Part 24, Doing your own maintenance

[Rudix]

We had Pierre from RAASA (Wildthing on this forum) and Braam Hechter for CAA at our meeting last night and this is what they told us

An owner can do the maintenance on his own aircraft which includes replacing plugs, oil, filters, adjustment of carbs, replacing batteries, replacing nuts, bolts and wires etc. There is an AIC out, that he will post once he gets back to his office

The heavier stuff, like engine rebuilds should be done by an AP, suitably qualified person or AMO.

If you are the owner/builder of your aircraft you may do all the maintenance, repairs, rebuilds etc and inspect your aircraft yourself. You can only do this on your ownaircraft as long as you own it. Make the relevant entries in the logbook/flight folio, and where it asks for AP licence number write owner/builder

Note I am talking about Microlights and LSA. Not GA

Great news!

Thanks Morf, and thanks to Braam, Pierre and the rest of the team as well

Fly safe,
Rudi

[Tracer]

Thanks for the feedback Morph.

Will be great to see the AIC as well.......

[HENNING JOHAN]

THANKS,MORPH!MY LIFE JUST GOT EASIER NOW I CAN RESTORE MY AERIE AND GAIN TRUST IN MY WORKHORSE

[skybound®]

Excelent news. Well done to all involved in continuing the push to restore some sensibility to Part 24 aircraft.

Now wish they would post the AIC to make it all official.

[FO Gyro]

That's awesome news. At least some sense has prevailed.

I do think that is should be mandatory for every microlight/gyro/LSA owner should be made attend one of these line courses as part of the microlight or gyro licence.

[wiskeyfoxtrot]

Faaaaaaaaaaaantastic news,
Thanks Morph and all for the effort put into this,

[RudiGreyling]

<SNIP>
If you are the owner/builder of your aircraft you may do all the maintenance, repairs, rebuilds etc and inspect your aircraft yourself. You can only do this on your ownaircraft as long as you own it. Make the relevant entries in the logbook/flight folio, and where it asks for AP licence number write owner/builder

Note I am talking about Microlights and LSA. Not GA

Just a small correction...
Owner/builder and its privileges are an amateur builder thing and valid for GA as well.
I can do all of the above for my RV7 (GA PPL), but only on MY aircraft, NTCA non Commercial.
Groete
Rudi

[Morph]

Below is the proposed new regulation with regards to owner maintainance of NTCA.

Take note that this has passed the CARCOM process and has been published in the Government Gazette for public comment.

The regulation is currently lying with the Minister to sign at which time it will be promulgated.

This should be done soon if it has not already been done.

So it is not an AIC but is becoming part of the actual regulations, the current regs won’t have it in yet until Lexis Nexis publishes the next set of updates.



24.03.1 A (1) The owner of a non-type certificated aircraft may carry out maintainance on the aircraft, excluding the annual inspection referred to in regulation 24.03.2 provided that such aircraft is operated only in accordance with part 94 (Private) and not Part 96 of these regulations.

i.e. NTCA owners may maintain their own aircraft, change spark plugs and oil etc, providing it is not a repair or part of the annual inspection and used privately only not for training or flips etc.
The owner builder may inspect and repair his own aircraft that he built himself and obtained an ATF for that same aircraft.

Pierre Laubscher
RAASA

[skybound®]

Has anyone got confirmation that this section in fact made it to the gazette? Just searched through all gazettes back to June 2009 and found plenty aviation amendments like the incorporating Touring Motor Gliders into Part 62 - but zero on this important maintenance aspect.

What made me look for it? Below from CAA's Safety Newsletter November 2009:

Regarding aircraft safety, it is regrettable that some members of the
flying fraternity still believe that they can perform maintenance on
aircraft themselves, without the required approvals. Additionally, GASI is
advocating for the introduction of regulations that will make it a
mandatory requirement for Non Type Certificated Aircraft (NTCA) that
are being used for training to be serviced by an approved Aircraft
Maintenance Organisation. Although this is the current practice for
aircraft used for PPL training, GASI is recommending that this should be
incorporated to include all Light Sport Aircraft.

[redrocket]

Hi Guys
I have been flying and tinkering with microlights for years and picked up a lot of experience with these things. As the earlier years at Middelburg (Ludie and friends) has tought me. Engine outs will happen!!
New spark plugs also fail!
That little black piece of plastic that shot away when you cut the cable-tie, DID land inside your open feul tank and will cause feul starvation and a subsequent outlanding!
Those cable crimpers from Midas do overcrimp and the positive coil wire will come loose from the push-on lug and you will land between the mielies. (I soldered the buggers secure after crimping from then on after that incident!!)

I agree, change your own filters, plugs, bolts, rubbers etc.

BUT!!! BIG BUT!!
Even these simple things has torque settings and gaps and certain grade's.
If you are not certain ASK somebody else that has / had experience.
Read the manual every time you do things.
Go on an AP coarse if possible! I did mine with mr Matthews in Larry Eshner's hanger in the 90's, engines was not mentioned at length and think with experience gained by the powers in charge it would be an improved course nowadays and i will certainly again attend if possible. (Do misassa still run these courses???? )
2008 i was impressed with the Rotax man Andre Maartens at Aviation engines (Rhino park) when he sorted my engin problem and the prise was not at all expensive.

Regards
redrocket
aka Stephen Sales

PS: Dont get involved with an idiot because he will drag you down with experience and convince you!!!

[skybound®]

Has anyone got confirmation that this section in fact made it to the gazette? Just searched through all gazettes back to June 2009 and found plenty aviation amendments like the incorporating Touring Motor Gliders into Part 62 - but zero on this important maintenance aspect.

What made me look for it? Below from CAA's Safety Newsletter November 2009:

Regarding aircraft safety, it is regrettable that some members of the
flying fraternity still believe that they can perform maintenance on
aircraft themselves, without the required approvals. Additionally, GASI is
advocating for the introduction of regulations that will make it a
mandatory requirement for Non Type Certificated Aircraft (NTCA) that
are being used for training to be serviced by an approved Aircraft
Maintenance Organisation. Although this is the current practice for
aircraft used for PPL training, GASI is recommending that this should be
incorporated to include all Light Sport Aircraft.

Bump - anyone have that gazette number yet or have a link to it?

[JvTonder]

Must agree with redrocket Andre at Rhino is a wizz with Rotax motors and price is not to bad.

Jaco

[KFA]

Colin Jordaan wrote:
Regarding aircraft safety, it is regrettable that some members of the
flying fraternity still believe that they can perform maintenance on
aircraft themselves, without the required approvals. Additionally, GASI is
advocating for the introduction of regulations that will make it a
mandatory requirement for Non Type Certificated Aircraft (NTCA) that
are being used for training to be serviced by an approved Aircraft
Maintenance Organisation. Although this is the current practice for
aircraft used for PPL training, GASI is recommending that this should be
incorporated to include all Light Sport Aircraft.

What's the latest regarding this. Does this mean that an AP can not service school planes?

[skybound®]

It has been confirmed that the proposed amendment allowing owner maintenance was withdrawn - so anyone doing their own maintenance is outside of the current regulations. Not good news.

<<Edit>>

Small correction:
so anyone doing their own maintenance, without the necessary AP/AME ratings etc, is outside of the current regulations.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

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