What maintenance record entries are required to contain the aircraft total time in service?

The requirement for maintenance record entries to include the aircraft's total time in service is most clearly associated with records of inspections. This is because total time in service is a critical metric often used to assess the airworthiness of an aircraft and to determine when certain inspections and maintenance actions are due. Inspections are mandated at specific intervals based on the total flight hours, and without an accurate time in service entry, it becomes challenging to comply with regulatory requirements and maintain the safety of the aircraft.

While maintenance records for modifications and general maintenance could also include time in service information, they are not mandated as explicitly as inspection records. Modifications may sometimes reference time in service for compliance with airworthiness directives, but the primary regulatory focus is on inspections. Flight log entries document usage but do not specifically serve maintenance record purposes in this context.