What happens if my aircraft fails its annual?

Short answer: If your aircraft does not pass, the inspector still signs off the inspection, but instead of declaring it airworthy, the logbook entry states that a signed and dated list of discrepancies and unairworthy items was given to you (14 CFR 43.11(a)(5)). The aircraft cannot be flown until those items are corrected and approved for return to service by an appropriately certificated person, who does not have to be the same mechanic or shop. You do not need a whole new annual.

What does "failing" an annual actually mean?

There is no pass or fail grade in the regulations. At the end of an annual, the IA does one of two things under 14 CFR 43.11:

• Approves the aircraft for return to service with the statement that it was inspected and found to be in airworthy condition; or
• Does not approve it and records that the aircraft was inspected and a list of discrepancies and unairworthy items, dated on a specific date, was provided to the owner or operator.

The second outcome is what owners call a failed annual. The inspection itself is complete. What is missing is the return to service, and that depends only on fixing the listed items.

What are my options after a discrepancy list?

1. Have the inspecting shop fix the items

This is the most common path. The shop already has the aircraft open and knows the problems.

2. Have another qualified mechanic fix them

The regulations do not require the IA who did the inspection to perform the repairs. Any person authorized to perform and approve that work (generally an A&P mechanic or an appropriately rated repair station; a major repair or alteration must be approved for return to service by an IA or a repair station under 14 CFR 43.7 and 65.95) can correct the discrepancies and make the logbook entry under 14 CFR 43.9. Once every unairworthy item on the list is corrected and signed off, the aircraft can return to service.

3. Fix eligible items yourself

If a discrepancy falls within the preventive maintenance listed in 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix A, a pilot who owns or operates the aircraft may perform that item (14 CFR 43.3(g); sport pilot certificates do not qualify on standard-category aircraft). To approve it for return to service and sign the logbook, you need at least a private pilot certificate (14 CFR 43.7(f) and 43.9). See what maintenance an owner can do.

4. Placard inoperative equipment, where allowed

Under 14 CFR 91.213(d), some inoperative instruments or equipment can be deactivated or removed and placarded "Inoperative" instead of repaired, as long as they are not required by the aircraft's type certificate, its equipment list or kinds-of-operation list, 14 CFR 91.205, or an AD, and a pilot or mechanic determines the condition is not a hazard. This only applies to equipment, not to structural or engine problems.

5. Fly it elsewhere on a special flight permit

If you want the repairs done at another location, you may be able to get a special flight permit (often called a ferry permit) under 14 CFR 21.197 to fly the aircraft there. The FAA issues these through the local Flight Standards District Office, usually after a mechanic inspects the aircraft and determines it is safe for the intended flight.

Does the annual "date" change after repairs?

The inspection date recorded in the logbook is the date of the annual, and the next annual is due by the end of the 12th calendar month after that month (14 CFR 91.409(a)). Correcting the discrepancies later returns the aircraft to service but does not restart the 12-month clock. Long repair delays therefore eat into your next inspection cycle.

What are the most common reasons an aircraft does not pass?

• An unaddressed or overdue airworthiness directive.
• Low cylinder compression or a burned exhaust valve.
• Cracked exhaust components or exhaust leaks.
• Corrosion beyond limits.
• Worn tires, brakes, or flight control hardware.
• Inoperative required equipment.
• Records problems, such as an alteration with no Form 337 or STC documentation.

Can I refuse repairs and take my airplane?

Yes, it is your aircraft. But if the unairworthy items are not corrected, the aircraft cannot legally be flown under 14 CFR 91.7 (which prohibits operating an unairworthy civil aircraft) until they are, except under a special flight permit. You remain responsible for maintaining the aircraft in an airworthy condition (14 CFR 91.403(a)).

How Wingman handles it

At Wingman AeroCare, nothing is ever a surprise at the end of an annual. Every finding goes on an online estimate with photos and video and is labeled Airworthy (required to return to service), Recommended, or Optional. You approve or decline each item individually, and nothing beyond the approved scope is done without your approval. If you decline an Airworthy item, you will know exactly why it matters before you decide. See how approvals work, or contact us to talk through a discrepancy list from another shop.