Annual maintenance inspection happens once a year and is mandatory for all aircraft. Annual inspections are more detailed than a 100-hour inspection. It involves the processes of:

• Inspecting and testing the engine
• Weeding out unacceptable parts
• Checking flight avionics
• Checking flight controls
• Reviewing all aircraft logbooks

Crew members are chosen to do this annual inspection who have an in-depth knowledge of aircraft parts. The mechanic hired for the annual inspection must be capable of performing a thorough inspection. He must also be able to keep track of materials and time.

Annual inspections apply to most aircraft involving:

• Having an experimental certificate
• Having a special flight permit
• Airworthiness certifications

All aircraft for flight purposes undergo 50 or 100-hour inspections before flight. It is mandatory for planes who carry passengers. However, the aviation administration doesn’t mandate it for other aircraft. But it is wise to consider an oil change every 50 hours for all planes.

Other things that 50 and 100-hour inspections include are:

• Examining and cleaning spark plugs
• Oil change
• Checking for wear and tear issues
• Proper checking and inspection of the cockpit
• Checking for seatbelt malfunctions
• Checking the cabin

In a 100-hour inspection, technical crews remove cargo, cabins, brakes, fabric of fuselage, flight control surfaces, and struts.

Also known as phase inspection, progressive inspection involves regular intervals. Phase inspection occurs every 25-50 hours. Only certain components are examined during this inspection, making it ready for a safe flight. This inspection involves removing access, panels, screens, and some other disassembly to complete the inspection.

Progressive inspection is necessary for the high usage of fleets, such as corporate uses or flight schools. It also reduces downtime as an aircraft would complete a 100-hour inspection in four phases of 25 hours each.

Defining the PIP in master task card records is an efficient method of developing the maintenance program. However, if your maintenance program applies only to a single aircraft, you can define your PIP in task card records instead. The process of defining a PIP in task card records is the same as defining a PIP in master task card records.

When you create a PIP for a new aircraft or a new inspection process, you are able to start the PIP with the first master task card record in the PIP group. However, you might add a PIP that is already in progress.

For example, you divide a maintenance inspection into a PIP that consists of six inspections that are completed every 50 hours. The first two phases of the inspection are already completed before you add the aircraft and the PIP to the system.

You must define the entire PIP and then set the fixed frequency counters for the first twomaster task card records to 1 to indicate that those phases of the PIP are already complete.

Pre-flight inspection is carried out just before the flight is to take-off. The cabin crews inspect the plane to check for any malfunctions or problems. This involves inspecting flight control surfaces and fuselage components for any defects.

Pre-flight inspection has two main categories.

1. Cabin Inspection

Checking the cabin requires you to have the necessary documents such as:

• Registration certificate
• Airworthiness certificate
• Operating handbook
• Weight and balance data
• Radio station license

Next, it ensures that the cockpits valves and switches are in the right position. You must also check and record fuel gauge readings for later use. Perform cockpit cleaning. Make sure that the magnetos are off, and there are no unsecured tools there.

2. Exterior Inspection

Exterior inspection requires pilots to walk around the plane and check its exterior. They can check for:

• Loose rivets, bolts, and nuts
• Check tires for wear and flats
• Check propellers for oil leaks
• Clean the windows
• Check the fuel quantity
• Check the exhaust pipes
• Testing rigged controls