21L.B.161 Investigation

(a) The competent authority of the Member State of registry shall prepare procedures for its investigations, covering at least the following elements:

1. evaluation of the eligibility of the applicant;

2. evaluation of the conditions for the application;

3. classification of airworthiness certificates;

4. evaluation of the documentation received with the application;

5. inspections of aircraft;

6. determination of the necessary conditions, restrictions or limitations to the certificate.

(b) Upon receiving an application for a certificate of airworthiness or a restricted certificate of airworthiness, the competent authority of the Member State of registry shall verify whether the aircraft is within the scope established in point 21L.A.141.

(c) The competent authority of the Member State of registry shall perform sufficient investigation activities to justify the issuance, maintenance, amendment, suspension or revocation of the certificate of airworthiness or restricted certificate of airworthiness. When conducting investigations related to the issuance of a certificate of airworthiness or a restricted certificate of airworthiness for a newly produced aircraft, the competent authority of the Member State of registry shall evaluate the need to conduct a physical inspection of the aircraft to ensure the conformity and safety of flight of the aircraft prior to the issuance of a certificate of airworthiness or a restricted certificate of airworthiness. This evaluation shall take into account:

1. the results of the physical inspection of the first article of that product in the final configuration, conducted in accordance with point (b) of point 21L.B.143 or point (b) of point 21L.B.251 by the competent authority of the Member State of registry, or by the competent authority overseeing the organisation or the natural or legal person that produced this aircraft, if different;

2. the time period since the last physical inspection conducted by the competent authority of the Member State of registry of an aircraft produced by the organisation, or the natural or legal person that produced that aircraft;

3. the results of the oversight conducted under Subpart G of this Annex or under Subpart G of Section B of Annex I (Part 21) of the organisation issuing the statement of conformity for the aircraft, or the verification conducted under Subpart R of Section A of this Annex of other statements of conformity (EASA Form 52B) or authorised release certificates (EASA Form 1) that were issued by the same signatory;

4. the time period since the last oversight visit of the organisation in accordance with Subpart G of this Annex, or Subpart G of Section B of Annex I (Part 21), or since the last verification conducted under Subpart R of Section A of this Annex of a statement of conformity (EASA Form 52B) or authorised release certificate (EASA Form 1) issued by the same signatory.