Pilot Owner Maintenance

Pilot Owner Maintenance is a process detailed within Part ML (the maintenance rules applicable to Part 21 sailplanes) within which pilot owners are entitled to carry out and certify limited maintenance tasks on their aircraft. The limitation detail is described in Part ML here. 

Refer also to CS-STAN, as adopted by the UK, which describes several maintenance task standards that may not require certification by an inspector. If in doubt, please refer to an experienced BGA inspector.

From time to time, BGA facilitated pilot owner maintenance seminars are available. Check availability and book here.

Examples of limited pilot owner maintenance include:

General:

• Weighing: Recalculation – Small changes of the trim plan without needing a reweighing.
• Tow release unit: Cleaning, lubrication and replacement of unit not involving disassembly of any primary structure, control system or additional adjusting.
• Radio: Replacement of VHF communication equipment, being equipment which is not combined with navigation equipment.
• Placards: Installation and renewal of placards and markings required by AFM and AMM.
• Lubrication: Not requiring a disassembly other than non structural items such as cover plates, cowlings and fairings.
• Safety Wiring: Replacement of defective wiring or cotter keys (split pins) excluding flight or engine control systems
• Fasteners: Simple non structural standard fasteners replacement and adjustment, excluding the replacement of receptacles and anchor nuts requiring riveting.
• Free play: Measurement of the free play in the control system and the wing to fuselage attachment including minor adjustments by simple means provided by the manufacturer.

Electrics:

• Replacement and servicing of batteries and solar panels.
• Installation of simple wiring connections to the existing wiring for additional equipment such as electric variometers, flight computers but excluding communication, navigation systems and engine wiring.
• Repairing broken circuits in landing light and any other wiring for non critical equipment, excluding ignition system, primary generating system and required communication, navigation system and primary flight instruments.
• Replacement of broken bonding cable.
• Switch replacement without soldering.
• Fuse replacement with the correct rating.

Seats and harnesses:

• Replacement of safety belt and harnesses.
• Replacement of seats or seat parts not involving disassembly of any primary structure or control system.

Equipment:

• Replacement of self contained, front instrument panel mount equipment with quick disconnect connectors.
• Removal and installation of non required instruments and/or equipment.
• Bug wiper servicing, removal and re-installation not involving disassembly or modification of any primary structure, control
• Static probes removal or re -installation
• Oxygen bottle and system replacement.
• Air Brake chute installation and servicing
• ELT removal / re-installation.

Controls:

• Gap seal installation and servicing if it does not require complete flight control removal.
• Measurement of the control system travel without removing the control surfaces.
• Control cable simple optical inspection for condition.
• Gas dampener replacement of in the control or air brake system.
• Co-pilot stick and pedals removal or re-installation where provision for quick disconnect is made by design.

Instruments:

• Instrument panel removal and re-installation provided this is a design feature with quick disconnect, excluding IFR operations.
• Pitot static system simple sense and leak check.
• Instrument panel vibration damper / shock absorbers replacement.
• Drainage of water drainage traps or filters within the Pitot static system.
• Replacement of damaged flexible tubes.

Landing gear:

• Wheels removal, replacement and servicing, including replacement of wheel bearings and lubrication.
• Hydraulic fluid replenishment such as brake fluid.
• Shock Absorber replacement or servicing of elastic cords or rubber dampers.
• Shock struts replenishment of oil or air.
• Landing gear doors removal or re-installation and repair including operating straps.
• Skids removal or re-installation and servicing of main, wing and tail skids.
• Wheels fairing (spats) removal and re-installation.
• Mechanical brakes adjustment of simple cable operated systems.
• Brake pad replacement
• Springs replacement
• Gear warning removal or re -installation

Navigation:

• Software updating front instrument panel mount navigational software databases, excluding automatic flight control systems and transponders and including update of non required
  instruments / equipment.
• Navigation devices removal and replacement of self contained, front instrument panel mount navigation devices with quick disconnect connectors, excluding automatic flight control systems, transponders, primary flight control system.
• Self contained data logger installation and data restoration.

Structure:

• Fabric patches extending over not more than one rib, not requiring rib stitching or removal of structural parts or control surfaces.
• Protective Coating applying preservative material or coatings where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved. Excludes painting of aircraft.
• Surface finish minor restoration where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved This includes application of signal coatings or thin foils as well as registration markings. Excluded painting of aircraft.
• Fairings and cover plates simple repairs where non structural which do not change the contour.

Wings:

• Wing skid removal or re-installation and service of lower wing skids or wing roller including spring assembly.
• Water ballast removal or re-installation of flexible tanks.
• Turbulator and sealing tapes removal or re-installation of approved sealing tapes and turbulator tapes.

Limited pilot owner maintenance also applies to powerplants and fuel systems.

If in doubt, please refer to an appropriately experienced BGA inspector before attempting pilot owner maintenance.