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:

Student pilots are not permitted to perform preventative maintenance on aircraft because the relevant regulation (14 CFR 43 Appendix A, Part C) applies only to "certificated pilots" (e.g., private or sport pilots), not student pilots.
Additional restrictions may apply if flight school aircraft are also used for commercial operations (e.g., Part 135 charter), which further limits who can perform maintenance, providing another reason against student pilot involvement.

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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.