FAA Ramp Check
From Order 8700.1 -
GENERAL AVIATION OPERATIONS INSPECTOR'S HANDBOOK
5. GENERAL.
An operations inspector conducts ramp inspections on airmen and aircraft operating under various FAR. This chapter deals with FAR Part 91 operators, which are by far the most numerous. Ramp inspections involving other FAR parts are found in the appropriate related task.

A. Definitions.
(1) For the purposes of this chapter, an operator may be a pilot, an executive/corporate operator, an air agency, etc.
(2) A ramp inspection is defined as surveillance of an airman, operator, or air agency during actual operations at an airport or heliport.

B. Inspector Conduct. The inspector shall always have identification available, since an airman or operator may or may not know an inspector.
(1) For special considerations concerning surveillance at fly-ins, airshows, and other gatherings of general aviation aircraft and airmen, see Chapter 50, Surveillance of an Aviation Event, Section 1, paragraph 5A (1)-(4).
(2) An inspector must not board any aircraft without the knowledge of the crew or operator. Some operators may prefer to have a company representative present to answer questions.
(3) If the surveillance will delay a flight, the inspector should use prudent judgment whether or not to continue.
(4) The inspector should also bear in mind that he or she may not be able to complete all items on every ramp inspection.

C. Common Reasons for a Ramp Inspection. Ramp inspections may result when the inspector:
(1) Observes an unsafe operation in the traffic pattern or in the ramp
(2) Is notified by ATC of an unsafe operation
(3) Conducts normal surveillance

Section B. Inspector Conduct,
They must identify themselves. 30 years of experience, and a number of NTSB hearings say that in the two instances you mentioned, they did no wrong in allowing the subjects to talk themselves into a "situation", and information gained in this manner and used to prosecute these individuals would not be thrown out at trial. Notice that out of three common reasons for a ramp inspection, one is considered "normal surveillance". You're only required to show an Inspector your certificate and medical. With a 66% chance that the FAA is talking to you because of an "unsafe operation" or "ATC notification", I'd be extra careful of how I talked to any Inspector. Treat them like you would treat a cop who just wants to ask you a few questions.

An FAA Ramp Inspection Checklist
The Pilot (9 items)
FAR 61.3 & 61.5
1. Pilot certificate
2. Medical certificate class and date
3. Type of ratings by category
4. Airplane class rating
5. Rotorcraft class rating
6. Type of rating
7. Lighter-than-air rating
8. Instrument rating
a. Airplane
b. Helicopter
FAR 61.25 Change of name or address
Aircraft Inspection (14 items)
1. Placarding
2. Obvious defects
3. Airworthiness Certificate
4. Registration
5. N marking correct
6. Annual inspection
7. Transponder date
8. Compass card
9. Minimum equipment list
10. Flight manual
11. AD current
12. ELT date
13. Data plates
14. Weight and Balance
Airworthy (Definition)
1) The aircraft must conform to its type certificate
a. When aircraft configuration and the components installed are consistent with …all information that is part of the type certificate.
2) The aircraft must be in condition for safe operation.
a. Aircraft relative to wear and deterioration (examples of damage)
Records (16 items)
1. Registration is current and in aircraft. CFR 91.9
2. Airworthiness certificate in aircraft CFR 91.203(a)
3. Verify A&PI certificate number CFR 63.91
4. Current weight and balance 23.1581, 91.9
5. All AD's current in maintenance records CFR 23.23, 23.1519
6. Last annual completed: CFR 43.11 & 91.417
a. Date
b. CFR 65.91 Name and certificate number.
c. 145 repair station sign off date and station number
7. Annual Inspection 43.11 & 91.417
a. Total time
b. Description of work done
c. Date complete
d. IA signature and certification number
8. Last 100-hour inspection
a. 145 Repair station signoff date and station number CFR 43.3/51/57
b. A & P date and certification number CFR 43.15, 65.85, 91.409
9. A&P/IA signature CFR 43.11 & 91.409
10. Approved flight manual up-to-date before 03-1-1979 CFR 21.5/23.1591, 91.9
11. Equipment list current and in aircraft CFR 23.29 & 91.9
12, Flight manual of POH current after 03-1-1979 w/revision number and date CFR 21.5/23.1581, 91.9
13. Alterations IAW approved STC/TSO/PMA/field approval of other FAA data/337s CFR 21.97/101/113
14.Maintenance records for engine, airframe and propeller CFR 91.417
15. FAA-accepted instructions for continued airworthiness (ICAW for form 337s) and FAA -accepted maintenance manuals. Per FAR 21.31, 21.50, 21.1529,
16. Annual/100 hour inspection checklist owner gets copy CFR 43.15 (c)
In my conversation with the FAA source of this checklist, I was told that getting through the foregoing meant that the remaining six pages were unlikely to be a problem. It doesn't look that way to me.

Cockpit Inspection (39 items)
1. Instruments and placards are correctly located per POH or T/C CFR 23.1541-1567, 91.9

2. INOP placards
a. INOP instruments removed
b. Equipment list up-dated
c. Maintenance record entry.

3. Instrument range markings: CFR 91.205/405(d) & CFR 23.1322, CFR 23.1541
a. Altimeter
b. Fuel pressure
c. Fuel quantity
d. Oil pressure
e. Oil temperature
f. Ammeter
g. Heading indicator
h. Vertical speed indicator
i. Turn and bank
j. Gear indicator
4. Compass card is there and legible CFR 23.1547 & 25.1547
5. Additional instruments not on equipment list or 337
6. Type of clock installed original analog or digital working AC 20-94
7. Nav radio P/N 1 and P/N 2
8. Conforms to type certificate (TC) per POH (see 5 & 6 above)
9. Check seat belts for stitching, cuts or worn CFR 91.107 & 23.785
10. Seat belts proper storage and marking TSO-22 7 23.785
11. Seat belts plastic locking ring missing front and back seats TSO-22, CFR 45.14
12. TSO-22 marking on seatbelts CFR 45l.15, CFR 91.205(b)(13,14)
13. Shoulder harness required after July 18, 1978 CFR 23.785(g)(1)
14. Seat rail holes elongated requires AD check CFR39
15. Worn seat material CFR 25.853 for a CAR-3.388 aircraft Part 91 & 23.853, AC 43.13-1B Para 9-61
16. New Interior material certificates CAR-3.388 & CFR 23.853/25.853
17. Interior worn and if new has certification sheets (Has interior been altered or changed?) CFR 21.303/43.11
18. Cockpit fuel smell CFR 23.863
19. Data plate information matches registration FAR 45.11/13 & 47.3
20. Intercom jack, how many, any extra and required Form 337
21. Fire extinguisher gauge
22. Oxygen bottle AC 43.13-1b para 9-51
23. Instrument filter covers installed
24. Windows stop-drilled, cracked, or crazed CFR 23.775
25. Seat back locks broken CFR 23.785
26. Flap, gear and other knobs installed CFR 23.781
27. Yoke chain safety wired or loose CFR 43
28. Electrical wiring more than 1/2 inch of slack CFR 43.13 1B para 11-118
29. Electrical wiring clamps/marking as required AC43.13-1B sec.11Z
30. Ty-wraps on items of mass in the cabin CFR 23.561
31. Loose wires under the dash not clamped CFR 23.1351
32. General cleanliness and loose equipment 23. 1301
33. Fuel selector moves to all positions and placarded
34. Oxygen system and supply condition CFR 23.l144 thru 1453
35. Battery vented overboard 23.1353 & AC 43.13-1B para 11-22
36. Fire extinguishing agent CFR 23.1197
37. Cockpit control knob shape CFR 23.781
38. Engine control proper installation and operation CFR 23.1141
39. Brake master cylinder leaking, check left/right CFR 23.735

Aircraft Exterior Inspection (34 items)
1. Nationality and registration marks per FAR 45.29. 3-inch markings per Jan1, 1983 and repaint Over 30 years 2 or 12 inch CFR 45.22(b)
2. Fuel placards on left and right CFR 45.22(b)
3. Fairing cracked, hardware missing CFR 24.607, CFR 23.1193
4. Tire condition, wear and cuts AC 34.13 para 9-14
5. Landing gear struts condition AC 43.13 para 9-2/4
6. Landing gear extension AC 43.13 para 9-2/4
7. Landing gear farings condition CFR 23.607, CFR 23.1193
8. Brake pads and line conditions CFR 23.735
9. Wing dents, cracks, rivets, corrosion lights CFR 23.1385
10. Flap cracks, loose hardware, installation, stop-drilled, cracks CFR 23.655/697
11. Fuel vent direction CFR 23.975
12. Aileron cracks, loose hardware, installation cable rigging loose, annual/100 hour inspection CFR 23.655/685/689
13. Deicer boot condition worn, holes, debonded CFR 23.1416/1419
14. Static ports no paint, clear CFR 23l.13l25
15. Pitot tube hole not plugged and last inspection date. CFR 23.1325
15, Rudder movement, bearings, racks, repairs CFR 23.685
16. Cable rigging tensiometer test every 100 hours/ annual CFR 23.589
17. Electrical bonding strap condition CFR 23.867
18. Rotating beacon installation, corrects/doubler after 08-11-71 CFR 23.1401
19. Anticollision light system CFR 91.209(b)/CFR 23.1401
20. Navigation lights proper color CFR 23.1385-1399
21. Elevator torque tube adapter, rivets condition CFR 23.675
22. Horizontal stabilizer cracks, rivets, installation, safetied, stop-drill cracks, stops CFR 23.571, 23.675
23. Door latches and locks, sprung, seals worn CFR 2l3l.1557
24. Windscreen clear, scratches, racks, CFR23.775
25. Antenna installation, doublers per 43.13 2A, CFR 23.571/572
26. Fabric covered aircraft condition AC 43.13-B chapter 2
27. Emergency exit placards CFR 23.15l57(d)
28. ATC transponder FAR 91.413 date and 24 calendar month check
29. ELT TSO-C91a/TSO-C126 12 month check
30. Altimeter test CFR 91.411 24 month check
31. Mirrors on wings require form 337
32. Landing light covers cracked, missing hardware
33. Landing gear retraction test CFR 23.l479
34. Emergency gear extension performed CFR 23.479

 

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