4.5.2 Requirement for duplicate inspections/Required Inspection Items (RII)
After any disturbance or dis-assembly of a control system or vital point in an aircraft, most but not all Regulators call for independent inspections to be made and certified by two appropriately quali-fied persons, before the next flight. The inspections are to include correct assembly, locking, and free and correct movement of control systems over the full range. Such requirements extend to electri-cally activated “fly-by-wire” systems and their connections as well as to mechanical linkages.
This procedure is known as duplicate inspection/required inspection item and, although not all authorities have a similar requirement, it is recommended that Companies require such inspections. Therefore, whenever a contract is drawn up this requirement should be included.
Independent Duplicate/Required Inspection Item (RII) inspections are to be carried out by appropriately qualified technicians, the required qualifications normally being determined by the Regulator, e.g. FAA Inspection Authorisation (IA). In the event that the qualification of these per-sons is not regulated, then they would normally be a licensed engineer, technician or equivalent, holding a type approval for maintaining the engines and airframe of the aircraft concerned.
In all cases, the operator or maintenance organisation is to ensure that sufficient persons appropri-ately qualified are available at all main operating &/or maintenance bases. When away from the normal maintenance facilities, and only minor adjustment of a control is required, a pilot may, if approved by appropriate aviation authorities, exceptionally act as the second signatory. The licensed engineer/technician should instruct the pilot on which controls have been disturbed and the limits of the area to be checked, but should include freedom and sense of movement, as well as simple assem-bly and locking. The full procedure, which should be defined in the organisation’s Maintenance Exposition or Procedures Manual, is then to be adopted on return to base.
The written statement heading the certification should include a description of the disturbance to the control and a range that is to be checked, ie from point to point.
Note 1: It should be noted that duplicate inspections are not a requirement under JAR-145 or JAR-OPS. However due to UK CAA requirements, maintenance carried out on UK registered aircraft by other national maintenance bases includes the requirement for duplicate inspec-tions and it is the operator’s responsibility to ensure compliance.
Note 2: FAA requirements for RII differentiate between aircraft types certificated for 9 seats or less, subject to an Approved Aircraft Inspection Programme (AAIP) and those of 10 seats or more, subject to Continuing Analysis and Surveillance. The AAIP does not require RII/duplicate inspection. Further information can be found in 14CFR Part 135.411/419/429/431. Nevertheless, it is recommended that OGP Member standards require that the maintenance of aircraft subject to AAIP when on contract to the OGP Member include RIIs. Furthermore, those operators providing services that are not con-tracted should be encouraged to adopt a RII policy in respect of their aircraft that are sub-ject to the less restrictive AAIP.
Note 3: The requirement for an operator to complete duplicate inspections after disturbing a con-trol may be mandated in the contract where it is not required by the local regulator.
4.5.3 Aircraft Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
Flight crews and maintenance personnel must always have available for reference an aircraft Minimum Equipment List (MEL) or Minimum Departure Standard (MDS) for the appropriate aircraft type and the local airworthiness authority should approve these. Where a MEL is not avail-able, full equipment serviceability will be required.5.1 Helicopter standards
Section 5 Contents
