How does the recall process work?- please help me?
Posted by James on November 21, 2011 · 3 Comments
Question by s: How does the recall process work?- please help me?
Hey i am an Engineering Student. We are doing a project for a class. We have to figure out how the whole process for RECALL of airplane parts work. How are the parts identified? How is the information given out to customers. What happens to the product after it is recalled. i have been trying to search on internet i cant seem to find much information. Can anyone please give some links or sites to help me out. thanks
Best answer:
Answer by JimT
serial numbers and invoices. Check Quality Control sites
Give your answer to this question below!
Automobiles have recalls. Airplanes have airworthiness directives (ADs).
Its not very slick. The FAA does not maintain a database of who has what parts. However, every part has a list of aircraft that it is approved for. So if the manufacture wants to recall a product they get the FAA to issue an Airworthiness Directive to replace the part (mostly the FAA just rubber stamps it, unfortunately). Then the FAA mails out a letter to the registered owner of all aircraft who are approved to use that part. As a result I often get AD’s in the mail for parts I don’t have installed on my aircraft.
Its the owner’s responsibility to know what AD’s are in effect for the aircraft. In addition, each year and each 100 hrs of flight time an FAA certified aircraft inspector must inspect the plane, which includes a search for any applicable AD’s.
I couldn’t tell you how the private sector does it.
I can tell you that serial numbers won’t work in many cases. We have a lot of mechanical parts that are not serial numbered. But, they have a contract number or lot number that can be identified. A message will go out to all supply centers and maintenance units that identifies the part number and lot/contract number, and the part is removed from service.
Serial numbered items are easy. A TCTO (time compliance technical order) is put out to all users and supply centers as well on replacement and shipping instructions.