Aviation Maintenance

Introduction

Maintenance can be accomplished by an A&P or by a pilot
When conducted by a pilot, it is goverend by the limits of what is considered preventative maintenance
When heavy maintenance by an A&P is conducted, it requires compliance be records in an aircraft logbook
Documentation can be broken into six main groups:
- Airframe records and documents
- Powerplant records and documents
- Propeller records and documents
- Avionics records and documents
- Accessories records and documents (if contained separately)
- AD Compliance records

Owner-produced parts are authorized as outlined in AC 20-62 and regulated in FAR 21.9
- Owners must specifically be the producer, but not necessarily the manufacturer
The part must first be properly designed, conforming to the original manufacturing specifications
The part must next conform to the design, meaning the part was produced with the same materials in the same way and tested to the same standards
Next, parts must be documented with receipts and traceability information included
Finally, the part must be maintained
According to the AOPA, the FAA requires that the aircraft owner participate in the manufacture of the part in one of five ways:
- The owner provides the manufacturer of the part with the design or performance data
- The owner provides the manufacturer of the part with the materials
- The owner provides the manufacturer with fabrication processes or assembly methods
- The owner provides the manufacturer of the part with quality control procedures
- The owner personally supervises the manufacture of the new part