Top Ten Maintenance Principles for Safe Flying. Ensure the Best – And Always Test.

Top Ten Maintenance Principles for Safe Flying

Top Ten Maintenance Principles for Safe Flying, By Steve Wightman 

Now on the final lap of annual maintenance, I recall something I learned in aircraft Repairman school long ago: preventive maintenance, PM. Simply said, the latter is a process of identifying, repairing, and replacing parts prone to fail before they do. Although many parts may have survived the next Annual, is ignoring them worth the risk? One of my maintenance instructors often reminded the class that airplanes, unlike cars; cannot just “pullovers.” Maintenance-wise, this means every flight, day, or night, must go from point A to point B and beyond without incident. That is a tough standard, but PM – though not perfect, goes a long way to meet this challenge. The following are some principles I follow as Repairman to keep my Seawind ship in top form. 

1. Focus on critical areas first. These are areas that can cause personal injuries or damage to the airplane. Examples are engine, flight control and landing gear failure. These areas of performance get my full attention and scrutiny. 

1. If the condition of a part or a performance process is in doubt, I will fix it now. For instance: when I found dirt in my hydraulic reservoir, I flushed it and replaced the fluid. I then tested the flaps and landing gear to ensure these hydraulic systems worked fine.  

1. Ensure that all systems perform to standard. For example, the hydraulic pressure in N71RJ should reach 1500 PSI AND hold there if no further action. A pressure decline would indicate leakage. 

1. Follow a checklist for every maintenance task (required by regulations). This way nothing is missed. 

1. Follow manufacturer maintenance practices. Use references for the best procedures. I use parts and manuals from Pratt & Whitney, MT propeller, and the Seawind airframe builder’s guide to ensure I perform all procedures correctly. 

1. Record all faults and corrections completed in aircraft logbooks (required by regulation). 

1. Replace parts with better ones where feasible. Example: I replaced a 500 GPH bilge pump with an 800 GPH water-sensing pump. I am confident that it can evacuate 160% more water than the old pump and keep my ship dry on all on-water operations. 

1. Seek support when a problem is not solved locally. For example, if I have an avionics problem, I refer to a repair ship. This area is beyond my level of competence. 

1. Use photography to see remote areas my eyes cannot reach. Example: I employed my I-phone on a stick to flash-photograph the water rudder control assembly deep in the inside tail section to inspect cable and turnbuckle condition.  

1. Use camera technology to backup monitor critical functions such as the nose gear position. WiFi cameras are now inexpensive and easier than ever to set up. They can be a lifesaver in emergencies. I recall having the nose gear stuck in the up position many times to date because it was hung up on the good wall. Each time I was able to center it with the camera as if I were peering into the well itself. This prevented a nosewheel up landing, ugh!  

So, there you have it. A comprehensive and transparent maintenance schedule is my best way to ensure a continued safe flight. 

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