Regulatory Certification of Part Performance

In some cases it is a legal mandate to have a part certificated by a government agency before it is allowed to enter the marketplace for public usage. The certification process is a regulatory instead of an engineering evaluation 

The scientific theories and engineering principles are solely based on the experimental data, and do not change imtil new test data prove otherwise. However, the standards to meet for certification are often the minimum standards, which are revised periodically and can be affected by many non-scientific factors. The revision of certification procedures and regulations is a legal and governmental process that is subject to the influence of public psychology and opinion. Historically the revisions of FAA regulations are often prompted by aviation accidents or incidents, and rarely driven by new scientific discoveries. 

In compliance with 49 USC, the organization and operation of the FAA are detailed in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Aeronautics and Space. Most FAA surveillance practice and guidance materials are based on this Code of Federal Regulations. 

FAA Order 8110.42, Parts Manufacturer Approval Procedures, was first issued on August 4, 1995. Revision A of this order was issued on March 31, 1999. Both versions contain the same statement on reverse engineering in paragraph 9.C (2) (g) (FAA, 1995)  

This is the only statement on reverse engineering in the original and Revision A of this order. Revisions B and C were issued on September 9, 2005, and June 23,2008, respectively. More statements on reverse engineering were included in them. 

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