Maintenance: General

Required Information and Documentation

To do any maintenance, the FARs require that you have the manufacturer's current maintenance instructions. These would include the airframe maintenance manual, the illustrated parts catalog, and other service publications such as service bulletins, service letters, etc. However the airframe manufacturer didn't make all the parts that are on the plane. The engine manufacturer has their own set of manuals, as do many accessory manufacturers. Having the manual for the magneto or the brakes and wheels is just as important when working on those accessories as is having the engine or airframe manuals.

Logbooks and Recording

The minimum requirements for logging work done on an aircraft or accessory is detailed in FAR 43.9. A log entry must include a brief description of the work performed, the date the work was completed, the name of the person that performed the work -- if different than the one making the log entry, the name, certificate number and type of the person making the entry and of course the signature, which the FAA says constitutes the approval for return to service.