by Shane Vande Voort

Often, as a service center, we are asked what kind of preventive maintenance is required on light airplanes and if the preventive maintenance pays for itself in the long run. We believe that preventive maintenance is relatively simple on single and light twin aircraft and that, without a doubt, it does pay for itself in the long run.

Although the FAR’s allow the owner/operator to perform preventive maintenance on their aircraft, we feel that involving your trusted maintenance provider in this function may be money well spent. Here are some areas that you should give attention to in your preventive maintenance routine.

Engine Oil and Engine Compartment. Most manufacturers recommend fifty hour oil changes on engines equipped with a full flow type filter. The manufacturers typically recommend three month oil changes on engines with lower usage. Opening up the filter and looking inside is a great opportunity to check the health of the engine. Make sure that your shop inspects the filter at every change or if you perform the oil changes themselves make sure you have access to a filter cutter. The oil change is a great time to look at the general condition of the engine compartment. Resist the temptation to leave part of the cowlings on for the oil change. Opening up the engine compartment could be the opportunity to find a small problem before it becomes a big one. We have found many bird’s nests and intake and exhaust problems during simple oil changes.

Fuel System. The aircraft fuel system is surprisingly low maintenance on most light aircraft provided you put good fuel in and sump your tanks before every flight. Make sure your shop inspects the intake and exhaust systems during routine oil changes. A small intake leak could go unnoticed for a long time until it causes a bigger issue. If your aircraft is powered by a Continental fuel injected engine be sure that your shop is performing a fuel system setup in accordance with TCM SID97-3C at each annual inspection. Improper fuel flow, especially at high power settings, can drastically shorten the life of your engine. Proper fuel system set-up combined with good engine compartment baffling should keep your cylinder heat temperatures at a manageable level.

Landing Gear. Of course tires should be checked for proper tread wear and inflation at each preflight. Keeping the tires at proper inflation will not only prolong their life but will make your life easier if you move your aircraft by hand. Each airplane has different landing gear and brake maintenance requirements. Some brake systems require attention each one-hundred flight hours and some require less attention. Pay attention to what the manufacturer recommends and discuss it with your maintenance provider. On any aircraft pay attention to the brakes during preflight and operations. If you notice anything different have the brakes looked at right away. An unexpected single brake failure can add some excitement to your flying routine that you don’t need.

A combination of thorough preflight inspections and a good preventive maintenance routine typically will pay for themselves over the life of your airplane. Develop a plan with your maintenance provider that matches your aircraft type and how it is used.

Shane Vande Voort is President of Classic Aviation, Inc., a fixed-base operator and factory-approved Cirrus Service Center in Pella, IA (PEA). Call 641-628-9393 or click here for addtional information about Classic Aviation.