Care's FAA Question

[anejohn]

Anyone here using the Care's FAA site for research? This is fairly new territory for me and prior to the FAA site's recent update I was able to access "Aircraft Records" section for 337 forms etc for free. Although the Aircraft Records selection is a option, when selected only brings up Registration information. I'm using a IOS device (iMac or iPad) either Safari, Chrome or FireFox and can't access the Aircraft Records data.
Any suggestions?

Thx

[n2582d]

John,
I’m also unable to access these aircraft records. I don’t think the issue has anything to do with our computer equipment. I’ll try contacting FAA OKC.

[anejohn]

I tried calling the help line this morning but the tech support operator only deals with sign on issues not applications of the program. They sent me to another FAA department who did not have a Care's account and didn't know the capabilities of the Care's program.
Good luck!

[redacted]

Looks like records has been down for weeks. Sometimes there’s a banner at the top of the page saying so.

[anejohn]

Oh well, just spent another $15 for an aircraft records report. Maybe I’ll see it in the mail in a week.

Thanks!

[n2582d]

John,
Finally got a response from the FAA on this:

Currently, we are not able to provide the Airworthiness files in CARES. We understand that this may be an inconvenience and apologize for the interruption. We are working on restoring those as soon as possible. In the meantime, Airworthiness files may still be requested via the Registry’s website.

[redacted]

Thanks Gary. It's been a great resource (when it was working)

[n2582d]

Looks like CARES record search is back up.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Ya Hooo

I'd lost hope

[cessnut]

Agreed. I had all but given up hope as well.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

An update. Since Aug 2025 you will see the following at the CARES site.

Screen Shot 2026-03-13 at 8.03.24 AM.png

What has happened is that someone in the government has decided that each and every government website should have the same VERY SECURE security and not the one created and integrated with the website by the website contractor. Seems like a good idea until you realize that there isn't just one VERY SECURE service to get you into government websites but at least 2 as of 3/2026. In the case of Social Security Administration. you can use either service which is good cause one wouldn't let me in but the other was happy to. It is VERY SECURE though.

In the case of CARES you must use Login.gov. It is the only one that will work for the CARES sight. If you had a CARES account prior to Aug 2025 you will have to link your Login.gov security account to the CARES site. This was tedious for me, took 3 attempts over 2 separate periods but I finally got it working no thanks to the Login.gov help desk which at the time put me in an endless loop with an answer that wouldn't work. The CARES help desk is very nice but can't actually help you. But they will give you tips like keep calling the Login.gov help desk till you get a human.

Yes the new system is VERY SECURE probably because most legitimate people give up before getting it working I think. That was my experience. Hopefully your will be better. It is so nice to be able to search aircraft maintenance documents quickly online.

[n2582d]

… In the case of Social Security Administration … It is VERY SECURE though. …

You mean “It was VERY SECURE?” SSA data breach.

But, back on the subject of the CARES website, I’d encourage all of us to research old C-170 field approvals there. Specifically ones prior to October 1, 1955 as discussed here.

[GAHorn]

I rec’d a notice from another source suggesting that cuts have been made to the personnel at the CARES site being at the root of the problem.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

But, back on the subject of the CARES website, I’d encourage all of us to research old C-170 field approvals there. Specifically ones prior to October 1, 1955 as discussed here.

YES Gary, that was why I was so persistent getting back access CARES. Not necessarily to search 170 records but to search PA-17 Vagabond records. You see there were only about 600 PA-15 and -17 airplanes built over a years time and Piper moved on to new projects. Both aircraft have their own type certificate. Piper never added anything to the TC so there is only one engine for each approved for example. Most of the -15s have had their Lycoming removed for a A-65 or larger and many of them prior to Oct 1, 1955. PA-17s not so much as they came with an A-65 but still some have had C-75 or 85s and C-90s installed and a very few of them prior to Oct 1, 1955. With about 300 remaining Vagabonds there is no market for STCs unless it is for something like a coffee cup holder which could be used on all Piper taildraggers.

Of course searching 10- PA-17 records a day you can search them all in about 25 days, a doable project. Searching all 4000 or more Cessna 170s the FAA may have a record of is a much bigger project for someone to take on. I found 3 PA-17 with C-85 337s dated prior to 10/1/55, each of these 337s approved data for a C-85 swap I might want to make. No further approval required so long as I follow the 337 exactly as written and approved.

[n2582d]

Wow Bruce, looks like you hit the jackpot! That’s invaluable information for the Vagabond community.

I’m not sure if you’re experiencing the same thing when you try to log on, but for me it takes some patience to get logged on. It takes at least a minute for the sign-in tile to become useable/active before I can enter my Okta Verify code.

IMG_1696.jpeg