# 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.

Source: https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/39-7
Official text: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-39.7 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-15; section last amended 2016-12-30)

## 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

What is the legal effect of failing to comply with an airworthiness directive?.

Anyone who operates a product that does not meet the requirements of an applicable airworthiness directive is in violation of this section.

## Related

- [14 CFR 39.3: What an Airworthiness Directive is](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/39-3.md)
- [14 CFR 39.23: Ferrying an aircraft with an open AD](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/39-23.md)
- [14 CFR 91.403: The owner is responsible for airworthiness](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-403.md)
- [14 CFR 91.417: Maintenance records an owner must keep](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-417.md)
- [AD library: search FAA Airworthiness Directives](https://www.aerscheduler.com/airworthiness-directives)
- [Airworthiness Directive tracking](https://www.aerscheduler.com/resources/airworthiness-directive-tracking)

AerScheduler lists the ADs that name each of your aircraft, records who decided each one, and tracks the repeat inspections that follow. [https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/inspections](https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/inspections)

_The plain-English summary is AerScheduler's reading of the rule, not legal advice. The official text above is the eCFR's, published by the Office of the Federal Register; the eCFR is the current text._