Manned Aircraft Maintenance Cycles

[Fedguy]

If you use your aircraft commercially then the 100 hour inspection is required. In general aviation...the commercially generally means hauling passengers or leasing out your a/c. I would be real surprised if the FAA would require a 100 hr on a (small) drone. Maybe nice to do but not a regulation. An approved maintenance program (FAA approved) generally called a progressive maintenance program....can take the place of doing annual inspections (12 month). Not sure how the FAA looks at this aspect as it may apply to drones.

 

[ArrUnTuS]

I don't know what the FAA is asking but I'll tell you what AESA is asking.

1. Recording of the flights performed and flight time of each one
2. Recording of deficiencies before and during flight
3. Recording of significant security events
4. Recording of inspections, maintenance and replacement of parts carried out, including the ground station
5. Aeronautical security study of each type of flight to be performed
   
6. Every 3 months, make at least 3 flights, normal or training, with each category of drone (weighing 0-5kg/5-15kg/15-25kg) and by type of drone, multirotors, fixed wing, etc.
   
7. Annually to make a flight of training for each category of flight and for each type of flight that can be carried out.
   
8. Recording of all flights of the two previous points.

The maintenance program, previous flight, post-flight, monthly, semi-annual, annual reviews.............................................................................

Almost all of the previous points are new to the new regulatory change that was approved at the end of December. As you can see from the lack of paperwork, it won't be.........

I'm afraid that the trend will be towards how it is done on manned flights and will extend to all countries these practices

 

[Fedguy]

I think surely the key word here is "Manned". Not many drones are manned ...right now. I guess there are some....and many more to come. I can see the FAA being very concerned about those flights...and more so if those flights are operated commercially...i.e. for hire.

 

[FatherXmas]

I support and adopt The Editor's comments and note that brushless motors have no moving parts except the bearings and would only
ad one thing regarding maintaining motors which is that I oil them with special oil used by drone racers.
I bought it from Banggood (see photo) and comes with a needle and cerringe which makes it easy. Cheers John

Does anyone in the USA oil their motors? If so what do you use and where did you get it?

 

[Wilson Lake Drone]

I take off and land using an old door mat that I was going to throw away. It didn't look bad but I was ready to replace it. I put in the bed of my truck that has a tonneau cover that keeps it dry. This works well taking off from grass or dirt. Just an idea.

 

[FatherXmas]

I take off and land using an old door mat that I was going to throw away. It didn't look bad but I was ready to replace it. I put in the bed of my truck that has a tonneau cover that keeps it dry. This works well taking off from grass or dirt. Just an idea.

Exactly what I do except I bought a new welcome mat at Walmart. It works great, the design on it gives precision RTH a good target plus it's heavy enough it doesn't need to be staked down to keep it from blowing away.

 

[Mike Nevins]

I don't know if this is off topic or not, but would be interested in what others are doing with their batteries? Any deep cycle refresh? If so how are you doing it? My flight program (Skyward) keeps track of my battery history, at least in part. Any thoughts? Here's a pic:

 

[ArrUnTuS]

I don't know if this is off topic or not, but would be interested in what others are doing with their batteries? Any deep cycle refresh? If so how are you doing it? My flight program (Skyward) keeps track of my battery history, at least in part. Any thoughts? Here's a pic:

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Thanks, Mike. I didn't know about this kind of program. We are being asked for more and more paperwork and I think the subject is important.

I've created a thread of this. See if we can get more information and see what different programs are available.

Maintenance and Flight Management

 

[Deleted member 98]

I’d like to add some things to my checklist on the monthly check for BATTERIES. What would you want to track?

 

[ArrUnTuS]

I’d like to add some things to my checklist on the monthly check for BATTERIES. What would you want to track?

if you ask me, I've opened a thread about these kinds of programs.

Maintenance and Flight Management

 

[Redrat100]

I don't know if this is off topic or not, but would be interested in what others are doing with their batteries? Any deep cycle refresh? If so how are you doing it? My flight program (Skyward) keeps track of my battery history, at least in part. Any thoughts?

Battery management is a big deal and is worthy of a new discussion thread.

I have 6 batteries for one of my practice quads. I marked each battery with a marker with different letters (A, B, C etc). After they are charged I put a rubber band around them to keep from getting them mixed up with dead batteries. The rubber band comes off before flight since it won't fit in the aircraft with it on. After I'm done flying I keep track of the charge cycles in my flight logbook. I suppose a better place to keep track of this would be an aircraft logbook. Red

 

[Redrat100]

To kick this off I thought I would post about Manned Aircraft maintenance cycles. I think I saw that there is an A&P here so they can tell you more than I as a pilot can.
Basically, commercial general aviation aircraft (part 91) have the following maintenance cycles
100 hour inspection - performed every 100 hours of flight time
Annual Inspection - performed every 12 calendar months...
In 2008 I was part of a team that got a drone FAA-certified, and we had a 25-hour maintenance cycle (so we did the 100-hour every 25 hours). We had a gas engine at the time so it made sense...
Taking this info, what can we create that is comparable to the Manned Aircraft cycles, but also cost-effective for us?

Since we all are, or are aspiring to be, commercial drone operators we fall under 14 CFR Part 107. As an A&P I can tell you that Parts 91 and 135 do not apply to drones.

Chapter 7 in Advisory Circular 107-2 outlines required maintenance for sUAS aircraft. Par. 7.3.4 gives a suggested pre-flight checklist. Appendix C gives a best practice scheduled inspection checklist.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_107-2.pdf

As with manned aircraft, AC 107.2 defers scheduled maintenance to the aircraft manufacturer. Par. 7.2 states, “Whenever possible, the operator should maintain the sUAS and its components in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. The aircraft manufacturer may provide the maintenance program, or, if one is not provided, the applicant may choose to develop one”.

It does not specify a time-in-service limit for scheduled maintenance but again defers to the aircraft manufacturer. If the aircraft manufacturer does not provide one then it is up to the operator. IMHO, as colinjfischer posted, I think a 25 hour inspection interval is a good place to start.

Hope this helps, Red

 

[embayweather]

There is no such whisper at the moment on this side of the pond, about maintenance and recording requirements. However, on a personal basis I believe it is very important to do and make it help keeping the craft safe and airworthy. I keep records of all types of maintenance as well as aircraft checks before and after flights, the equivalent of a walk around the craft. I know it’s not far but I hope you know what 8 mean lol.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Since we all are, or are aspiring to be, commercial drone operators we fall under 14 CFR Part 107. As an A&P I can tell you that Parts 91 and 135 do not apply to drones.

Chapter 7 in Advisory Circular 107-2 outlines required maintenance for sUAS aircraft. Par. 7.3.4 gives a suggested pre-flight checklist. Appendix C gives a best practice scheduled inspection checklist.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_107-2.pdf

As with manned aircraft, AC 107.2 defers scheduled maintenance to the aircraft manufacturer. Par. 7.2 states, “Whenever possible, the operator should maintain the sUAS and its components in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. The aircraft manufacturer may provide the maintenance program, or, if one is not provided, the applicant may choose to develop one”.

It does not specify a time-in-service limit for scheduled maintenance but again defers to the aircraft manufacturer. If the aircraft manufacturer does not provide one then it is up to the operator. IMHO, as colinjfischer posted, I think a 25 hour inspection interval is a good place to start.

Hope this helps, Red

You make valid points. I've been working in aviation maintenance for 40 years and right now it seems this aspect seems very open-ended as the referenced AC indicates. IMO if you're complying with 107.15 you've answered the mail. A self developed maintenance program is a great idea but you don't want it to be too restrictive either. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Redrat100]

IMO if you're complying with 107.15 you've answered the mail. A self developed maintenance program is a great idea but you don't want it to be too restrictive either. Just my 2 cents.

Too true FLYBOYJ. I see 107.15 as a common sense regulation. Do a pre-flight, if something is broken, fix it before flying. And, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Air safety first but don't kill your business with unnecessary maintenance costs.

 

[Sojourner60]

Thanks for all the replies. It has quit doing it. Maybe it was just a break in type of thing?

 

[Weaponized]

As an A&P, military aircraft mechanic and Flight Engineer I think some of what I'm reading here is wayyy overboard, in this context...SIZE.

Just a preflight on some multi engine aircraft can take 3 hours for a solo technician. A 100hr or phase inspection for military AC can take days working crews for 3 shifts.

We're talking drones here. With very few user serviceable parts. Its OK to scale the tasks down to meet the size. You could practically do a 100hr every day and barely spend 5 minutes doing it.

I do agree with battery tracking, and most of the simple checks some are suggesting but learn this lesson quickly...

50% of your maintenance will cause 75% of your repairs. What that means is the more you f%$k with something that wasn't meant to be f&%ked with, the greater the odds are that you'll break it.

 

[R.Perry]

I don't know if this is off topic or not, but would be interested in what others are doing with their batteries? Any deep cycle refresh? If so how are you doing it? My flight program (Skyward) keeps track of my battery history, at least in part. Any thoughts? Here's a pic:

Below is an example of what I do each month. What I focus on is cell voltage. As you can see these are fairly new batteries so the cells are well balanced.

It is a bit sloppy because I pulled it off an Excel spread sheet.

Battery Date Charges Status Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 3 Cel l4 Cell 5 Cell 6
1A 6/14/18 38 26% 3.75 3.76 3.76 3.75 3.76 3.76 22.54
1B 6/14/18 38 29% 3.76 3.76 3.76 3.76 3.76 3.76 22.56
2A 6/14/18 33 13% 3.69 3.69 3.69 3.69 3.69 3.69 22.14
2B 6/14/18 32 15% 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 22.50
3A 6/14/18 35 28% 3.77 3.77 3.77 3.77 3.77 3.77 22.62
3B 6/14/18 35 24% 3.77 3.77 3.77 3.77 3.77 3.77 22.62
4A 6/14/18 36 30% 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.77 3.77 22.66
4B 6/14/18 34 31% 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.77 3.78 3.77 22.66
5A 6/14/18 40 100% 4.31 4.32 4.32 4.31 4.32 4.32 25.90
5B 6/14/18 41 100% 4.30 4.31 4.31 4.32 4.32 4.31 25.87
6A 6/14/18 35 100% 4.31 4.32 4.31 4.32 4.32 4.32 25.90
6B 6/14/18 33 100% 4.32 4.32 4.32 4.32 4.32 4.32 25.92
7A 6/14/18 27 100% 4.33 4.33 4.34 4.34 4.34 4.34 26.02
7B 6/14/18 27 100% 4.34 4.34 4.33 4.33 4.34 4.34 26.02
8A 6/14/18 23 100% 4.34 4.33 4.34 4.33 4.33 4.33 26.00
8B 6/14/18 23 100% 4.33 4.34 4.33 4.33 4.34 4.34 26.01


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