to be for certified aircraft. The term is never actually used for Experimntal, where you have to have had an inspection to ensure that the aircraft is in a “condition for safe operation” within the past 12 calendar months. You are correct that the entry in the log for a certified airplane (for a ferry permit) doesn’t reference Appendix D….but I don’t think that I’d personally want to sign an aircraft as “in a condition for safe operation” unless I met that scope and detail. Honestly, it is the same as a 100 hour inspection, which most flight school mechanics can do in a day…..

Like I said - I got that from the FAA maintenance/Inspection instructors. Next, they were moving on to some discussion of angels dancing on pinheads……

Ah yes the old "not an annual except how it really is" conundrum. Which takes one in further directions which, probably better not to go into... sigh. It's my curse, being way too inclined to jump down these rabbit-holes.

 

[Mel]

Ah yes the old "not an annual except how it really is" conundrum. Which takes one in further directions which, probably better not to go into... sigh. It's my curse, being way too inclined to jump down these rabbit-holes.

OK, It really is NOT an annual! It is a Condition Inspection that is required annually.
An "annual" confirms that the aircraft conforms to its type certificate and is "airworthy". Did your "annual" confirm this? Probably not.

 

[rv6n6r]

OK, It really is NOT an annual! It is a Condition Inspection that is required annually.
An "annual" confirms that the aircraft conforms to its type certificate and is "airworthy". Did your "annual" confirm this? Probably not.

Fair point, I shouldn't have implied otherwise.