The Quality Inspector will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the quality of the work performed and compliance of aircraft maintenance activities are in accordance with regulatory requirements and company standards. The Aviation Maintenance Quality Inspector will play a crucial role in validating the maintenance, repairs and alterations are in compliance with (but not limited to) 14 CFR Parts 27, 29, 43, 91, 133, 135 and 145 as applicable. The first priority of the inspector’s focus is that of Safety when inspecting an aircraft for the purpose of validating the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation and return to service.
Note: The items discussed in this document are “The Basics” for a new Quality Inspector, as there are other activities within the Quality Control Department that will vary based on the inspector’s “Training Needs Assessment”. Additional responsibilities can and will be added as the inspector gains experience within the department and his/her skills demonstrate their readiness to take on additional duties.
Essential Responsibilities:
- The inspector will review the OEM Maintenance Publications, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, FAA Form 337’s for installed equipment and other FAA approved or accepted documentation items to maintain a high level of knowledge and proficiency to inspect and confirm the work accomplished conforms to the data.
- The inspector monitors (to the best of his ability) the work being accomplished to try to ensure that the technician is using the most current data and adhering to that guidance, while confirming the best maintenance practices are being observed.
- Reviews the aircraft historical records to determine if the appropriate inspection(s), all current and recurring Airworthiness Directives and Alert/Mandatory OEM Service Bulletins (when required) were included in the RSG Customer Commercial Quote and duly included in the work order.
- Reviews the work order to validate the approved forms are being utilized within the work order by the technicians are performing the required maintenance tasks when components or parts are replaced on aircraft and reviews the aircraft historical records and inspection status forms to determine that the log cards or other historical records have been updated appropriately.
- The inspector must ensure that all items contained in the work order have been signed off appropriately by the technician, inspected and stamped by QC inspection and for any item that has not been signed and stamped IAW the RSM, an airworthiness determination has been made and annotated on the open item(s) prior to releasing aircraft for a ground run or check flight as provided under 14 CFR 91 § 91.407(b) or prior to return to service.
- The inspector must insure that in cases where calibrated tooling is to be used, the technician is using the appropriate calibrated tool as defined by the guidance, or a suitable equivalent and the tool used is within the calibration date marked on the tool.
- Maintains Airworthiness Directive records as depicted in the aircraft work order, ensuring that all that have been complied with per manufacturer instructions or other applicable compulsory guidance and documented appropriately. NOTE: In rare cases, the customer has declined corrective action on AD’s or other mandatory maintenance items. Under those circumstances, the details of the exclusion have to be clearly and concisely documented and included in the aircraft record.
- The Inspector should make every effort to monitor the maintenance activity of the aircraft in work, and to communicate such concerns to the Quality and Maintenance Supervision of any observations made that he/she perceives as an item that could potentially impact safety, schedule or financial concerns. Those concerns must be communicated in a timely and effectively to aid in preventing maintenance delays, AOG situations, and/of delays in scheduled deliveries.
