14 CFR Part 39 · Airworthiness Directives
14 CFR 39.7: Flying without complying with an AD
Anyone who operates a product that does not meet the requirements of an applicable Airworthiness Directive is in violation of 39.7. That makes an overdue AD a reason not to fly, and the pilot and the owner can both be held responsible.
Section last amended December 30, 2016 · Text current as of October 15, 2026 · Also cited as FAR 39.7 · Read it on eCFR
14 CFR 39.7 in plain English
- Operating a product that does not meet an applicable AD is a violation.
- It applies to anyone who operates it: the pilot flying it as well as the owner who keeps it.
Common questions
- If my AD is a few hours overdue, can I fly to the shop?
- Not under 39.7 alone. You would need a special flight permit under 39.23, unless the AD itself allows the flight.
- How do I know which ADs apply to my aircraft?
- By serial number, installed equipment and the aircraft's records, which is a mechanic's determination. A search by model, such as the AD library, finds the ADs worth reading; the logbook's AD status record (91.417(a)(2)(v)) shows how each was handled.
Official text of 14 CFR 39.7
§ 39.7 What is the legal effect of failing to comply with an airworthiness directive?. Verbatim from the eCFR, current as of October 15, 2026.
Anyone who operates a product that does not meet the requirements of an applicable airworthiness directive is in violation of this section.
Related
AerScheduler lists the ADs that name each of your aircraft, records who decided each one, and tracks the repeat inspections that follow. See how