Narrative:

I was doing research for another aircraft when I read through far 43 appendix a items 31 and 32. The far states that updating of self contained navigation databases is preventive maintenance, which requires a logbook entry for return to service, according to far 43.9. I have read what is preventive maintenance, but had not paid attention to those 2 items. I began asking other technicians and our local FSDO if they were aware of this, and most were not. Or, knew it was preventive maintenance, but did not realize that with it being preventive maintenance a logbook entry was required. The aircraft that I service has 5 separate pieces of equipment that require update every 28 days. I believe that originally the regulation was intended to promote aircraft safety.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BEECH BARON 58 AVIONICS TECHNICIAN RPTS 28 DAY DATABASE UPDATES FOR FMS'S ARE NOT BEING SIGNED OFF PER FAR 43.

Narrative: I WAS DOING RESEARCH FOR ANOTHER ACFT WHEN I READ THROUGH FAR 43 APPENDIX A ITEMS 31 AND 32. THE FAR STATES THAT UPDATING OF SELF CONTAINED NAV DATABASES IS PREVENTIVE MAINT, WHICH REQUIRES A LOGBOOK ENTRY FOR RETURN TO SVC, ACCORDING TO FAR 43.9. I HAVE READ WHAT IS PREVENTIVE MAINT, BUT HAD NOT PAID ATTN TO THOSE 2 ITEMS. I BEGAN ASKING OTHER TECHNICIANS AND OUR LCL FSDO IF THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS, AND MOST WERE NOT. OR, KNEW IT WAS PREVENTIVE MAINT, BUT DID NOT REALIZE THAT WITH IT BEING PREVENTIVE MAINT A LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS REQUIRED. THE ACFT THAT I SVC HAS 5 SEPARATE PIECES OF EQUIP THAT REQUIRE UPDATE EVERY 28 DAYS. I BELIEVE THAT ORIGINALLY THE REG WAS INTENDED TO PROMOTE ACFT SAFETY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.