Aircraft Leasing / CAMO – Understanding the Aircraft Damage Chart (Dent and Buckle)

Aircraft Leasing / CAMO – Understanding the Aircraft Damage Chart (Dent and Buckle)

Each aircraft in operation at some stage will receive damage, be it from a bird strike, accidental impact, or mechanical damage.

The aircraft will carry a document in the cockpit summarising the repairs and locations, this document is commonly referred to as the “Dent and Buckle”.

For airworthiness purposes, the aviation authorities require that aircraft carry details of the repair(s) and data that the repair is in accordance with.

See the illustration, on the top we can see the Aircraft Registration and MSN along with the report date and time when it was produced.

The letters in red are explained below.

  1. The number that links to a location pictorially of the damage on a “damage map” or “chart”
  2. A description of the damage and the chart location to help you find it on the “damage map” or “chart”. The component (if applicable) such as an engine serial number for blade damage. The status of the repair; typically, the repair category or any life imposed on such repair if category is pending. Should the category be pending then a due date is added.
  3. This is for the DFP (Dirty Fingerprints) and will allow us to view the evaluation and certification the repair by proving a link to the works order for all the details along with the issue date of the finding and ATA chapter.
  4. Performed details the aircraft FC (Flight Cycles) and FH (Flight Hours) along with the date when the repair was carried out.
  5. The references / type should display the data that the repair was evaluated or approved with for airworthiness purposes.
  6. The damage type/nature type simply means the damage type such as a dent or burn mark and if known how it occurred such as impact or lightning strike for example.
  7. The Dimension will let us know the dimension of the repair; similarly, the location will detail exactly where this repair is on the aircraft.
  8. Any additional notes or information can be noted where applicable.
  9. The entry date and sign let us know who signed the entry into the document and when along with the date and details for the corrective action as well.

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