Can Student Pilots Perform Preventative Maintenance on Aircraft?

FAA regulations allow someone who does not hold a mechanic or repairman certificate to perform certain preventive maintenance.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 03:03 PM ET

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According to the FAA, flight school aircraft must be maintained under the same requirements as aircraft operated under Part 91. [Courtesy: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The regulations allowing certain preventative maintenance by pilots (14 CFR 43 Appendix A, Part C) apply only to certificated pilots (e.g., Private, Sport, or higher), not student pilots.
Therefore, student pilots are not permitted to perform any preventative maintenance on aircraft, supporting the chief CFI's instruction.
Preventative maintenance by non-certificated pilots is also restricted if the aircraft is used for specific commercial operations, such as charter flights under Part 135.

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Question: I am confused about the rules regarding preventative maintenance that pilots can perform on airplanes. I am a student pilot. In ground school we learned about 14 CFR 43 Appendix A, Part C that lists preventative maintenance that can be done legally, but the chief CFI of the flight school says under no circumstances can a student pilot touch an airplane with a tool. Is there a regulation I am missing?

Answer: According to the FAA, aircraft used by Part 141 pilot schools must be maintained under the same requirements as aircraft operated under Part 91. FAA regulations allow someone who does not hold a mechanic or repairman certificate to perform certain preventive maintenance under Part 91.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.