Preventive Maintenance

[Denny of Oakland]

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

[1739T]

Denny,

You have almost single handedly kept this
board alive for the past year, thanks.

And now you are posting answers even before anybody asked the question.

Garry

[Denny of Oakland]

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 preventive maintenance.

There is no inconsistency between these two sections. Section 91.403(a) makes the owner or operator of an aircraft primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition. "Operate" is defined in 14 CFR 1.1 and may include the piloting of an aircraft. Section 91.7(b), on the other hand, delineates the responsibility of one who is the Pilot-in-Command. This regulation states, in part, that the Pilot-in-Command is responsible for determining if the aircraft is in a condition for safe flight. It does not state that he must determine if the aircraft is in an airworthy condition.

AIRWORTHY - Two conditions that must be met for and aircraft is considered airworthy.

1. The aircraft must conform to its type certificate. Conformity to type design when the aircraft configuration and the components installed are consistent with the drawings, specifications, and other data i.e. STC field approved alterations.

2. The aircraft must be in condition for safe operation. Condition of the aircraft relative to wear and deterioration, i.e. skin corrosion, window delamination/crazing, fluid leaks, tire wear, etc.

NOTE: If one or both of these conditions are not met, the aircraft would be considered unairworthy.

The Level 1 instruction requirement for CFR Part 43, appendix A, preventive maintenance items is intended to create a measurable baseline of knowledge, skills, and abilities for the student and help to ensure that students have the basic knowledge and skills to perform the more complex preventive maintenance items specified in the TCDS or STC.

The performance rules of CFR Part 43.13 apply to each person performing this preventive maintenance. They will use the methods, techniques, and practices prescribed in the current manufacturer's manual and instructions for continued airworthiness, or other methods, techniques, and practices acceptable to the Administrator. The individual shall use the tools, equipment, and test apparatus necessary to ensure completion of the work in accordance with accepted industry practices. The work shall be done in such a manner that the aircraft worked on will be at least equal (not better than) to its original or properly altered condition.

Each person who performs this preventive maintenance shall make an entry in the aircraft maintenance records containing the following information:

1. The date of completion of the preventive maintenance work and aircraft total time-in-service.
2. A description of the work performed and identified as preventive maintenance.
3. The name, signature, certificate number, and kind of certificate held.

Preventive maintenance is limited to the following work, provided it does not involve complex assembly operations:

1. Removal, installation, and repair of landing gear tires.
You are required to clean and repack the wheel bearing if you change the tires. This task requires the use of a calibrated torque wrench.

2. Replacing elastic shock absorber cords on landing gear.
This is a common task, but cursing is sometimes required.

3. Servicing landing gear shock struts by adding oil, air, or both.
Remember to deflate the strut completely. In some cases a strut pump may be required, which is a special tool.

4. Servicing landing gear wheel bearings, such as cleaning and greasing.
Same as item number one. NOTE On some aircraft this requires removal of the brakes and is no longer considered preventive maintenance.

5. Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys.
This means you can not cut the safety wire such as on the oil filter, however if the safety wire was found broken during a oil change (wink wink) you could replace it. Same for the cotter pins such as on the landing gear nuts.

6. Lubrication not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings.
Straight forward such as oil changes, however if you are servicing the landing gear it may require jacking the aircraft and may not be considered preventive maintenance on some aircraft.

7. Making simple fabric patches not requiring rib stitching or the removal of structural parts or control surfaces. In the case of balloons, the making of small fabric repairs to envelopes (as defined in, and in accordance with, the balloon manufacturers’ instructions) not requiring load tape repair or replacement.
Straight forward statement.

8. Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic reservoir.
Caution here some hydraulic reservoir are pressurized take caution and relieve the pressure first before servicing.

9. Refinishing decorative coating of fuselage, balloon baskets, wings tail group surfaces (excluding balanced control surfaces), fairings, cowlings, landing gear, cabin, or cockpit interior when removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required.

10. Applying preservative or protective material to components where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved and where such coating is not prohibited or is not contrary to good practices.
Check your aircraft maintenance manuals.

11. Repairing upholstery and decorative furnishings of the cabin, cockpit, or balloon basket interior when the repairing does not require disassembly of any primary structure or operating system or interfere with an operating system or affect the primary structure of the aircraft.

12. Making small simple repairs to fairings, nonstructural cover plates, cowlings, and small patches and reinforcements not changing the contour so as to interfere with proper airflow.
Be very careful here note the word nonstructural and not changing the contour.

13. Replacing side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or any operating system such as controls, electrical equipment, etc.
I would suggest you have someone assist you here and show you how to preheat the window and how to properly trim before installation.

14. Replacing safety belts.
This task requires a calibrated torque wrench. DO NOT mix and match seat belts from different TSO holders that would be considered an alteration.

15. Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system.
This task requires a calibrated torque wrench and proper hardware.

16. Trouble shooting and repairing broken circuits in landing light wiring circuits.
This task requires a calibrated multi meter in some cases check the aircraft maintenance manual for required tools.

17. Replacing bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of position and landing lights.
Straight forward except for torquing the screws it will require a calibrated torque wrench.

18. Replacing wheels and skis where no weight and balance computation is involved.
Be very careful here. You will be required to have a weight and balance signed, dated and the certificate number of the person performing the task normally a (A&P).

19. Replacing any cowling not requiring removal of the propeller or disconnection of flight controls.
Straight forward.

20. Replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting of spark plug gap clearance.
This task requires a calibrated torque wrench and a gapping tool. If you do not have them then you can perform this task.

21. Replacing any hose connection except hydraulic connections.
Make sure and not twist the hose during installation many hoses have a line on them if it is twisted it is wrong.

22. Replacing prefabricated fuel lines.
Make sure and not twist the hose during installation many hoses have a line on them if it is twisted it is wrong.

23. Cleaning or replacing fuel and oil strainers or filter elements.
Be careful of cutting any safety wire that is not preventive maintenance.

24. Replacing and servicing batteries.
To service a battery requires a special hydrometer NOT an automotive one. An aircraft lead acid batter specific gravity when low charged is 1,200 and high charge is 1,300.

25. Cleaning of balloon burner pilot and main nozzles in accordance with the balloon manufacturer’s instructions.
Follow the manufactures manual.

26. Replacement or adjustment of nonstructural standard fasteners incidental to operations.
Be very careful here again. Not all fasteners are the same remember not better that requirement in part 43.13. Substitution of rivets is an alteration and is not preventive maintenance.

27. The interchange of balloon baskets and burners on envelopes when the basket or burner is designated as interchangeable in the balloon type certificate data and the baskets and burners are specifically designed for quick removal and installation.

28. The installations of anti-misfueling devices to reduce the diameter of fuel tank filler openings provided the specific device has been made a part of the aircraft type certificate data by the aircraft manufacturer, the aircraft manufacturer has provided FAA-approved instructions for installation of the specific device, and installation does not involve the disassembly of the existing tank filler opening.
This will require a maintenance record entry for sure, if you are not sure ask a A&P mechanic for assistance.

29. Removing, checking, and replacing magnetic chip detectors.
This may require a calibrated torque wrench.

30. The inspection and maintenance tasks prescribed and specifically identified as preventive maintenance in a primary category aircraft type certificate or supplemental type certificate holder’s approved special inspection and preventive maintenance program when accomplished on a primary category aircraft provided:
a. They are performed by the holder of at least a private pilot certificate issued under part 61 who is the registered owner (including co-owners) of the affected aircraft and who holds a certificate of competency for the affected aircraft (1) issued by a school approved under CFR 147.21(e) of this chapter; (2) issued by the holder of the production certificate for that primary category aircraft that has a special training program approved under part 21.24 of this subchapter; or (3) issued by another entity that has a course approved by the Administrator.
b. The inspections and maintenance tasks are performed in accordance with instructions contained by the special inspection and preventive maintenance program approved as part of the aircraft’s type design or supplemental type design.

31. Removing and replacing self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted navigation and communication devices that employ tray-mounted connectors that connect the unit when the unit is installed into the instrument panel, (excluding automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)). The approved unit must be designed to be readily and repeatedly removed and replaced, and pertinent instructions must be provided. Prior to the unit’s intended use, and operational check must be performed in accordance with the applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.
If you perform this task check the equipment list and make sure it is listed on the list. In some cases this can be an alteration.

32. Updating self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted Air Traffic Control (ATC) navigational software databases (excluding those of automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)) provided no disassembly of the unit is required and pertinent instructions are provided. Prior to the unit’s intended use, an operational check must be performed in accordance with applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter. Reference (Secs. 313, 601 through 610, and 1102, Federal Aviation Act of 1958 as amended (49 U.S.C. 1354, 1421 through 1430 and 1502); (49 U.S.C. 106(g) (Revised Pub. L. 97-449, Jan. 21, 1983); and 14 CFR 11.45)
In some cases this can be an alteration.

Polishng your propeller is not preventive maintenance in most cases. There are a few exceptings. On two model of Beech and the CE-195 only.

Denny