Writing a Maintenance Record Entry for the A&P Practical

October 20, 2026 · Primary sources checked October 20, 2026

Writing a logbook entry on the Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) practical turns a completed task into an accurate maintenance record. For the oral and practical (O&P) test, practice writing the required information and explaining what the approving signature covers. Start with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), §43.9, rather than copying a familiar signoff.

What does the O&P practical evaluate?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman Certification Standards (ACS) lists the hands-on skill below. A Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) evaluates the assigned project against the performance standard in the downloaded test.

FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, CHG 929, printed 16, PDF 16, 5-5-11-7C3)g)

Each practical project contains a skill element and two practical questions. You may use applicable reference material for both the skill and the questions.

FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, CHG 929, printed 16, PDF 16, 5-5-11-7C3)c)

A project is pass/fail. Passing requires a successful skill demonstration on the first attempt and successful answers to both associated practical questions.

FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, CHG 929, printed 16, PDF 16, 5-5-11-7C3)f)

The FAA Mechanic Test Generator (MTG) FAQ says projects are standalone. The two practical questions are asked at a safe and appropriate time during the project.

FAA Mechanic Test Generator FAQs, updated May 22, 2023, unnumbered page, PDF 4

The FAA sample test shows the project format: description, given equipment or information, performance standard, ACS code, references, and associated questions. It is marked for practice purposes only.

FAA sample oral and practical test, unnumbered page, PDF 6

Our study advice: use this guide to rehearse the sequence and explain your decisions. A published skill is a study target, not a promise that your downloaded test will assign this exact task.

FAA-S-ACS-1, printed 15, PDF 20

Start with the assigned data and a safe setup

Use current maintenance and overhaul publications and procedures. The ACS safety appendix includes proper information and tools, equipment preparation, skill in handling tools, and required personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses and hearing protection.

FAA-S-ACS-1, printed A-3, PDF 67

Disregard for safety will result in failure. If a project requires an action that would jeopardize safety, the evaluator will ask you to simulate that portion.

FAA-S-ACS-1, printed A-3, PDF 67

Our study advice: identify the applicable manufacturer’s instructions and any required approved data before starting. This guide does not replace the requirements and instructions that apply to the assigned aircraft, engine, component, or equipment.

Which record rule applies to the assigned work?

Section 43.9(a) addresses maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration record entries, subject to its stated exceptions. It requires an entry in the maintenance record of the equipment worked on.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(a), retrieved October 20, 2026

Do not use this ordinary-maintenance illustration as an inspection signoff. Section 43.9(c) excludes the inspections it lists, and §43.11 sets out the records for inspections under parts 91 and 125 and §§135.411(a)(1) and 135.419.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(c), retrieved October 20, 2026 · 14 CFR 43.11, retrieved October 20, 2026

Our study advice: identify the work actually assigned before drafting. Keep the maintenance action, any inspection, and any additional form separate instead of blending them into one general statement.

How do you build the four parts of a §43.9 entry?

Describe the work performed, or reference data acceptable to the Administrator. The description must identify the work you are recording; do not substitute a claim that an entire aircraft was inspected when that is not the task.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(a)(1), retrieved October 20, 2026

Use the completion date of the work performed. A planned date is not the completion date required by this provision.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(a)(2), retrieved October 20, 2026

Name the person who performed the work if that person differs from the person identified under §43.9(a)(4). Keep the performer and approver clear when they are different people.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(a)(3), retrieved October 20, 2026

If the work was performed satisfactorily, include the signature, certificate number, and kind of certificate held by the person approving the work. The signature approves return to service only for the work performed.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(a)(4), retrieved October 20, 2026

What does an illustrative maintenance entry look like?

Practice illustration only: the equipment identifier N12345 below is an example placeholder. Every bracketed field represents information that would have to come from actual work and applicable records. This is an illustration, not a template for a specific aircraft, a statement that work occurred, or an authorization to sign a real record.

Equipment: N12345 [example aircraft identifier]
Completion date: [actual completion date]
Work: Removed [identified component] and installed [identified replacement component] in accordance with [applicable data reference and revision]. Accomplished [required checks] with [actual results].
Work performed by: [performer’s name, if different from the approver]
The work described above was performed satisfactorily.
Approval: [approving person’s signature], [certificate number], [kind of certificate held]

Our study advice: point from each part of your entry to one of the four requirements above. The equipment identifier supplies context in this illustration; it is not a claim that §43.9(a) adds a fifth required field. Replace practice fields only with verified task information, and leave a practice signature clearly marked as practice.

How should you check the entry before handing it over?

Our checking sequence: compare the work description with the completed task and its actual results; confirm the completion date; identify whether the performer differs from the approver; then check the approval block for all three identifiers. Read the scope of the signature out loud: only the work performed.

For a major repair or major alteration, §43.9(d) requires the additional form and disposition prescribed in appendix B. An ordinary maintenance entry alone does not satisfy that additional requirement.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(d), retrieved October 20, 2026

Our study advice: if the task includes an airworthiness directive or a required inspection, locate the specific requirement instead of adding generic compliance language. Do not invent component identifiers, inspection results, certificate numbers, or a maintenance reference to make an example look complete.

Which mistakes make a practice entry incomplete or misleading?

Our checklist: a work description without a completion date is incomplete; a name alone is not the signature/certificate information required for satisfactory-work approval; and an approving signature does not certify unrelated work. Do not present a practice entry as an actual return-to-service release.

Section 43.9(a)(3) does not require a separate performer name when the performer is the person specified in (a)(4). It does require that name when they differ.

14 CFR 43.9, 43.9(a)(3), retrieved October 20, 2026

For examiner fees and planning, read the DME exam cost guide.

Related guides

• A&P Maintenance Records Oral Exam Questions and Answers
• Mechanic Privileges Oral Exam Questions and Answers
• FARs to Know for the A&P Oral: Parts 43, 65 and 91
• A&P Practical Projects: What the DME Evaluates on the O&P
• FAA A&P Practical Test Changes 2026: What's New

Sources

Primary sources checked October 20, 2026.

• FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, CHG 929
• FAA Mechanic Test Generator FAQs, updated May 22, 2023
• FAA sample oral and practical test
• FAA-S-ACS-1
• 14 CFR 43.9
• 14 CFR 43.11
• 14 CFR 43.7

About this guide: drafted with AI from the FAA sources listed on this page and checked claim by claim against them. Not reviewed by an A&P mechanic or DME. How we make our guides