Construction number locations (A-B)
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Introduction
Construction numbers (c/n), also called Manufacturer Serial Numbers (MSN), are the prime way to identify a specific airframe. In contrast to the registration (or tail number), the c/n does not change, even when owner changes occur.
(note: all 'left' and 'right' indications are as you look from tail to nose).
- Manufacturers C to D
- Manufacturers E to G
- Manufacturers H to L
- Manufacturers M
- Manufacturers N to R
- Manufacturers S
- Manufacturers T to Z
- National regulations
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Aermacchi
MB326 and EMB326 Xavante
One plate can be found in the cockpit on the bulkhead behind the rear seat. Another place to check for a plate is on the fuselage below the stabilizer on the left-hand side.
On the Brazilian examples, there is a second plate below that with maintenance information.
The plate in MB-326's built in South-Africa, as Impala, can be found on the same place in the cockpit as with Italian built examples. As the Impala II are single seat aircraft, obvious it is on the bulkhead behind the single seat.
 C/n plate in a South-African Impala II |
Aermacchi MB339
One plate can be found on the bulkhead behind the rear seat, above the data acquisition box.
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Aero
L-29
The c/n is in the left-hand side main wheel bay on most occasions.
 It's hard to get the c/n of the L-29's.... |
Aerospatiale
AS332 and AS532 Super Puma & Cougar
On the bulkhead behind and just above the left pilot seat, a rather large plate can be found which contains (amongst others) the exact subtype and the construction number. The plate is visible from the outside, it can sometimes be read off if there is no glare and you have a good close focusing binocular. When a window is open it will be much easier.
AS350, AS355, AS550 & AS555 Ecureuil
- The AS350 & AS550 have a construction number plate near the decking, behind the right-hand pilot's seat.
- The twin-engined AS350 & AS555 have the plate on the cockpit floor, near the left-hand seat.
Examples exported to the USA have this on the right-hand side of the cabin, towards the tail boom, as per FAR 45 regulations.
SA341 & SA342 Gazelle
The c/n plate usually is attached on the bottom of the central console in the cockpit, on the left-hand side.
SA365 Dauphin
The Chinese licence build Harbin Z9 'Haitun' often has the construction number painted in top of the tail plane.
AeroVolga
LA-8
In the cockpit of this rare Russian built aircraft you can found, just behind the pilots chair the c/n plate on the right side.
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Agusta
Agusta A109
The c/n plate on these Agusta's is mounted on the left-hand side on the console in the centre of the cockpit. The USCG MH-68A Stingrays have a (additional?) plate on the left-hand side of the fuselage, just behind the main landing-gear.
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Agusta-Bell
Agusta-Bell AB47
The MSN plate is located on the left-hand cockpit floor.
Agusta-Bell AB204 & AB205
The construction number can be found in the cockpit. It is located on the right side of the central control panel of the helicopter near the feet of the pilot. It is visible from the outside.
In later models of the AB205 the plate has been relocated to top of the right-hand side of the back wall inside the cockpit.
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Agusta-Bell AB206
The c/n plate on the Agusta build Bell 206s is mounted on the left-hand side on the console in the centre of the cockpit.
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Agusta-Bell AB212
The plate containing the MSN usually is located on the left-hand door frame.
Agusta-Bell AB412
The construction number can be found in the cockpit. It is located on the right-hand side of the central console in the cockpit.
Agusta-Westland
AW139
The construction number plate of this helicopter is located in the cockpit, in the right-hand footwell.
Besides the production line in Italy, a second line for the AW139 was set up in Philadelphia. The c/n plates from helicopters from this line are on the outside, on the left hand side.
 AW139 "5A-DRO". |
Airbus
A300 & A310
One c/n plate can be found inside the forward passenger door-frame, on the right-hand side when you enter the aircraft. But note the plate is mounted rather high.
A318, A319, A320 & A321
As with the A300, the c/n plate is mounted high on the right-hand side door-frame, of the forward passenger door.
A330 & A340
As with earlier Airbus types, the c/n plate can be found high on the inside of the forward passenger door, but this time on the left-hand side when you enter the aircraft.
Antonov
An-2
The construction number can be found at several places inside the aircraft, but the usual place to check is below the tail on the port side of the aircraft. Note though that especially on Russian registered aircraft several misprints are known, so when possible it is advised to check elsewhere too. Note though that those locations vary quite often with not every location in place.
- On the second joist behind the cockpit.
- On the bulkhead behind the engine. Only accessible when you have some kind of stairs and the cowlings are opened.
- Sometimes on the backside wall of the cabin.
- Sometimes a plate under the pilot's window is present.
- Agricultural variants sometimes have it painted on the hopper inside the cabin.
The An-2 was also licence built in China as Nanchang Y5 (later Shijiazhuang Y5). One known place where the c/n plate can be found is on both sides on the top of the strut supporting the horizontal stabilizer.
 The MSN plate of c/n 1G18155 on the second joist. |
 Visual sample of where to find the plate inside the cabin, here for c/n 116047306. |
 Same Russian built An-2, with the full c/n painted on the engine bulkhead. |
 Sample of the engine bulkhead on a Polish build An-2, c/n 1G118-28. |
 Russian An-2s have their c/n also painted on the fuselage, but with a Cyrillic letter G, as with this 1G2821. |
 Location of the c/n on Chinese built Y5's. |
 Detail shot of the plate on an Y5. |
An-3T
The plate of those converted An-2's is situated below the left horizontal stabilizer. It has the former An-2 c/n as well as a new An-3T c/n stamped on it.
An-8
The c/n usually was painted on the tail, while military examples also had it on the right side of the fuselage, just behind the flight deck. With later paint-jobs, those tended to disappear. Inside the aircraft the c/n plate can be found between the cockpit roof windows above the flight engineer’s seat.
An-12
The c/n sometimes was painted on the outside of the aircraft, either at the tail or on the nose (or both), but usually only on the right hand side. Aircraft build in Tashkent (factory #84) the c/n plate is attached to the rafter at the right hand side when entering the main door at the port side.
An-24
The construction number is often stencilled on the left side of the fuselage, below the horizontal stabilizer. The construction number plate is attached to a panel which is attached to the front bulkhead, front side or attached to the front bulkhead, front side. Other places where c/n plates have been noted are the nose-wheel bay and the left-hand undercarriage bay.
An-26
The construction number is often stencilled on the left side of the fuselage, below the horizontal stabilizer. The construction number plate is attached to a panel which is attached to the front bulkhead, front side or attached to the front bulkhead, front side. Other places where c/n plates have been noted are the nose-wheel bay and the left-hand undercarriage bay.
An-28
The construction number is normally painted on the inside of both vertical stabilizers.
An-32
The construction number is often painted on the left side of the fuselage, below the horizontal stabilizer. The plate itself can be found inside the cabin, on the left hand side, just above the last window.
 The plate of An-32P "5A-DRC' c/n 0703. |
An-72, 74 & 76
So far, only few attempts to find the construction number plate "on the trailing edge of the cargo ramp" were successful. However, An-72s and some An-74s have the construction number embossed on a small metal plate found on the inside of the emergency exit cover (at the rear of the cargo cabin on the starboard side), though some aircraft carry the fuselage number (line number) there instead.
ATR
ATR-42 & ATR-72
The MSN plate is located on the forward frame of the access to the rear pressure bulkhead.
BAC
BAC 1-11
On the left-hand side while entering via the forward steps.
BAC Strikemaster
See the Hunting Percival Jet Provost
Beech
Beech 18
Depending on the version, the construction number plate might be on different places;
- Pre-war civil versions (Models 18 to C18); On a cockpit sub-panel.
- Post-war model D18S; Usually on the forward frame of the oval shaped passenger door located on the rear end of the aircraft, but sometimes in the centre of the door between the passengers cabin and the cockpit.
- Post-war 'Super 18s' (Models E18 to H18); On the right-hand fuselage below the horizontal stabilizer.
- Military versions (C-45, AT-7, AT-11, JRB, SNB); On the cockpit sub-panel, or sometimes on the bulkhead aft of the cockpit. Later those may have been supplemented by plates on the right-hand fuselage (like the Super 18s) to comply with FAA regulations when they were sold on the civil market or went through overhaul.
One important note, which especially seems to be the case with post-war built examples: All the major components have their own 'aircraft data plate'. Those components were not necessary attached to the airframe they were intended for, which causes the c/n on this plate to be different, although in a close range, to the official serial number. The gap between the c/n found on those parts and the official serial number (the one belonging to the cabin section) may be much larger when the component later has been replaced. Known components where those incorrect serial numbers can be found;
- The empannage, for which the plate is located on the top of the horizontal stabilizer, in the centre.
- Centre section spar.
- Left and right wings.
- Elevators.
- Rudders.
- Landing gears.
- The pilots floor structure.
- The engine cowling's.
Any construction number found on those components therefore must be treated as being incorrect, unless the data plate on the cabin section or the paperwork has been checked also.
T-34 Mentor
On the left side of the airframe, just below the horizontal stabilizers.
Bell
- For Bell helicopters built under licence by Agusta, see Agusta-Bell
Bell 47
The MSN plate is attached to the centre console in the cockpit, on the right-hand side.
 Although the plate was heavily corroded, the c/n of this Bell 47 could still be read as 2061. |
H-1 Huey
The construction number can be found in the cockpit. It is located on the left side of the central control panel of the helicopter near the feet of the pilot. It is visible from the outside.
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AH-1 Cobra
The construction number can be found in the rear cockpit. Just below the right instrument panel on the right hand side of the pilots upper leg. It is visible from the outside.
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Bell 206
Also the Bell 206 has its MSN plane mounted on the left side of the central control panel.
 The plate inside the cockpit of a Bell 206B-3. |
Bell 412
As with the older Huey versions, the MSN plate is attached to the left hand side of the central control panel.
 Not to sharp an image, but noting the c/n (33100) was instrumental of getting the true ID of this Bell 412. |
Beriev
Be-12
The construction number is painted on the nose and on the outside of the wing floats. The construction number plate is attached inside the tail wheel bay.
Be-200 Altair
The construction number is found etched on a plate riveted to port side of rear fuselage below the waterline.
Boeing
Boeing 737
A plate can be found at at the top of the door frame of the left hand front passengers door (above your head when you board the aircraft).
 An example of the MSN plate on a Boeing 737. |
Boeing 747
A plate can be found at at the top of the door frame of the left hand front passengers door (above your head when you board the aircraft).
Boeing 757
A plate can be found at at the top of the door frame of the left hand front passengers door (above your head when you board the aircraft).
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
The construction number can be found on the left-hand cockpit wall.
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Boeing-Vertol
Boeing-Vertol CH-47
Both the CH-47s built by Boeing-Vertol as those licence built by Agusta, have the plate on the left side of the console in the cockpit, in front and below all the tubes there. It is visible from the outside.
 Plate of an MH-47G. |
 Italian built example. |
British Aerospace
BAe146
The construction number plate is located inside the cabin, on the left-hand side on the bulkhead next to the entrance towards the cockpit.
