Mechanic Privileges Oral Exam Questions and Answers
Practicing mechanic privileges oral exam questions helps you distinguish a rating, permission to do work and permission to approve return to service. General Subject I of the Aviation Mechanic ACS covers privileges, limitations and recent experience. These ACS-based practice questions use the General handbook and current Part 65 rules, including their exceptions.
On this page
- What can an A&P mechanic do under Part 65?
- Which terms should I distinguish?
- How does the six-month recent-experience rule work?
- Which mechanic privileges oral exam questions can I practice?
- How do I answer it out loud?
- How should I check my practice answer?
- Which guide should I read next?
- Which sources support these answers?
What can an A&P mechanic do under Part 65?
The starting point is the rating and the specific operation, not the informal label “A&P.” When you practice a scenario, identify the aircraft or component and the proposed work before giving an approval answer. Then ask whether the person has the needed prior experience, understands the instructions and satisfies the current privilege requirements. Avoid treating every signature as the same kind of authorization.
A mechanic’s general authority covers maintenance, preventive maintenance and alterations within the mechanic’s rating. Section 65.81 excludes major propeller repairs and alterations, and any instrument repair or alteration, from its general privilege. Before supervising work, or approving it for return to service, that the mechanic has not satisfactorily performed at an earlier date, the mechanic must first show the ability to do it under §65.81(a). The mechanic must understand current manufacturer instructions and maintenance manuals for the specific operation.
For the wider exam structure, read the A&P oral and practical exam guide. Use the General oral questions overview for the full section, and the ACS codes guide to read the codes on your knowledge test report (AKTR).
Which terms should I distinguish?
Keep these terms separate so your spoken answer names the right authority.
| Term | Plain meaning | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rating scope | A mechanic’s general authority covers maintenance, preventive maintenance and alterations within the mechanic’s rating. | 14 CFR 65.81 |
| Prior performance | Before supervising work, or approving it for return to service, that the mechanic has not satisfactorily performed at an earlier date, the mechanic must first show the ability to do it under §65.81(a). | 14 CFR 65.81 |
| Inspection authorization | An inspection authorization holder may perform an annual inspection under §65.95(a)(2). | 14 CFR 65.95 |
How does the six-month recent-experience rule work?
Recent-experience eligibility is evaluated within the preceding 24 months. One route requires at least six months in the qualifying activities listed in §65.83(b). The alternative in §65.83(a) is an Administrator finding that the mechanic can do the work.
Read both routes in §65.83. A mechanic certificate stays effective until it is surrendered, suspended or revoked, so do not shorten the rule to “the certificate expires after two years” or “only hands-on wrench work counts.” For a practice scenario, identify the applicable qualifying activity and the relevant period. If neither route is established in the information given, describe the rule you need to check instead of assuming the person may exercise the privileges.
Which mechanic privileges oral exam questions can I practice?
The following ten practice questions are built from specific ACS knowledge elements; they are original study prompts rather than advance access to your assigned oral test.
1. Does a mechanic rating authorize every kind of maintenance?
ACS: AM.I.I.K1
A mechanic’s general authority covers maintenance, preventive maintenance and alterations within the mechanic’s rating. Section 65.81 excludes major propeller repairs and alterations, and any instrument repair or alteration, from its general privilege.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
2. What if you have never satisfactorily performed the specific work?
ACS: AM.I.I.K1
Before supervising work, or approving it for return to service, that the mechanic has not satisfactorily performed at an earlier date, the mechanic must first show the ability to do it under §65.81(a). Without prior performance, ability may be demonstrated to the Administrator. Alternatively, perform the work under direct supervision of a certificated, appropriately rated mechanic or a certificated repairman with previous experience in that operation.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
3. What must you understand before exercising the privileges?
ACS: AM.I.I.K13
The mechanic must understand current manufacturer instructions and maintenance manuals for the specific operation. Read the current instructions for the actual operation, not a generic example.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
4. What is the recent-experience time window?
ACS: AM.I.I.K2
Recent-experience eligibility is evaluated within the preceding 24 months. One route requires at least six months in the qualifying activities listed in §65.83(b). The alternative in §65.83(a) is an Administrator finding that the mechanic can do the work.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
5. Does qualifying recent experience only mean hands-on work?
ACS: AM.I.I.K2
Qualifying activities include mechanic service, technical supervision and executive supervision of aircraft maintenance or alteration. Read the complete list in §65.83(b), including permitted combinations.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
6. Can an airframe mechanic perform a required 100-hour inspection?
ACS: AM.I.I.K1
An airframe-rated mechanic may perform the Part 91-required 100-hour inspection on an airframe and related parts or appliances and approve return to service. Keep the answer within the airframe rating and the applicable rule.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
7. What is the powerplant mechanic’s corresponding 100-hour privilege?
ACS: AM.I.I.K1
A powerplant-rated mechanic may perform the Part 91-required 100-hour inspection on a powerplant or propeller and approve return to service. Keep powerplant and airframe rating privileges distinct.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
8. Does a 100-hour inspection privilege itself establish IA privileges?
ACS: AM.I.I.K1
An inspection authorization holder may perform an annual inspection under §65.95(a)(2). Do not treat an airframe or powerplant rating as an inspection authorization.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, p. 13-6; current rule linked above.
9. Can you say a mechanic can never approve major work?
ACS: AM.I.I.K1
An airframe-rated mechanic’s general return-to-service privilege excludes major repairs and alterations, subject to §65.85(b). A powerplant-rated mechanic’s general return-to-service privilege excludes major repairs and alterations, subject to §65.87(b). Sections 65.85(b) and 65.87(b) let the mechanic approve a major repair or major alteration for return to service, after performing and inspecting it, on an aircraft with a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category, for products not produced under an FAA approval.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
10. What additional condition belongs in the light-sport exception?
ACS: AM.I.I.K1
That light-sport exception requires authorization and instructions from the manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA. Read §65.85(b) or §65.87(b) for the complete product and aircraft conditions.
FAA-H-8083-30B, ch. 13, pp. 13-4–13-5; current rule linked above.
How do I answer it out loud?
Use a short answer outline: definition, why it matters, the procedure or check, and the relevant handbook location.
Use four checks in your answer: the rating, the specific work, the experience requirement and the approval authority. If the question asks about an inspection, identify which inspection it means. If a limitation has an exception, name the paragraph rather than making an absolute statement. Finish with the rule you would check for the particular operation.
Begin by answering exactly what was asked. Then add one relevant check or limitation. If you notice that you are listing names without explaining their relationship, stop and restate the function in plain English. Keep the technical term accurate, but do not try to make the sentence sound complicated. This is a study method, not an FAA scoring rule.
Check for an answer that says “I have both ratings, so I can sign it off.” In your next attempt, explain the work and the applicable authority before reaching that conclusion. Also check whether you confused certificate possession with current eligibility to exercise its privileges. Keep a copy of the exact regulation beside you while checking your practice answer, then rehearse without reading it.
How should I check my practice answer?
Check the answer against the cited source before rehearsing it again.
Write three headings on a study card: perform, supervise, approve. Under each heading, list the questions you would ask about a hypothetical operation. Do not add a made-up aircraft case or grant a pretend authorization. Next, take the 100-hour inspection questions above and explain which rating applies. Finish by comparing the ordinary rule with the specific light-sport paragraph so your explanation preserves the exception.
Use the handbook while reviewing the explanation, then close it for the spoken rehearsal. Reference material is not allowed for answering the oral questions.
“the applicant is not allowed to use any reference material to answer the oral questions asked by the examiner.”
FAA-S-ACS-1, Appendix 1, Applicant Responsibilities.
What else do applicants ask about mechanic privileges and limitations?
These short answers clarify the scope of the practice and the cited rules.
Is “six months in the last 24” the complete recent-experience rule?
It describes the activity route in §65.83(b). Section 65.83(a) also permits an Administrator finding that the mechanic is able to do the work.
Can an A&P perform an annual just because both ratings are held?
Do not treat the two ratings as inspection authorization. Section 65.95(a)(2) gives an IA holder the privilege to perform an annual inspection.
Can a mechanic approve any major repair on a light-sport aircraft?
No blanket approval follows from the aircraft label. The specified product conditions and authorized instructions in §65.85(b) or §65.87(b) must apply.
Should I study the handbook or the current regulation?
Use the handbook to organize your study and check the current regulation for the precise privilege, limitation and exception. Read the cited paragraphs before rehearsing.
How can I rehearse the spoken answer?
Practice explaining it out loud to an AI voice examiner in your phone or computer browser. DMEReady asks follow-up questions and provides a report of what you covered, what you missed and where to read in the FAA handbooks. The first drill is free with no sign-up. It is an AI examiner, not a human DME, and it does not predict or guarantee your exam result.
Start your free drillWhich guide should I read next?
Use the related guides to connect this focused subject with your wider study plan.
Which sources support these answers?
Use the linked primary sources to check the terms, procedures and rules; the FAA handbook references are study references rather than substitutes for aircraft-specific instructions.
- 14 CFR 65.15
- 14 CFR 65.81
- 14 CFR 65.83
- 14 CFR 65.85
- 14 CFR 65.87
- 14 CFR 65.95
- FAA-H-8083-30B, General, ch. 13
- FAA-S-ACS-1, subject AM.I.I and Appendix 1
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