FAA Form 8130-3 (8130-3 Tag): Blocks and Examples

What is an FAA Form 8130-3 tag?

Its full name is "Authorized Release Certificate, FAA Form 8130-3, Airworthiness Approval Tag" (FAA Order 8130.21J, block 2). It documents that an engine, propeller or article either meets approved design data (a new part leaving a production quality system) or has been returned to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance or alteration.

Two FAA documents now split the instructions. Order 8130.21J covers the form "for aircraft engines, propellers, and articles produced under title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21" (Order 8130.21J, paragraph 1). For maintenance, "The FAA has transferred the information regarding FAA Form 8130-3 from FAA Order 8130.21" into AC 43-9D (AC 43-9D, paragraph 1.1).

What the tag is not: "FAA Form 8130-3 return to service does not constitute approval to install a product or article on a particular aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller." (AC 43-9D, paragraph 23.2.1). The order also says the form cannot be used "As a delivery or as a shipping document", "For release of an aircraft", or for "a mixture of production- and maintenance-released aircraft engines, propellers, or articles on the same FAA Form 8130-3" (Order 8130.21J, paragraph 8.k).

Who may issue and sign an 8130-3?

For new items under part 21, the issuer is an FAA aviation safety inspector, an FAA-authorized designee, an organization designation authorization unit member, or a production approval holder issuing an authorized release document under 14 CFR 21.137(o) (Order 8130.21J, paragraph 7).

For maintenance, "Only those persons authorized by 14 CFR § 43.7(b)–(e) may issue FAA Form 8130-3 for approval for return to service" (AC 43-9D, paragraph 23.4.1). Those are mechanics and IA holders under part 65, repair stations under part 145, manufacturers for their own products under 43.3(j), and air carriers under parts 121 and 135 (14 CFR 43.7). The person signing "is taking responsibility for ensuring that it was accomplished correctly" (AC 43-9D, paragraph 23.2.7).

Form 8130-3 block by block (blocks 1 to 14e)

The table summarises Order 8130.21J, paragraph 11 (production) and AC 43-9D, Appendix B (return to service). Where the two differ, both are shown.

Sources: Order 8130.21J, paragraph 11; AC 43-9D, Appendix B. Dates in 13e and 14e use the format two-digit day, first three letters of the month, four-digit year.

Example: an overhauled component from a Part 145 repair station

Illustrative only. The company, part numbers, serial numbers and names are invented, and bracketed items are placeholders.

• Block 3: RS-2026-0412 (the station's own numbering).
• Block 4: Example Accessory Overhaul Inc., [street address], [city, state]; certificate number may appear if it fits.
• Block 5: Work order 26-1187; 1 page attached.
• Blocks 6 to 10: 1; Starter-generator; [P/N 000-0000-00]; 1; [S/N 12345].
• Block 11: OVERHAULED.
• Block 12: "Overhauled in accordance with [manufacturer] component maintenance manual [number], revision [X], dated [date]. Complied with AD [number]. Replaced bearings, brushes and seals per work order 26-1187 (attached, 1 page)."
• Blocks 13a to 13e: shaded.
• Block 14a: "14 CFR 43.9 Return to Service" checked.
• Blocks 14b to 14e: signature of the authorized person; the repair station certificate number; printed name; date the overhaul was completed, for example 03 Nov 2026.

Example: a new part released by a production approval holder

Illustrative only. A parts manufacturer approval holder ships ten new brackets from its quality system.

Blocks 3 to 10 identify the shipment and items; block 11 is NEW; block 12 may be left blank or carry, for example, a batch or lot number used for traceability; in block 13a the issuer marks "Approved design data and are in a condition for safe operation"; 13b to 13e carry the authorized signature, the certificate management project number, the name and the date; blocks 14a to 14e are shaded (Order 8130.21J, paragraph 11). The form does not go to the customer before the items ship: it "will not be delivered to the end user before the product or article has shipped" (paragraph 8.a).

8130-3, certificate of conformity and EASA dual release

A certificate of conformance is not an 8130-3, but it can help show that a part was produced under part 21. Order 8130.21J lists evidence that may include "a shipping document, certificate of conformance, material certification from a certificate holder" or an 8130-3 (Order 8130.21J, paragraph 8.h). Without evidence of production under part 21, an article "would not be eligible for a FAA Form 8130-3".

A dual release lets one 8130-3 also serve under the EASA Part-145 approval of the same repair station. AC 43-9D says "Only facilities that are both FAA- and EASA-approved and located in the United States or an EU Member State can issue a dual release certificate"; others "must issue both an FAA Form 8130-3 and an EASA Form 1, Authorised Release Certificate, individually." (AC 43-9D, paragraph 23.6.2). The block 12 statement and the boxes to tick in block 14a are set out in paragraph 23.6 and Appendix B.12.3 of the AC and in the FAA-EASA Maintenance Annex Guidance; check them against your own approvals.

Form 8130-3 vs 8130-6, 8130-9 and other FAA 8130 forms

Several FAA forms share the 8130 number, and searches mix them up. The FAA's designee forms page lists these for aircraft certification (FAA). Only the 8130-3 travels with a part, engine or propeller.

How long to keep 8130-3 tags, and electronic forms

For maintenance releases, "FAA Form 8130-3 or form data must be retained by the owner, operator, or CRS, as applicable, consistent with the CH's policy and procedures for retention of maintenance records under 14 CFR §§ 91.417(b) and 145.219(c)." (AC 43-9D, paragraph 23.3.1). A repair station "must retain the records required by this section for at least 2 years from the date the article was approved for return to service" (14 CFR 145.219(c)). For production releases, the issuer keeps a copy of the original and any reissued form "for the period(s) required by § 21.137(k) or by the applicable regulation(s)" (Order 8130.21J, paragraph 8.d).

Electronic forms are allowed. "The form may be filled out and signed electronically." (Order 8130.21J, paragraph 8.b). A repair station may hold form data in a secure database that has all the information required on the form, and when a corrected form is issued "The system should not overwrite or destroy the original record." (AC 43-9D, paragraph 23.3.1).

Common 8130-3 mistakes

Each item comes from Order 8130.21J or AC 43-9D.

• Using the tag as a packing slip or shipping document.
• Mixing new (production) and maintenance-released items on the same form.
• Leaving block 12 thin on a maintenance release. It must carry the 43.9 content, including a description of the work or a reference to the data and its revision.
• Entering the shipping or printing date in block 14e. It is the date the work was completed.
• A post office box in block 4 on a maintenance release.
• Copies not marked "COPY" or "DUPLICATE".
• Fixing an error by editing the original. Issue a corrected form that refers to the original tracking number in block 12; the AC gives the wording "This FAA Form 8130-3 corrects the error(s) in block(s)" (AC 43-9D, paragraph 23.2.9).
• Issuing an 8130-3 to return a whole aircraft to service. The form is for engines, propellers and articles only.

Your parts and release history is also a data asset

Years of 8130-3s, work orders and teardown findings show which parts came in, what was found, what was done and how long they lasted. With customer and aircraft identifiers removed, that history can be licensed to AI developers working on maintenance and reliability tools. Ownership and what to leave out are covered in can you sell aircraft maintenance records and in the aviation repair station data guide.

If your company keeps years of maintenance, parts and release records, the guide for repair stations and operators explains what AI developers ask for and who signs. To see what yours could be worth, describe them in six questions; no files or system access needed.