When is the aircraft total time required to be recorded in maintenance records for part 91 aircraft?

The correct answer indicates that aircraft total time must be recorded in maintenance records after satisfactorily completing maintenance or alterations. This requirement is essential because it ensures that accurate and up-to-date records reflect the aircraft's operational status and any changes that may affect its safety and performance.

Recording the total time after maintenance helps maintain an accurate history of the aircraft's usage, which is critical for various reasons, including compliance with airworthiness directives, tracking the life limits of components, and providing necessary information during inspections. This practice ensures that all maintenance personnel and future owners have access to the correct information about the aircraft’s service history.

The other options do not accurately reflect the established guidelines for recording aircraft total time in maintenance records. For instance, recording time before any maintenance is performed would not capture the changes and operational history that result from the completed work. Similarly, noting the total time at the start of every flight does not align with the maintenance documentation requirements, as it focuses more on operational logs rather than maintenance records. Lastly, recording the total time every time the aircraft changes ownership might be relevant for ownership transfer documentation, but it does not reflect the ongoing need to maintain accurate maintenance records during regular operations and servicing.