Maintenance

In many cases, more than the existing weight and balance report shows. When in doubt, roll it up on the scales.

A properly rigged landing gear and frequent close inspections are keys to safety and longevity. DIY compass swings save shop labor.

The FAA says the task is fair game for aircraft owners, but there are installation traps that can have nasty consequences.

Sealing oil leaks that seep from an engine through-stud can be a challenge. But taming the heat buildup behind a tightly packed instrument panel is easy.

They over-spin, over-temp and sometimes ingest things they aren’t supposed to, but heat management and inspection are keys to longevity.

A newly overhauled Lycoming IO-360 with notably low fuel pressure needs logical troubleshooting, while a Cherokee has a nagging pitot/static system leak.

It can make a big difference in which way a fixed-pitch propeller is oriented on the engine, and a slaved HSI problem requires logical troubleshooting.

The metal flakes of aluminum showing up in oil samples from a Lycoming and poor VHF nav reception issues in a 172 are worth troubleshooting.

A Lycoming on a Skyhawk runs hot and the altitude reporting system in a Mooney is intermittently erroneous, getting the FAA’s attention.

Engine vibes on a Piper turbo Arrow and an autopilot tracking issue on a Bonanza require logical troubleshooting.

Savvy Aviation’s successful program that tracks digital engine monitor data to predict engine problems now includes borescope imagery.

A flat nosewheel strut on a Piper and noisy comm radios in a Cessna require some logical troubleshooting.