Researching AD's

[AggieMike88]

What is the quick, simple, and zero cost way to research what AD's are applicable to an individual aircraft?

Besides Year, Make, Type, and Serial number, what other info should I have handle to get a good search?

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

Would this or the linked pages work?

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/airworthiness_directives/

 

[Bell206]

zero cost way

The zero cost way is a bit more involved. Better way is to buy lunch or a case of beer for your local mechanic with a paid AD service/program. But if you want to go the free way this site is the preferred one:
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/Frameset?OpenPage

what AD's are applicable to an individual aircraft

There is also a difference in "applicable" vs "current" ADs as applicable includes historical ADs which can be searched on the above site also. But that adds to the fun.

Besides Year, Make, Type, and Serial number, what other info should I have handle to get a good search?

That plus you need to search individually by airframe, engine, propeller, and if you want the whole picture, by appliance, which requires a survey of your aircraft for applicable items.

 

[AggieMike88]

The zero cost way is a bit more involved. Better way is to buy lunch or a case of beer for your local mechanic with a paid AD service/program. But if you want to go the free way this site is the preferred one:
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/Frameset?OpenPage

There is also a difference in "applicable" vs "current" ADs as applicable includes historical ADs which can be searched on the above site also. But that adds to the fun.

That plus you need to search individually by airframe, engine, propeller, and if you want the whole picture, by appliance, which requires a survey of your aircraft for applicable items.

Thanks for all above.

Purpose is for an upcoming Commercial Pilot check ride. The prep book I am using has an "Expert Tip" to create a status sheet for the aircraft being used that indicates the status of all required inspections, ADs, life limited parts, etc.

I don't doubt the school's aircraft is "up to code", but this is a good exercise for me to learn how to answer future questions like this, plus build the expert tip status sheet to show the examiner if he should ask.

 

[Bell206]

to create a status sheet for the aircraft being used that indicates the status of all required inspections, ADs, life limited parts, etc.

Or you could modify that Expert Tip and simply review/copy the aircraft's existing records for your status sheet as those items listed are required by Part 91 to be current everyday. On the AD side a simple "bi-weekly" search will allow you to verify the AD list in the records is current.

 

[cgrab]

When I bought my plane I made an Excel spreadsheet with all the AD's for the aircraft, the engine, and all the "appliances." That included the prop, starter, mags, ignition switch, seat rails and other things I can't remember now. I then went through all the log books to find when they were complied with or were deemed N/A and why. It's all on my spreadsheet. All the info is on the FAA website listed above. The initial investment was big but it has paid off.

Each year I take a 3-ring binder to the mechanic with the AD list, the applicable AD's printed out, and the weight and balance sheet. It saves him time and time is money.

 

[Tom-D]

ADlog.com
Do it once, keep up with it.

 

[Checkout_my_Six]

be sure and include all the installed STCs from the 337s.....search those, they will not be on any of the other search lists.

 

[alfadog]

10 day free trial from AD toolbox. Though to be honest, I compared the results there against what I could get for free from the FAA website against what was prepared the prior-year from an expensive AD suite and there's no significant difference.

https://www.airworthinessdirectives.com/

You need to know, in addition to engine and airframe, all the appliances that are in the airplane along with any STC's.

 

[AggieMike88]

10 day free trial from AD toolbox. Though to be honest, I compared the results there against what I could get for free from the FAA website against what was prepared the prior-year from an expensive AD suite and there's no significant difference.

https://www.airworthinessdirectives.com/

You need to know, in addition to engine and airframe, all the appliances that are in the airplane along with any STC's.

Thanks for reminding me to put the blender in the airplane. That way I can enjoy a margarita once the ride is done..

I'll investigate that website.

 

[alfadog]

Thanks for reminding me to put the blender in the airplane. That way I can enjoy a margarita once the ride is done..

I'll investigate that website.

Only if you have complied with any AD's relevant to that blender. Otherwise you'll have to make your Margarita on the ground.

 

[unsafervguy]

the problem even with the ad services is not the plane and engine. its the other stuff that is hard to find all of. key switches, light dimmer switches, elts, instruments, ect. those are all listed under their manufactures not the aircraft. the ad services do a bit better than the faa site, but none of them get them all.

 

[AggieMike88]

, but none of them get them all.

I totally agree if someone is wanting to do the deep dive of due diligence before purchase.

for me and this week, uncovering the major items that go along with AV1ATE will do.

 

[alfadog]

The flight school will have surely have a detailed AD compliance report as part of the aircraft maintenance docs.

 

[murphey]

10 day free trial from AD toolbox. Though to be honest, I compared the results there against what I could get for free from the FAA website against what was prepared the prior-year from an expensive AD suite and there's no significant difference.

https://www.airworthinessdirectives.com/

You need to know, in addition to engine and airframe, all the appliances that are in the airplane along with any STC's.

Won’t be, because the companies that you pay for and AD search are merely scraping the FAA website.

 

[murphey]

Thanks for reminding me to put the blender in the airplane. That way I can enjoy a margarita once the ride is done..

I'll investigate that website.

Alton Brown once joked that he bought a twin so he could have enough room to install an espresso maker.

 

[Silvaire]

Regardless of how you do it I don't think there is any search function available that will filter beyond Manufacturer/Make/Model which is typically listed in a header at the top of any AD docket. Once you get to that level the qualifying data or criteria can branch off in a hundred different directions such as - How many hours on the airframe? Has a specific component been replaced with a part from a specific manufacturer between two specific dates? That sort of stuff. So at that point the search engine would have to ask you a number of specific questions and it's probably less complicated and less error prone if you just go to the AD and read the text yourself. Even then people make different interpretations and draw different conclusions so it's hard to say how a search engine or even some sort of artificial intelligence would handle that.

At least it's much easier than having to replace and add pages or films in a collection of binders or micro-fiche every two weeks. That used to be a real PITA.