What is the purpose of a conditional inspection?

A conditional inspection is conducted in response to a specific event that indicates the aircraft may have experienced a condition outside of its normal operational limits. This type of inspection is triggered by an over-limit situation, such as unusual flight maneuvers, damage or stress related to extreme weather conditions, or any other circumstance that may potentially compromise the safety and integrity of the aircraft structure.

This focused inspection allows maintenance personnel to closely examine the affected areas and ensure that any potential issues are addressed before the aircraft returns to service. The goal is to detect and rectify problems that might not be caught during routine inspections, thereby ensuring the ongoing safety of the aircraft during flight operations.

In contrast, inspections requested after a deficiency is found usually follow established protocols to address specific issues, while routine checks mandated by hours flown are scheduled inspections that occur regardless of any extra conditions. Inspections performed by new maintenance personnel are not contextually driven by aircraft conditions but rather are meant to provide on-the-job training.