M.A.502
M.A.502(a) Responsibilities component maintenance
The maintenance of components other than the components referred to in points (b)(2) to (b)(6) of point 21.A.307 of Annex I (Part 21) to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 shall be performed by maintenance organisations approved in accordance with Subpart F of this Annex or with Annex II (Part-145) or with Annex Vd (Part-CAO), as applicable
M.A.502(b) Component release (w/o EASA Form 1)
By way of derogation from point (a), where a component is fitted to the aircraft, the maintenance of such a component may be performed by an aircraft maintenance organisation approved in accordance with Subpart F of this Annex or with Annex II (Part-145) or with Annex Vd (Part-CAO) or by the certifying staff referred to in point (b)(1) of point M.A.801. Such maintenance shall be performed in accordance with the aircraft maintenance data or in accordance with the component maintenance data if agreed by the competent authority. Such aircraft maintenance organisation or the certifying staff may temporarily remove the component for maintenance if this is necessary to improve access to the component, except where additional maintenance is required due to the removal. Component maintenance performed in accordance with this point shall not be eligible for the issuance of an EASA Form 1 and shall be subject to the aircraft release requirements provided for in point M.A.801.
M.A.502(c) B-rated component maintenance
By way of derogation from point (a), where a component is fitted to the engine or the auxiliary power unit (APU), the maintenance of such component may be performed by an engine maintenance organisation approved in accordance with Subpart F of this Annex, or with Annex II (Part-145), or with Annex Vd (Part-CAO). Such maintenance shall be performed in accordance with the engine or the APU maintenance data or in accordance with the component maintenance data if agreed by the competent authority. Such B-rated organisation may
temporarily remove the component for maintenance if this is necessary to improve access to the component, except where additional maintenance is required due to the removal.
M.A.502(d) Component release (w/o EASA Form 1)
The maintenance of components referred to in point (b)(2) of point 21.A.307 of Annex I (Part 21) to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012, where the component is fitted to the aircraft or is temporarily removed to improve access, shall be performed by an aircraft maintenance organisation approved in accordance with Subpart F of this Annex or with Annex II (Part-145) or with Annex Vd (Part-CAO), as applicable, by the certifying staff referred to in point (b)(1) of point M.A.801 or by the pilot-owner referred to in point (b)(2) of point M.A.801. Component
maintenance performed in accordance with this point shall not be eligible for the issuance of an EASA Form 1 and shall be subject to the aircraft release requirements provided for in point M.A.801.
AMC M.A.502 Component removal and installation
Component removal from and installation on an aircraft is considered to be aircraft maintenance and not component maintenance. As a consequence, M.A.502 requirements do not apply to this case.
AMC M.A.502(b) and (c) Component maintenance- approved organizations
M.A.502(b) and (c) allow the performance of certain component maintenance, in accordance with component maintenance data, to maintenance organisations not holding the corresponding B/C rating and to independent certifying staff, subject to the agreement of:
— The authority responsible for the oversight of the maintenance organisation (refer to M.1, paragraph 2 for M.A. Subpart F maintenance organisations, or to 145.1 for Part-145 maintenance organisations, or to CAO.1 for Part-CAO maintenance organisations) or,
— The authority of the Member State of registry in the case of maintenance performed by independent certifying staff.
This should only be permitted by the competent authority in the case of simple component maintenance, where the competent authority is satisfied that the certifying staff are appropriately qualified and the proper tooling and facilities are available. It is important to note that for more complex component maintenance, special qualifications may be required and it is not enough with holding a Part-66 aircraft maintenance licence.
M.A.502(e) Maintenance declaration
The maintenance of components referred to in points (b)(3) to (b)(6) of point 21.A.307 of Annex I (Part 21) to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 shall be performed by the organisation referred to in point (a), or performed by any person or organisation and released with a “declaration of maintenance accomplished” issued by the person or organisation that performed the maintenance. The “declaration of maintenance accomplished” shall contain at
least basic details of the maintenance carried out, the date on which the maintenance was completed, and the identification of the organisation or person that issues it. It shall be considered a maintenance record and equivalent to an EASA Form 1 in respect of the maintained component.
GM2 M.A.502(e) Declaration of maintenance
A ‘declaration of maintenance accomplished’ is a certificate prepared in any shape/form by the person or organisation that performed any maintenance on the component covered by the certificate and subject to the conditions in M.A.502(e). This person or organisation does not need an approval to perform maintenance in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014. In order for the component to be eligible for installation with a ‘declaration of maintenance accomplished’, this declaration, together with other records, should allow the determination that the component was first installed as ‘new’, as a component referred to in M.A.502(e). Such a component should not be installed in an aircraft if there is information on the certificate which is not readable or not understandable or states that the component is not in a satisfactory condition for operation.