A 3D-printed accessory needs the same eligibility check as another aircraft part: can this particular item legally be installed on this aircraft? Before fitting one, identify its source and the production route that applies. A marketplace receipt does not answer those questions.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US aviation regulator, raised this issue in its August 18, 2026 Unapproved Parts Notification about MadeByMike3D. The concern is production without the required approval or authorization, not simply a certificate that has gone missing.
What the notice covers
The FAA says Michael Graham, doing business as MadeByMike3D, produced and sold articles for installation on type-certificated aircraft between May 2024 and August 2025 without FAA approval and authorization. A type certificate approves an aircraft design. Parts installed on an aircraft built to that design must be suitable for that installation.
The notice identifies Etsy listings, a lack of evidence of an FAA-approved manufacturer and marking concerns. Its table contains 23 listed references, including cup holders, yoke grips and headset holders. Some rows expressly refer to simulators. This is a list of product references, not a count of 23 physical parts installed on aircraft.
The notice reports no failure or incident involving these items. That limited statement does not establish their physical safety. Nor does this article determine whether an individual accessory is eligible for installation.
Production approval and installation are separate checks
14 CFR 21.9(a) sets out permitted production routes for replacement or modification articles likely to be installed on a type-certificated product. They include production under a type certificate or an FAA production approval, qualifying standard or commercial parts, owner-produced parts, certain repair-related fabrication and other FAA-approved methods.
A Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) is one production route. It is not the only route for every part. Ask which route the supplier relies on, then ask for the evidence appropriate to it. The FAA's AC 20-62E, Change 1 explains how to assess part eligibility, quality and traceability.
Markings help identify a PMA article. Under 14 CFR 45.15(a), these normally include the approval holder's identification, part number and FAA-PMA marking. However, paragraph (d) provides an alternative when the FAA finds direct marking too small or otherwise impractical: the information must be attached to the part or its container. An absent mark on the part itself therefore calls for checking the applicable marking arrangement, not an automatic rejection based on size alone.
What if the owner helped produce the part?
Section 21.9(a)(5) permits an owner or operator to produce an article for maintaining or altering their own product. FAA guidance in AC 20-62E, paragraph 6(n), recognizes participation in controlling the design, manufacture or quality of the part. The owner need not personally operate every machine; supplying design data or supervising manufacture can be relevant participation.
Simply buying an item and calling it owner-produced does not establish that participation. Conversely, using a third party to manufacture it does not by itself rule the route out. The evidence must show what the owner actually did. Section 21.9(b) also restricts producers selling and representing articles as suitable for type-certificated products outside the routes it specifies.
Even a properly owner-produced part still needs a lawful installation. The person doing and approving the work must have the appropriate authority and follow the applicable maintenance requirements. Producing a part does not give an owner new maintenance privileges.
If you find a listed item
The notice recommends checking both aircraft and parts inventories. For listed articles found in existing inventory, the FAA recommends quarantine to prevent installation until eligibility is determined. Preserve identification and purchase records so the item can be traced.
For an item already installed, take the notice to the responsible maintenance professional and the FAA contact it names. The FAA requests information about discoveries, how the source was identified and actions taken to remove articles from aircraft or inventory. The contact is the Vandalia Certificate Management Section at 9-avs-866cms@faa.gov. These are the notice's recommendations; they are not a replacement for an assessment of the particular installation.
Keep the eventual determination with the supporting records. If a digital verification service finds no matching certificate, that proves only that it found no match in the records it covers. An approval might exist elsewhere. Likewise, a matching file does not itself approve the part or its installation. Our guide to checking a certificate's current status explains that distinction.
Frequently asked questions
Does the notice identify 23 installed aircraft parts?
No. Its table lists 23 product references, including simulator-related entries. It does not count physical units installed on aircraft.
Does a small PMA part always need a mark directly on it?
Not always. Under 14 CFR 45.15(d), if the FAA finds direct marking too small or otherwise impractical, the required information must be attached to the part or its container.
Can a third party manufacture an owner-produced part?
FAA guidance recognizes owner participation in controlling design, manufacture or quality. Third-party manufacture does not alone rule out that route, but an ordinary purchase does not establish the required participation or authorize installation.
What does the FAA recommend for listed stock?
Quarantine listed articles found in existing inventory to prevent installation until their eligibility is determined. The notice also requests information about discoveries and removal actions.