What is included in an annual inspection?
Updated · Wingman AeroCare, KFNL
Short answer: An annual inspection is a complete inspection of the airframe, engine, propeller, systems, and maintenance records, done to at least the scope and detail of 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix D. The inspector must confirm the aircraft conforms to its type design (including STCs, approved alterations, and applicable ADs) and is in condition for safe operation. It must be signed off by an A&P mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA), an appropriately rated repair station, or the manufacturer, not by an A&P alone.
What does the regulation require?
14 CFR 91.409(a) says you may not operate an aircraft unless it has had an annual inspection within the preceding 12 calendar months, approved for return to service by a person authorized under 14 CFR 43.7. For an annual, that person is an IA (14 CFR 65.95), an appropriately rated repair station, or the manufacturer.
The inspection itself is defined in Part 43:
- 14 CFR 43.15(c)(1): the inspector must use a checklist that includes at least the scope and detail of Part 43 Appendix D. Many shops use the aircraft manufacturer's inspection checklist, which is usually more detailed.
- 14 CFR 43.15(c)(2): before return to service, the inspector must run the engine and check power output (static and idle RPM), magnetos, fuel and oil pressure, and cylinder and oil temperatures against the manufacturer's recommendations.
- 14 CFR 43.11: the logbook entry must describe the inspection, the date, total time in service, and either certify the aircraft airworthy or state that a list of discrepancies was given to the owner.
What gets inspected?
Part 43 Appendix D starts with opening the aircraft: inspection plates, access panels, fairings, and cowlings come off, and the aircraft and engine are cleaned. Then the inspector works through each group:
| Area | Typical items checked |
|---|---|
| Fuselage and hull | Skin, structure, corrosion, attachments, systems and components |
| Cabin and cockpit | Seats and belts, windows, instruments, flight and engine controls, batteries |
| Engine and nacelle | Leaks, cylinder compression, metal on screens and drain plugs, engine mounts, baffles, exhaust, ignition, fuel and oil lines, cowling |
| Landing gear | Shocks, linkages, retraction and locking mechanisms, brakes, tires, wheels |
| Wings and center section | Structure, attachments, corrosion, flight control surfaces and hinges |
| Empennage | Fixed and movable surfaces, attach fittings, control cables |
| Propeller | Blades, hub, bolts, governor and anti-icing where installed |
| Radio and electrical | Antennas, wiring, mounting, and the installation of radio equipment |
| Miscellaneous | Any other installed item not covered elsewhere |
The engine section includes a cylinder compression check. Appendix D specifically calls for checking internal engine condition for compression and for metal particles or foreign matter on screens and sump drain plugs. See what a compression test tells you.
Is the paperwork part of the annual?
Yes. An annual is as much a records inspection as a physical one. The inspector verifies:
- Airworthiness directive (AD) compliance, including recurring ADs and their next-due times (owners must keep AD status records under 14 CFR 91.417).
- Major repairs and alterations, usually documented on FAA Form 337, and any STCs installed.
- That the aircraft matches its equipment list and weight and balance.
- Life-limited parts and required placards and documents.
An aircraft that is in perfect physical shape but has an unaccounted-for alteration or a missed AD does not conform to its type design and cannot be signed off as airworthy.
What is usually done at the same time but is separate?
Several recurring checks have their own rules and are often scheduled alongside the annual:
- ELT inspection: every 12 calendar months under 14 CFR 91.207(d).
- Transponder check: every 24 calendar months under 14 CFR 91.413.
- Pitot-static and altimeter check: every 24 calendar months for IFR flight in controlled airspace under 14 CFR 91.411.
Details are in transponder, pitot-static, and ELT requirements.
What is not included?
The inspection fee covers finding problems, not fixing them. Repairs found during the annual (called "squawks" or discrepancies) are separate labor and parts. Oil changes, oil analysis, and borescope inspections are common add-ons; check whether your shop includes them. Avionics upgrades, paint, and interior work are never part of the annual.
How Wingman handles it
At Wingman AeroCare at Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL), every annual is performed and signed off by an A&P mechanic holding Inspection Authorization, under 14 CFR Part 43. Every finding goes on an online estimate with photos and video, labeled Airworthy (required to return to service), Recommended, or Optional, and you approve or decline each item individually. Typical turnaround is 4-7 business days when there are no major findings and parts are available. See our annual inspection service or contact us to book the next open slot.