GM 21.A.435(b) Repair design approval

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

(a) REPAIR DESIGN APPROVAL BY THE CAA

(1) The CAA approval is required in cases of major repair designs proposed by design organisation approval (DOA) holders that do not hold the necessary privilege as per point 21.A.263(c)(5) to approve certain major repair designs, as well as in cases of minor repair designs proposed by persons or organisations that do not hold a DOA

(2) Products first type-certified by the CAA (CA) of a third country

The CAA approval is always required for major repairs on products first type-certified by the CA of a third country. Approval privileges granted to DOA holders (see point 21.A.435(b)) are not available to TC holders of products first type-certified by the CA of a third country. TC holders of products first type-certified by the CA of a third country may need to be involved in a repair design when an arrangement with the TC holder has been determined to be necessary under point 21.A.433(a)(4).

For repairs approved by the CA of a third country, the conditions for acceptance may be defined in the bilateral arrangement between the CAA and the third country. In the absence of such an arrangement, the repair data should follow the approval route of Part 21.

(b) REPAIR DESIGN APPROVAL BY THE DOA HOLDER

(1) Approval by the DOA holder

Approval of repairs through the use of procedures agreed with the CAA implies that the DOA holder issues the approval without the CAA’s involvement. The CAA will monitor the application of this procedure within the surveillance plan for the relevant organisation. When the organisation exercises this privilege, the repair release documentation should clearly show that the approval is issued on the basis of its privilege.

(2) Previously approved data for other applications

When it is intended to use previously approved data for other applications, it is expected that an appropriately approved design organisation has checked the applicability and effectiveness of this data. After damage identification, if a repair solution exists in the available approved data, and if the application of this solution to the identified damage remains justified by the previously approved repair design (structural justifications still valid, possible airworthiness limitations unchanged), the solution may be considered to be approved and may be used again.

(3) Temporary repairs

These are life-limited repairs to be removed and replaced by permanent repairs after a limited service period. These repairs should be classified under point 21.A.435, and the service period should be defined when the temporary repair is approved.

(4) Fatigue and damage tolerance

An approved design issued before the fatigue- and damage-tolerance evaluation has been completed should specify the limited service period.