Preventive Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance means simple preservation and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assemblies. It is corrective action taken before it becomes necessary to make more complex repairs. A certificated pilot, who is the owner or operator of an aircraft, not used in air carrier service, may accomplish the preventive maintenance.
This list of items that a owner or operator comes from CFR 43, Appendix A, Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance, paragraph (c).
CFR 43 Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration, prescribes rules governing the maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration of aircraft as well as standards for their performance. CFR 41.7 explains what has to be in the maintenance entry and who can sign or return an aircraft to service. It does not matter if you are certificated repair station; certificated mechanic, certificated pilot, or the manufacturer part 43 prescribes rules governing the maintenance or preventive maintenance.
"Logs," as commonly used, is an inclusive term, which applies to the aircraft record "books," and to all supplemental records concerning the aircraft. These logs and records provide a history of maintenance and operation, a control for inspection schedules, data needed to properly accomplish time replacements of components or accessories, and a record of Airworthiness Directive compliance. Most Airworthiness Directive compliance is based on aircraft time-in-service, and it is regulatory requirement that records be kept up-to-date. This is the responsibility of the owner as referenced in CFR 91.403.
Historically, inspection intervals have been established on the basis of flying hours. However, if utilization is low and flying is done over the weekends, you may find it advisable to inspect a small group of items each weekend. This will spread your inspection over a period of time and reduce large demands on your time. Here are some examples of types of inspection intervals:
By hours:
1. Daily preflight inspection
2. Powerplant (including propeller and engine controls) - every 25 hours
3. Flight control systems -- every 25 hours
4. Landing gear -- every 50 hours
5. Cabin or cockpit -- every 75 hours
6. Covering (fabric or metal) -- every 100 hours
7. Fuselage interior -- every 100 hours, etc.
By calendar weeks (eight-week cycle):
1. Daily preflight inspection (including propeller and engine controls)
2. Powerplant -- first and fifth weekend
3. Flight control system -- second and sixth weekend
4. Landing gear -- third and seventh weekend
5. Cabin or cockpit -- fourth and eighth weekend
6. Covering (fabric or metal) - eighth weekend
7. Fuselage interior - eighth weekend
The FAA initially determines that an aircraft is in safe operating condition, conforms to a type design, and then issues an airworthiness certificate. A Standard Airworthiness Certificate remains in effect so long as the aircraft receives the required maintenance and is properly registered in the United States. Flight safety depends, in part, on the condition of the aircraft, which may be determined on inspection by certificated mechanics, approved repair stations, or manufacturers who meet specific requirements of FAR Part 43.
NOTE
Remember for an aircraft to be considered “Airworthy” it has to meet 2 conditions 1. Meet type design (Type Certificated Data Sheet) and 2. must be within wear limitations of all parts or safe condition for flight.
Denny of Oakland
|