Aircraft Maintenance: Preparing for summer travel
With EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin around the corner, thousands of pilots are preparing to take their aircraft on long cross country trips. Inevitably, some of those pilots will find themselves facing a challenging maintenance issue far from home. Preparation is the key here, and a little advance planning can go a long way toward reducing your risk and salvaging your trip. Here are some of the most important do's and don'ts for your next cross-country adventure:
Pre-travel maintenance
- Look for fluid leaks, exhaust integrity and leaks, engine and flight control issues, and other signs of trouble.
- Enlist your local mechanic to perform a quick once-over, because a second set of eyes is always a good thing.
- Use a borescope to inspect cylinders to ensure that the exhaust valves don’t show any signs of impending failure.
- Capacity-test the battery if it has not been checked recently.
- Test every system, from the engine to the avionics, to ensure everything is working as it should.
DO ensure that all basic, routine maintenance has been completed:
- Change the oil if it is due, or will become overdue during your trip.
- Check and clean the spark plugs, especially if they frequently get lead-fouled in your aircraft.
- Ensure that tire pressures are correct, the treads are airworthy, and struts are performing properly.
- Charge the battery.
- Clean the aircraft inside and out, including the windows.
DO perform a final “shakeout flight” after any pre-travel maintenance to ensure there are no leaks or surprises.
DON’T perform any major maintenance or parts changes:
- Major maintenance work that affects critical systems such as magnetos, alternators, or cylinders can introduce unnecessary risk if performed just prior to a long trip.
- Avoid making extended trips before putting significant flight hours on any newly installed or repaired components.
Packing for success
DO bring a “fly-away” tool kit for the most common tasks you may need to perform away from home:
- Tools for tire and tube changes.
- Tools for spark plug removal, cleaning, and installation.
- A small multimeter.
- Basic set of wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, and files for propeller nicks.
DO bring commonly needed supplies and spares for your aircraft:
- Engine oil, grease, and any other regularly used lubricants.
- Spare spark plugs and gaskets.
- Bulbs and fuses that fit your aircraft.
- Spare tubes for your tires.
- Safety wire, zip ties, spare electrical connectors, electrical wire, and anything else appropriate to your aircraft.
- Aircraft cleaning supplies.
- Aircraft maintenance manuals, illustrated parts catalog, and parts/maintenance sources (preferably digital).
- First-aid and survival gear, including food/water, communication devices, charging devices, flashlights, and emergency location devices.
DON’T pack the aircraft in an unsafe manner:
- Ensure the aircraft is loaded within its weight and balance limits.
- Pack and tie down all cargo safely, ensuring it will not become a safety risk in turbulence or during an emergency landing.
- Keep all emergency gear within easy reach in flight.
Flying beyond the local $100 hamburger and striking out on a multiday adventure is one of the greatest experiences you can have in general aviation. In my experience, having the right tools and supplies for most away-from-home maintenance tasks is the best way to ensure you don’t have to use them. So, pack thoughtfully, and I hope to see you in person at AirVenture! Until next time, I hope you and your families remain safe and healthy, and I wish you blue skies.
