Preventative Maintenance

Question 1

You are a Private Pilot. Your nose wheel tire is entirely worn down. Can you replace it?

Answer 1

Yes.

Question 2

You are a Private Pilot. Your last landing snapped the shock absorber cord on your left main gear. Can you replace it?

Answer 2

Yes.

Question 3

You are a Private Pilot. You hit a fish and it put a small hole in the middle of your wing. Can you fix it? No rib stitching or removal of parts required.

Answer 3

Yes.

Question 4

You are a Private Pilot. You fall on your fabric covered wing and damage the fabric in an area that’s greater than 6 inches. Can you fix it?

Answer 4

No. This is a major repair according to Part 43 Appendix A (b)(1)(xxii).

Question 5

You are a Private Pilot. Your main gear strut looks a little low. Can you add oil to it?

Answer 5

Yes.

Question 6

You are a Private Pilot. You notice one of your main gear wheels is squeeky. Can you add grease to it?

Answer 6

Yes.

Question 7

You are a Private Pilot. You notice you are missing safety wire on your fuel sump. Can you replace it?

Answer 7

Yes.

Question 8

You are a Private Pilot. The ailerons feel a little stiff. Can you open up the inspection panel and apply lubrication to the pulleys?

Answer 8

Yes.

Question 9

You are a Student Pilot. You notice your hydraulic fluid is a little low before a solo. Can you refill it?

Answer 9

No. Part 43.7.

Question 10

You are a private pilot. You send your dad who is good with fabric to redo the seat fabric of your aircraft? Is this allowed?

Answer 10

Not unless your dad is at least a private pilot.

Question 11

What record entries are required when doing preventative maintenance?

Answer 11

Description of work performed, date work was completed, name (if different than person approving for return to service), and the signature, certificate number, and kind of certificate held of the person approving it for return to service.

Question 12

You are a priate pilot. You notice one of your inspection panels vibrate a lot on the wing. Can you reinforce the panel?

Answer 12

Yes, provided you do not change the contour to interfere with proper airflow.

Question 13

You are a Private Pilot. You find a major scratch in your front windscreen. Can you replace it?

Answer 13

No. You can replace SIDE windows, provided it does not interfere with other systems or the structure. 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix A(c)(13)

Question 14

You are a Private Pilot. You notice a very large crack in your left window. Can you replace it?

Answer 14

Yes, provided it does not interfere with the structure or any system.

Question 15

You are a Recreational Pilot. You destroy your seat belt buckle. Can you replace the belt?

Answer 15

No. You need to be at least a Private Pilot, but if you were you would be able to.

Question 16

Are you allowed to replace any bulb that has a flashing light?

Answer 16

Nope! Blinking lights are anti collision

Question 17

You put your headset on the dash and scratched the windshield. Can you replace it?

Answer 17

No, because it’s a front window

Question 18

You are conducting a night cross when your Landing and strobe lights fail. After landing you replace the bulbs however that doesn’t fix it. Can you try to fix the wiring, and was replacing the bulbs legal?

Answer 18

You can only trouble shoot the wiring for landing lights

Question 19

Oh no! One of your hydraulic hose connections broke so you run over to the hardware store to get a new one and replace it. Is this legal?

Answer 19

No, can’t do hydraulic hose connections