AD compliance records retention: Which statement is true regarding the handling of these records upon sale?

• A. They shall be retained and transferred with the aircraft to the new owner
• B. They must be kept by the seller but not transferred
• C. They are transferred only if the buyer requests
• D. They must be destroyed prior to sale

Answer: (A)

Records of AD compliance are part of the aircraft’s maintenance history and should accompany the aircraft as ownership changes. These records show which Airworthiness Directives have been satisfied and when, which is essential for proving ongoing airworthiness to the next operator. Because of this, they must be retained with the aircraft and transferred to the new owner. Keeping them with the seller, making transfer conditional on a request, or destroying them before sale would leave the new owner with an incomplete history and could misrepresent the aircraft’s condition. Transferring the records ensures the new owner has a complete, up-to-date maintenance record for safe, compliant operation.