The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is committed to discovering and removing Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUPs) from the aviation supply chain. The agency provides extensive guidance on how suppliers, aircraft owners, and maintenance facilities can prevent unapproved parts from being installed. The FAA thoroughly investigates every SUP report. 

Suspected Unapproved Part (SUP): A part that for any reason, a person believes is not approved for use on a Type-Certificate (TC) product. Reasons for suspecting a part is unapproved may include, but is not limited to:

• Differences in finish, size, or color; 
• Improper (or lack of) identification; 
• Incomplete, unavailable or altered paperwork; 
• Any other unusual or abnormal characteristic; 
• Parts that have passed through a Production Approval Holder’s (PAH)’s quality system which do not conform to the approved design/data;
• Supplier produced parts for an approved manufacturer directly shipped to end users without the PAH’s authorization (“Direct Ship Authority”) or separate Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA); 
• Parts offered as having been produced under an FAA production approval, where no such FAA approval was issued (e.g. PMA, PAH, Technical Standard Order Authorization (TSOA), etc.);
• Life limited parts misrepresented as new or having useful time left; and
• Military parts that have not been shown to conform to type design

Not SUP Reportable, but could be reported as a Hotline:

• An approved part used in the wrong application,
• Parts damaged due to shipping,
• Raw materials, (i.e., sheet metal stock, sealants, lubricants, raw forgings, casting, or billet material, etc.),
• Improperly maintained/altered parts may not be an unapproved part, but rather a part that is rendered ineligible for installation because the part was not maintained in accordance with the provisions of 14 CFR, part 43. 

What to Do If You Suspect an Unapproved Part

If you encounter a part that you suspect is unapproved:

1. Quarantine the Part Immediately: Isolate and segregate the suspect part. Do not install, alter, destroy, or return the part or associated documentation to the supplier.
2. Preserve Documentation: Retain all purchase orders, shipping manifests, invoices, certificates of conformity, and airworthiness documentation (e.g., FAA Form 8130-3).
3. Gather Evidence & Photos: Take clear photos of part markings, stampings, serial numbers, packaging, and physical discrepancies.
4. Submit a SUP Report: File a report using FAA Form 8120-11 via the FAA Hotline. 

How to Report a Suspected Unapproved Part
You may submit a SUP report to the FAA Hotline through any of the following official channels: 

• Online Portal: FAA Hotline Web Reporting – preferred method.
• Toll-Free Hotline: Call 866-TELL-FAA (866-835-5322) 
• Hard Copy Mail: Download and complete FAA Form 8120-11 and mail it along with supporting documentation to: 

Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Whistleblower Protection and Aviation Safety Investigation, Rm 911
800 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20591

Reporting Checklist (Information Needed for Form 8120-11)
To ensure a thorough investigation, please have the following information available when filing:

• Part Identification: Part Name, Part Number, Serial Number, and physical location of the part.
• Supplier or Source Details: Supplier, distributor, or manufacturer name, address, and purchase order number.
• Aircraft or Component Application: Make, model, and engine/component on which the part was intended to be installed.
• Discrepancy Details: A detailed explanation of why the part is suspected to be unapproved (e.g., missing documentation, altered serial numbers, improper finish, unapproved supplier).
• Supporting Attachments: Copies of FAA Form 8130-3, invoices, shipping documentation, and photos.

Field Notifications (FN)
The FAA issues Field Notifications (FN) to alert the aviation community depending on the investigation findings: 

You may also subscribe to the above notifications.

Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) Verification

• Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) article listings are maintained in the PMA Parts and Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) 

Using the DRS, you can search PMA approvals by: 

• PMA Holder or Company Name 
• PMA Article Name or Part Number
• Make and Model of aircraft on which the PMA part can be installed 
• If you cannot locate the PMA data you desire or have questions regarding Parts Manufacturer Approval, contact the Certificate Management Branch (AIR) in the geographical area of the PMA article holder. 

Related Policy and Guidance

• AIR Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP) Program

Advisory Circulars (ACs)

• AC 21-29 - Detecting and Reporting Suspected Unapproved Parts
  • Provides fundamental guidance on identifying suspect unapproved parts and completing FAA Form 8120-11. 
• AC 20-142 - Eligibility and Evaluation of U.S. Military Surplus Flight Critical Aircraft Parts, Engines, and Propellers
  • Outlines criteria for evaluating former military hardware for civil airworthiness compliance. 
• AC 20-62 - Eligibility, Quality, and Identification of Approved Aeronautical Replacement Parts
  • Defines acceptability standards for replacement parts and airworthiness certification documentation. 
• AC 00-58 - Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program
  • Guidance for certificate holders on voluntarily disclosing SUP findings and operational compliance issues. 
• Standard Parts - Definition, Guidance, and Considerations
  • Explains standards, definitions, and acceptance criteria for standard hardware items.