FAA inspection limitations. This information can be found in the Rig Manufacturers Owners Manual and the AAD Manufacturers Owners Manual. 

Acceptable data is often times confused with approved data. Acceptable data has been allowed under the FAA system and generally used for minor repair. It can be applied to many minor repair practices of different types and application. It is general in its nature and not a required process for an approved repair procedure. It is used by the FAA when considering approval for alteration and usually does not fall under the standard of certificated or approved (TSO and major repairs). Acceptable data is applied in a very broad manner and is not to be a replacement for use of approved data when addressing the FAA major repair process. 

## Types of Approved Data 

Approved data to be used for major repairs and alterations may be one or more of the following. This data can only be obtained from the manufacturer or the FAA Administrator. This data applies to: 

1. Model, size, version 

2. Manufacturer specifications (approval for repairs, requirements) 

3. TSO C23b, C23c, and C23d 

4. ADs 

5. Manufacturer’s SB’s 

6. Drawings, information, or repair standards from manufacturers research & development (R&D) engineers 

7. Designated alteration data offered by the FAA 

8. Manufacturer’s manuals (including installation and assembly instructions) 

The rigger is responsible to confirm the information of model, type, serial number, and date of manufacture when requesting or attempting to obtain any of the above data. It is very important when confirming the following: 

• Appropriate to the product being repaired; 

• Directly applicable to the repair being made; and 

• Not contrary to manufacturer’s data. 

When contacting the manufacturer or FAA Administrator with request for information as listed for possible major repairs, it is advisable to confirm the following: 

a. FAA certification required 

b. Equipment (sewing and tools) 

c. Materials, quantity, quality, and Mil-Spec 

d. Skills, prior knowledge, and experience with type of repair 

e. Advisability of attempting this repair 

In many situations, it is a better decision, economically and for the end repair, to return the damaged equipment to the manufacturer. This answers all questions as to the quality, manufacturer/FAA repair requirements, and airworthiness of the item when returned to service and confirms that the repair meets the continued service condition. 

## Repair Techniques 

The following procedures use a format that provides the rigger with all of the necessary information to complete the repair properly. It has been used by at least one manufacturer to provide the necessary documentation to riggers in the field to perform major repairs or alterations on that manufacturer’s equipment. The procedures provide the following information to the rigger: 

1. Applicable products—those parts of the parachute that the procedure addresses. 

2. Description—brief explanation of the repair or alteration. 

3. Materials—those items needed to perform the procedure. 

4. Machines—those machines required to do the procedure. In addition to the machines, there may be special attachments required to do the work properly. 

5. Equipment—additional tools needed (in addition to the sewing machines). 

6. Procedure—the step-by-step guide through the repair. This may include a disassembly and reassembly procedure. Disassembly may be straightforward, but the reassembly instructions may provide special tips or procedures to accomplish the task. 

7. Inspection—the final inspection of the finished repair. This is a very critical part. In many cases, the rigger is doing the work alone. Within the manufacturing environment, the persons doing the work generally do not inspect their own work. This is given over to dedicated inspection personnel. For the private rigger, there may be no one around to inspect the work. In the case of simple repairs, it is easy for the rigger to inspect the finished job. For more extensive repairs, such as a harness main lift web replacement, there can be several areas that need to be addressed, such as dimensions, stitching, and hardware orientation. By having an inspection checklist, the rigger can be assured of not missing any critical area. 

