Service Bulletins Revisited

If a manufacturer specifies that its maintenance manual includes all service bulletins, does this create an obligation under the Federal Aviation Regulations (“FAR’s”) to comply with those service bulletins? Most aircraft mechanics would only answer “yes” if compliance with the service bulletin was mandated by an airworthiness directive. However, a recent opinion by the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) says otherwise. For a discussion of this case and the potentially serious implications for both aircraft owners and aircraft mechanics please read my article on the subject here.