Specification guide
AS9102 First Article Inspection
A first article inspection report (FAIR) is the documented evidence that a production part matches every requirement on its drawing and specification, recorded on the three forms SAE AS9102 defines (Aerospace Series, First Article Inspection Requirements; current revision AS9102C, 2023). Buyers ask for one on a new part, after a change, or after a lapse in production. Conquest can provide AS9102 first-article documentation on request, on the form set your purchase order names.
What a FAIR is
A first article inspection takes a representative part from the first production run and verifies every characteristic on the drawing and every requirement in the specification against a measured or documented result. The report is the record of that verification, signed by the supplier and reviewed by the buyer, and it travels with the part number so a later change can be inspected against it. For an O-ring the characteristics are the inside diameter, the cross-section, the material specification, the hardness and the surface and flash limits the drawing or the size standard sets.
What the three forms record
| Form | Name | What it records |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1 | Part number accountability | The part number, the drawing and its revision, the purchase order, the supplier, and any sub-assemblies or detail parts the article contains |
| Form 2 | Product accountability | The raw material and its certification, the material and process specifications the part must meet, any special processes, and any functional test, each with the certificate or report it relies on |
| Form 3 | Characteristic accountability | Each drawing characteristic, its requirement, the measured result, the measuring equipment, and whether it passed |
A full FAI fills all three forms. A partial FAI, after a change that affects only some characteristics, fills the forms for the characteristics the change touched and references the prior full report.
When a buyer asks for one
The usual triggers are the first delivery of a new part number; a change to the drawing or specification that affects fit, form or function; a change in the manufacturing process, tooling, material source or location; and a lapse in production long enough that the standard calls for a new report. A purchase order can also require one for a standard part when the program's quality plan says so. The report is billable work in most cases, so the order should say which forms and whether a full or partial report is wanted.
FAIR or dimensional report for a standard O-ring
For a catalog AS568 size in a standard compound, many buyers accept a dimensional inspection report with the certificate of conformance and the material certificate instead of a full FAIR, because the drawing is the size standard itself. For a part to an AMS or MIL document, or to a customer drawing, the full form set is the norm. Say which you need on the purchase order; the quote follows it.
What to send us
- The drawing with its revision, or the size standard and dash number if there is no drawing
- The material specification and any AMS, MIL or NAS document the print names
- Which forms are required, full or partial, and any customer-specific FAI form to be used instead
- A ballooned drawing if you have one; otherwise the characteristics are ballooned here and the balloon sheet ships with the report
- The quantity for the first-article lot and the delivery the report has to precede
- Please don't send a drawing marked ITAR, EAR, CUI or export-controlled. For those parts, call (714) 632-9830.
Put each item in the description or notes field of the quote form, or attach it with the drawing. The shelf-life guide covers the cure date the certificate of conformance carries.
Sources
- SAE AS9102C, Aerospace Series - First Article Inspection Requirements (SAE Mobilus, title and revision only, fetched 2026-09-13)
- SAE AS568 (size standard, title only)
Frequently asked questions
Do O-ring distributors provide first article inspection reports?
Some do and some do not; it depends on the quality system and on the order. Conquest can provide AS9102 first-article documentation when the purchase order calls for it.
Is a FAIR the same as a certificate of conformance?
No. A certificate of conformance is a statement that the lot meets the specification; a FAIR is the measured evidence, characteristic by characteristic, for a representative part.
How many parts are inspected?
A first article inspection is done on a representative part from the first production run; the report covers that part, not the lot. Lot acceptance is a separate sampling inspection.
Do I need a new FAIR on every reorder?
No. A new report is triggered by a change or a lapse in production, not by a repeat order of the same part at the same revision.
What is a partial FAI?
A report limited to the characteristics a change affected, referencing the earlier full report for everything else.
Who signs the report?
The supplier's inspection function signs each form; the buyer's quality function reviews and accepts it. The signatures and dates are part of the record.
Related guides
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