AMC M.A.603(c) Extent of approval

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

1. The agreement by the CAA for the fabrication of parts by the approved maintenance organisation should be formalised through the approval of a detailed procedure in the maintenance organisation manual. This AMC contains principles and conditions to be taken into account for the preparation of an acceptable procedure.

2. Fabrication, inspection, assembly and test should be clearly within the technical and procedural capability of the approved maintenance organisation.

3. The approved data necessary to fabricate the part are those approved either by the CAA, the TC holder, Part-21 design organisation approval holder, or STC holder.

4. Items fabricated by an approved maintenance organisation may only be used by that organisation in the course of overhaul, maintenance, modifications, or repair of aircraft or components undergoing work within its own facility. The permission to fabricate does not constitute approval for manufacture, or to supply externally and the parts do not qualify for certification on CAA Form 1. This also applies to the bulk transfer or surplus inventory, in that locally fabricated parts are physically segregated and excluded from any delivery certification.

5. Fabrication of parts, modification kits etc. for onward supply and/or sale may not be conducted under a M.A. Subpart F approval.

6. The data specified in paragraph 3 may include repair procedures involving the fabrication of parts. Where the data on such parts is sufficient to facilitate fabrication, the parts may be fabricated by an approved maintenance organisation. Care should be taken to ensure that the data include details of part numbering, dimensions, materials, processes, and any special manufacturing techniques, special raw material specification or/and incoming inspection requirement and that the approved organisation has the necessary capability. That capability should be defined by way of maintenance organisation manual content. Where special processes or inspection procedures are defined in the approved data which are not available at the approved maintenance organisation, that organisation cannot fabricate the part unless the TC/STC holder gives an approved alternative.

7. Examples of fabrication under the scope of an M.A. Subpart F approval can include but are not limited to the following:

(a) fabrication of bushes, sleeves and shims,

(b) fabrication of secondary structural elements and skin panels,

(d) fabrication of flexible and rigid pipes,

(e) fabrication of electrical cable looms and assemblies,

(f) formed or machined sheet metal panels for repairs.

Note: It is not acceptable to fabricate any item to pattern unless an engineering drawing of the item is produced which includes any necessary fabrication processes and which is accepted to the CAA.

8. Where a TC holder or an approved production organisation is prepared to make available complete data which is not referred to in aircraft manuals or service bulletins but provides manufacturing drawings for items specified in parts lists, the fabrication of these items is not considered to be within the scope of an M.A. Subpart F approval unless agreed otherwise by the CAA in accordance with a procedure specified in the maintenance organisation manual.

9. Inspection and Identification.

Any locally fabricated part should be subject to an inspection stage before, separately, and preferably independently from, any inspection of its installation. The inspection should establish full compliance with the relevant manufacturing data, and the part should be unambiguously identified as fit for use by stating conformity to the approved data. Adequate records should be maintained of all such fabrication processes including heat treatment and the final inspections. All parts, excepting those with inadequate space, should carry a part number which clearly relates it to the manufacturing/inspection data. Additional to the part number the approved maintenance organisation’s identity should be marked on the part for traceability purposes.