top 10 tips for maintainers Engine failure or malfunction events continue to be one of the most common occurrence types reported to RAAus. As an RAAus maintainer, it is essential that maintenance is carried out regularly and as per the manufacturer’s aircraft maintenance manual. Here are some top tips to ensure your maintenance is up to standard in order to prevent avoidable failures from occurring to you! 1. Scheduled maintenance Scheduled maintenance is essential in taking preventative measures to maintain safe operation of an aircraft and is performed at regular intervals including 25 hourly, 50 hourly, 100 hourly and annual inspections. It is essential that scheduled maintenance is carried out in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual not extending the required intervals. Remember, an annual inspection must be completed no later than 12 months from your last annual or 100 hourly inspection, even if the aircraft has completed less than 100 hours. 2. S ervice bulletins Aircraft and engine manufacturers regularly issue service bulletins based on data collected from occurrences or identified safety concerns. Service bulletins are vital in ensuring the continued safe operation of your aircraft and should be checked when conducting scheduled maintenance. Make sure you are listed with your local aircraft distributer to stay up to date on notices relevant to your aircraft. 3. U nscheduled maintenance From time to time, pilots or maintainers will identify a component that has failed or is identified as being close to failure. Pilots and maintainers must regularly inspect aircraft for any unscheduled maintenance that may be required over and above that included within the routine maintenance schedule. Maintainers may take the opportunity to conduct maintenance over and above that required within the maintenance manual in order to prevent component failure. This is even more important for aircraft that are flying regularly or used for the conduct of flight training. 4. L anding gear inspections Due to the weight limitations of LSA and RAAus aircraft, components are built in order to minimise weight wherever possible. One of the most common failures reported to RAAus is undercarriage failure which may result in significant damage to an aircraft. Maintainers should pay particularly close attention to inspecting the undercarriage of their aircraft in an attempt to identify signs of potential failure. Aircraft owners should consider routine replacement of undercarriage parts, even if this is not required within the maintenance manual, particularly on aging aircraft with a high number of landings and/or hours or aircraft used within a flight training school. 5. O il filter inspection Routinely inspecting aircraft oil filters at time of replacement is a way of identifying potential engine concerns prior to an engine failure occurring. During this process, the oil filter is cut open to inspect the oil filter for metal fragments which may indicate excessive engine wear. Oil filter cutters may be purchase by local aircraft supply companies and is a quick way of identifying engine concerns before they become a problem.
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