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By following this guide, you will track individual aircraft components by serial number, monitor time since new (TSN), time since overhaul (TSO), and time since major overhaul (TSMOH), manage life limits, and record installation and removal events.
Who should read this: Directors of maintenance, maintenance controllers, and parts managers responsible for tracking life-limited and time-controlled components across the fleet.Required permission: maintenance_ops — read to view, update to create and modify component records.Regulatory basis: 14 CFR 43.10 governs the disposition of life-limited aircraft parts. 14 CFR 91.417 requires maintenance records including total time in service of the airframe, each engine, each propeller, and each rotor. 14 CFR 43.12 requires maintenance records to be retained and transferred with the aircraft.

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The Component Tracking List

Navigate to Maintenance > Component Tracking to see all tracked components. The list shows:
ColumnDescription
Part NumberManufacturer part number
Serial NumberUnique component serial number
DescriptionComponent name and description
AircraftRegistration where currently installed
PositionInstalled position on the aircraft
TSN HoursTotal time since new (hours)
TSN CyclesTotal cycles since new
TSO HoursTime since last overhaul (hours)
TSO CyclesCycles since last overhaul
Life LimitRemaining life before mandatory action

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Add a Component

1
Open the new component form
2
From Component Tracking, click Add Component.
3
Enter identification
4
  • Aircraft — Select the aircraft registration
  • Part Number — Manufacturer part number
  • Serial Number — Unique serial number of the component
  • Description — What the component is (e.g., “Left Engine Fuel Control Unit”)
  • Position — Installed position (e.g., “Engine 1”, “LH MLG”, “Nose Wheel Assembly”)
    • 5
    Record current times
    6
    Enter the current accumulated time values:
    7
    FieldDescriptionTSN HoursTotal hours since new (from manufacturer)TSN CyclesTotal cycles since newTSO HoursHours since last overhaulTSO CyclesCycles since last overhaulTSMOH HoursHours since last major overhaulTSMOH CyclesCycles since last major overhaulTSI HoursHours since last inspection
    8
    Set life limits
    9
    For life-limited parts per 14 CFR 43.10, enter the mandatory limits:
    10
  • Life Limit Hours — Maximum allowable hours before mandatory replacement or overhaul
  • Life Limit Cycles — Maximum allowable cycles
  • Life Limit Calendar Months — Calendar-based limit (e.g., rubber components, hoses)
    • 11
    Per 14 CFR 43.10, life-limited parts that have reached their life limit must be removed from service. No person may install a life-limited part that has reached or exceeded its approved life limit. Accurate tracking of TSN and life limits is essential for airworthiness.
    12
    Record installation details
    13
  • Install Date — When the component was installed
  • Install Hours — Aircraft hours at installation
  • Install Cycles — Aircraft cycles at installation
    • 14
    Save the component
    15
    Click Save. The component appears in the tracking list with calculated remaining life based on life limits minus current accumulated time.

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    Record a Component Removal

    When a component is removed from an aircraft:
    1. Open the component detail page
    2. Click Record Removal
    3. Enter:
      • Removal Date — Date of removal
      • Removal Reason — Why the component was removed (scheduled overhaul, failure, convenience, etc.)
      • Hours at Removal — Aircraft hours at the time of removal
      • Cycles at Removal — Aircraft cycles at removal
    4. Click Save — the component status updates and the aircraft position is cleared

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    Record an Overhaul

    After a component returns from overhaul:
    1. Open the component detail page
    2. Click Record Overhaul
    3. Enter the new TSO values (reset to zero for a full overhaul) and update the TSMOH if applicable
    4. Upload the overhaul shop’s release documentation (8130-3 or equivalent)
    5. If reinstalling, record the new installation details

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    Transfer Between Aircraft

    To move a component from one aircraft to another:
    1. Record a removal from the source aircraft
    2. Add the component to the destination aircraft with updated installation details
    3. Both events are logged in the component’s history for traceability

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    Monitor Life Limits

    The component tracking list highlights components approaching their life limits:
    • Green — More than 20% remaining life
    • Amber — Less than 20% remaining life
    • Red — Less than 5% remaining life or past limit
    Components past their life limit display a LIFE-LIMITED badge and must be removed before further flight.

    Part Passports

    Track full birth-to-retirement traceability for serialized components.

    Manage Due Items

    Track component overhaul and replacement intervals as due items.

    Manage Work Orders

    Link component changes to work orders for documentation.

    Reliability Analysis

    Analyze component failure trends across the fleet.
    Last modified on April 5, 2026