Maintenance

The maintenance of a General Aviation aircraft registered N follows the schedule defined by the constructor and by Federal Aviation Authority. The annual inspection follows the FAA FAR part 43 Appendix D.

Planning

Home preparation:
A – check all documents
B – preparation of Check List and Diary
C – check for new Airworthiness Directives
D – check for new Service Bulletins
E – purchase all necessary material

Hangar work:
Day 1: warm-up, engine oil change, Cylinder Compression Test
Day 2: remove all panels and inspection panels
Day 3: clean the aircraft
Day 4: clean the panels
Day 5: full inspection and grease schedule
Day 6: put back all panels and test flight
Day 7: complete paperwork, sign off, record of operations

It is important to understand that Maintenance must be approached with real humility, attention and responsibility because it is easy to make mistakes that can spoil some parts or, worst case, wreck them definitively. Not to mention the chance of damaging parts that are not evident and that can fail during the following flight.

Here are the main rules to follow:

1. There are 4 elements that protrude from the aircraft: the Wing-sight, the Pitot Tube, the Propeller, the wheels. When you move around the aircraft you must ALWAYS be aware that these parts protrude from the rest of the overall shape, don’t hit them!
2. If there is a split of oil on the floor, clean it immediately. The spot is dangerous because it is slippery
3. If you get assigned a job, you should do exactly what you have been told and in the way you have been told without improvising anything on you own.
4. If in doubt, ask. Do not improvise
5. NEVER place a tool inside the aircraft. NEVER place a tool on the aircraft. If you need to place a took, always place it outside the aircraft, on the floor or on the table
6. Paint is fragile and get scratched very easily. Remove or hide zips, rings, watches and anything else my scratch the paint while you are working on the aircraft
7. Screw driver, span and socket are tools to do specific jobs. Make sure you understand how to use these tools before you start to use them on the aircraft. Home Do-It-Yourself is not Aircraft Maintenance and tools are used in a different way
8. The responsibility of any job is on the owner or on the mechanic. If you are helping, any operation must be explain by the responsible and then it must be fully checked by the responsible
9. NEVER leave a job before finishing. It may happen that the job is considered done even if it is not finished, it is your responsibility to report that your job is not finished if you have to leave it
10. Before starting a job, arrange all the tools you need are available and near to you. When the job is finished, make sure all the tools go back in their place and nothing is left on (or in ) the aircraft or in some hidden place of the hangar
11. If anything follow into the aircraft you MUST stop and find it. Whatever has been dropped, it must be found immediately before continuing. NEVER postpone to search the part later on
12. If during the operation you note something strange, always take note and inform the responsible
13. If you remove a part, always arrange a plastic box with lid to store screws and bolts. Apply a label to the box with clear indication of contents. PORT is used for the left side, STARBOARD for the right side of the aircraft
14. If the par you are working on is complex, take pictures before removing