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AOPA's Pilot Information Center has received several inquiries concerning Airworthiness Directives (ADs) this week. Since this is a recurring topic of inquiry I thought it would be good to open up a topic where it can be discussed and information could be shared. Here's some basic information to start this off:
At the simplest terms an Airworthiness Directive is:
"A regulatory notice sent out by the FAA to the registered owner of an aircraft informing the owner of a ... more
At the simplest terms an Airworthiness Directive is:
"A regulatory notice sent out by the FAA to the registered owner of an aircraft informing the owner of a ... more
Scudrunner At AOPA
Mar '22
Don't forget that RGL is being sunsetted mid year sometime in favor of DRS.
Continental 0-470-S engine is nearing time for overhaul. I own a car repair business and we been using a machine shop for decades to overhaul our car engines. Can they do the overhaul or does it have to go to a FAA certified machine shop?
Matt
Matt
Scudrunner At AOPA
Mar '20
Hi Matthew
An A&P mechanic that is experienced with engine overhauls can potentially work with a machine shop to use their equipment to do dimension checking, but I would definitely send components like the case, rods, crank and cam to a certified shop. There is no way I'm aware of that a shop that is unfamiliar with Continental's prescribed grinding, polishing, ultrasonic and magnaflux processes can get those items checked and reworked in the correct way.
The A&P that is overhauling your engine should be in full control of all "outsourced" processes
Also, bear in mind that TBO is a manufacturer's recommendation and not a hard limit, unless you are providing the aircraft for hire.
An A&P mechanic that is experienced with engine overhauls can potentially work with a machine shop to use their equipment to do dimension checking, but I would definitely send components like the case, rods, crank and cam to a certified shop. There is no way I'm aware of that a shop that is unfamiliar with Continental's prescribed grinding, polishing, ultrasonic and magnaflux processes can get those items checked and reworked in the correct way.
The A&P that is overhauling your engine should be in full control of all "outsourced" processes
Also, bear in mind that TBO is a manufacturer's recommendation and not a hard limit, unless you are providing the aircraft for hire.
Can I do my own airplane maintenance?
Scudrunner At AOPA
Feb '20
You can perform certain maintenance operations. They are listed under Appendix ""A"" of FAR43.
(c) Preventive maintenance. 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.
(2) Replacing elastic shock absorber cords on landing gear.
(3) Servicing landing gear shock struts by adding oil, air, or both.
(4) Servicing landing gear wheel bearings, such as cleaning and greasing.
(5) Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys.
(6) Lubrication not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings.
(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.
(8) Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic reservoir.
(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.
(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 air flow.
(13) Replacing side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or any operating system such as controls, electrical equipment, etc.
(14) Replacing safety belts.
(15) Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system.
(16) Trouble shooting and repairing broken circuits in landing light wiring circuits.
(17) Replacing bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of position and landing lights.
(18) Replacing wheels and skis where no weight and balance computation is involved.
(19) Replacing any cowling not requiring removal of the propeller or disconnection of flight controls.
(20) Replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting of spark plug gap clearance.
(21) Replacing any hose connection except hydraulic connections.
(22) Replacing prefabricated fuel lines.
(23) Cleaning or replacing fuel and oil strainers or filter elements.
(24) Replacing and servicing batteries.
(25) Cleaning of balloon burner pilot and main nozzles in accordance with the balloon manufacturer's instructions.
(26) Replacement or adjustment of nonstructural standard fasteners incidental to operations.
(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 certificiate 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.
(29) Removing, checking, and replacing magnetic chip detectors.
(c) Preventive maintenance. 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.
(2) Replacing elastic shock absorber cords on landing gear.
(3) Servicing landing gear shock struts by adding oil, air, or both.
(4) Servicing landing gear wheel bearings, such as cleaning and greasing.
(5) Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys.
(6) Lubrication not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings.
(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.
(8) Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic reservoir.
(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.
(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 air flow.
(13) Replacing side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or any operating system such as controls, electrical equipment, etc.
(14) Replacing safety belts.
(15) Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system.
(16) Trouble shooting and repairing broken circuits in landing light wiring circuits.
(17) Replacing bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of position and landing lights.
(18) Replacing wheels and skis where no weight and balance computation is involved.
(19) Replacing any cowling not requiring removal of the propeller or disconnection of flight controls.
(20) Replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting of spark plug gap clearance.
(21) Replacing any hose connection except hydraulic connections.
(22) Replacing prefabricated fuel lines.
(23) Cleaning or replacing fuel and oil strainers or filter elements.
(24) Replacing and servicing batteries.
(25) Cleaning of balloon burner pilot and main nozzles in accordance with the balloon manufacturer's instructions.
(26) Replacement or adjustment of nonstructural standard fasteners incidental to operations.
(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 certificiate 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.
(29) Removing, checking, and replacing magnetic chip detectors.
What is an experimental airplane?
Scudrunner At AOPA
Feb '20
An Experimental Airplane is an aircraft that does not conform to an FAA approved type certificate design.
The majority of these aircraft are Amateur built (homebuilt) aircraft. There are other categories too, like exhibition for ex-military airplanes and Research and Development for aircraft that must be flown to show compliance prior to certification. There are a few more sub-categories for Crew Training Aircraft, Market Survey Aircraft, Air Racing Aircraftand Aircraft Showing compliance with regulations.
The majority of these aircraft are Amateur built (homebuilt) aircraft. There are other categories too, like exhibition for ex-military airplanes and Research and Development for aircraft that must be flown to show compliance prior to certification. There are a few more sub-categories for Crew Training Aircraft, Market Survey Aircraft, Air Racing Aircraftand Aircraft Showing compliance with regulations.
Are all planes rated for aerobatics?
Scudrunner At AOPA
Feb '20
No. There are three distinct categories of load factor (G loading tolerance) designs.
Normal category and commuter category airplanes, G loading from -1.52 to 3.8 G's
Utility category airplanes, G loading from -1.76 to 4.4 G's
Acrobatic category airplanes, G loading from -3.0 to 6.0
Normal category and commuter category airplanes, G loading from -1.52 to 3.8 G's
Utility category airplanes, G loading from -1.76 to 4.4 G's
Acrobatic category airplanes, G loading from -3.0 to 6.0