---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 43.7"
title: "14"
number: "43.7"
heading: "Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/43.7"
---

# §43.7. Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.

- (a) Except as provided in this section and [§ 43.17](/cfr/14/43.17.md), no person, other than the Administrator, may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service after it has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.
- (b) The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection authorization may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in [Part 65](/cfr/14/part65.md) of this chapter.
- (c) The holder of a repair station certificate may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in [Part 145](/cfr/14/part145.md) of this chapter.
- (d) A manufacturer may approve for return to service any aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part which that manufacturer has worked on under [§ 43.3(j)](/cfr/14/43.3.md?p=j). However, except for minor alterations, the work must have been done in accordance with technical data approved by the Administrator.
- (e) The holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate issued under Part [121](/cfr/14/part121.md) or [135](/cfr/14/part135.md), may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part [121](/cfr/14/part121.md) or [135](/cfr/14/part135.md) of this chapter, as applicable.
- (f) A person holding at least a private pilot certificate may approve an aircraft for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of [§ 43.3(g)](/cfr/14/43.3.md?p=g).
- (g) The holder of a repairman certificate (light-sport aircraft) with a maintenance rating may approve an aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in light-sport category for return to service, as provided in [part 65](/cfr/14/part65.md) of this chapter.
- (h) The holder of at least a sport pilot certificate may approve an aircraft owned or operated by that pilot and issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of [§ 43.3(g)](/cfr/14/43.3.md?p=g).

## Notes

### Amendments

[Amdt. 43-23, 47 FR 41084, Sept. 16, 1982, as amended by Amdt. 43-36, 61 FR 19501, May 1, 1996; Amdt. 43-37, 66 FR 21066, Apr. 27, 2001; Amdt. 43-39, 69 FR 44863, July 27, 2004]

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7572; 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40105, 40113, 44701-44702, 44704, 44707, 44709, 44711, 44713, 44715, 45303.

### Source

Source: Docket No. 1993, 29 FR 5451, Apr. 23, 1964, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Amdt. 43-23, 47 FR 41084, Sept. 16, 1982, as amended by Amdt. 43-36, 61 FR 19501, May 1, 1996; Amdt. 43-37, 66 FR 21066, Apr. 27, 2001; Amdt. 43-39, 69 FR 44863, July 27, 2004]