OWNER MAINTENANCE

[coastwise]

Needing my AP to do 50 hour inspection on trike I contacted him and was told that I can do the 50 hour inspection myself. Questioned him about it, because as far as I am aware we are no longer allowed to do any maintenance ourselves. He contacted CAA to confirm and came back to me that we can do maintenance according to CAA, stating that I read CATS 43.02.1.

43.02.2 PERSONS TO CARRY OUT MAINTENANCE [43.02.1]

1. Pilots

The maintenance that the holder of a pilot licence, other than a student pilot licence or learners certificate, with appropriate rating issued in terms of Part 61 or Part 62 may carry out is limited to the following items on an aeroplane with a maximum certified mass of 5700kg or less or a maximum approved passenger seating configuration of nine seats or a helicopter with a maximum certified mass of 3175kg or less or a maximum approved passenger seating configuration of nine seats:

(1) Emergency/en route maintenance comprising of the following, provided that only approved materials, parts and components are used:

(a) changing of tyres and tubes and repairing punctures;
(b) servicing landing gear shock struts with air;
(c) correcting defective locking wire and split pins;
(d) replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid reservoir;
(e) small simple repairs to fairings, non-structural cover plates and cowlings by means of stop drilling cracks and fitting small patches or reinforcements which will not change contours or interfere with proper airflow;
(f) replacing side windows where such work does not interfere with the primary system;
(g) replacing safety belts;
(h) replacing seats or seat parts where such work does not involve any removal, dismantling or interference with a primary structure system;
(i) replacing pre-fabricated fuel and oil lines, provided that a fuel flow check is carried out in accordance with TS 43.02.8, Section A.2(6) "fuel flow checks";
(j) replacing any electrical bulb, reflector, lens or fuse of navigation and landing lights;
(k) replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting spark plug gaps;
(l) cleaning fuel and oil strainers;
(m) replacing batteries and checking fluild level and specific gravity;
(n) replacing tail wheels and tail wheel springs;
(o) changing engine oil;
(p) removing and installing such dual controls as is designed for easy removal and installation;
(q) replacing the following instruments by others of the same type which have such markings as may be indicated in the appropriate owners manual:
(i) airspeed indicator;
(ii) altimeter;
(iii) engine speed indicator for each engine;
(iv) oil pressure guage for each engine; and
(v) fuel contents guage.
Provided that a pitot static check is carried out in accordance with TS 43.02.9 for subparagraphs (i) and (ii) above;

(2) Whenever it is necessary to carry out maintenance of this nature, the pilot must :-

(a) notify the aircraft maintenance organisation or aircraft maintenance engineer normally responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft to assist in:-
(i) supplying parts, if required;
(ii) giving technical advice;
(iii) supplying maintenance publications, where required, and

(b) ensure that any maintenance work done, is correctly recorded in the aircraft flight folio, including particulars of:-
(i) maintenance publications referred to;
(ii) parts replaced (serial numbers where applicable);
(iii) parts repaired; and
(iv) tests carried out (if applicable).

(3) Entries in the aircraft flight folio must be accompanied by the pilot's signature, licence number and the date of the entry.

(4) Unless the pilot is the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence with an appropriate rating, such pilots may on no account sign an aircraft logbook in the
colomn intended for the signature of the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence or aircraft maintenance organisation approval.


This information is as published in the CATS updated 15-12-2008. (Page 605)

[Gyronaut]

Good to know this, thanks Coastwise.

[The Agent]

And I thought one is not allowed to touch anything on the a/c, good to know.

[skybound®]

Sorry - doubting Thomas coming through again

(1) Emergency/en route maintenance comprising ....

You can do it - but only if it qualifies as in (1).

4) Unless the pilot is the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence with an appropriate rating, such pilots may on no account sign an aircraft logbook....

It may be that the AP is comfortable that you do it 'under his direct supervision' and he will sign out the logbook as such. Also remember that it is not deemed as done until that signature is in the logbook.

If any person at CAA telephonically or otherwise mentions that the above regulation is no longer valid, or has been relaxed, request the applicable AIC reference or anything signed by the commissioner to prove it so.

[diver]

My AP says the same thing. The long list above sounds good but it is preceded by "(1) Emergency/en route maintenance comprising of the following, provided that only approved materials, parts and components are used:"

I don't see anything about routine maintenance. So where does it actually say we can do inspections without an AP? I hope somebody can resolve this.

[John Boucher]

So, do you have an AP in your back pocket? To me en-route means your normal flying routine.

eg. I was routing back to my home field when I suddenly realised this or that had to be done....

[skybound®]

So, do you have an AP in your back pocket? To me en-route means your normal flying routine.

eg. I was routing back to my home field when I suddenly realised this or that had to be done....

End of the day, you have to satisfy the AP that it has been done and properly as he will have to sign the logbook (take responsibility). The acid test again will be when something goes wrong.

[coastwise]

Hi Skybound

You probably know the AP I deal with, as he is from Port Elizabeth. You may have to use an AP if you have them in your backyard, but for some of us it costs more to get the AP to where we are based in traveling costs than the actual inspection.

The AP I use contacted CAA this week to find out if he had to do the inspection or if I could do it.

[skybound®]

Absolutely Coastwise. I have no reason to doubt what the AP has been told by the CAA - I mean it is basic common sense that the regulations were far too restrictive and the CAA are probably being more lenient on the 'day to day' stuff. If this is what is coming out of CAA - it is probably time someone struck while the iron is hot and got them to change the reg so that we could not only do it on the sensible side, but legally too .