Is Washing Airplane Part of the Annual?

FAA provides guidance for owners and mechanics.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Owner says their airplane didn’t get a bath, and wonders why not. [Credit: FLYING Archive]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA mandates that aircraft and engines undergo thorough cleaning, including washing, before annual or 100-hour inspections to ensure proper identification of airworthiness issues.
Maintenance personnel are required to follow both FAA guidance and manufacturer-specific instructions for cleaning methods, materials, and precautions.
An owner's concern about a shop not washing their aircraft before an inspection is valid, as proper cleaning is crucial for a complete and accurate airworthiness assessment.

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Question: My GA plane recently went through its annual inspection. The shop didn’t wash the airplane. I queried why and was told, “Nobody washes airplanes anymore.” Isn’t this in Part 43, Appendix D, of the FARs? How else can you inspect every square inch of an aircraft’s exterior without giving it a bath? I wonder what other shortcuts were taken with my airplane behind those closed doors, hermetically sealed against aircraft owners’ eyes, by order of insurance underwriters. I’ve heard of owner-assisted maintenance, and I am pretty handy with tools, but the big-box shops won’t let me place one foot on their epoxy-painted floors.

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Answer: According to the FAA: “Before an annual or 100-hour inspection, the FAA requires that the aircraft and engine are thoroughly cleaned to ensure there are no airworthiness issues. The FAA provides guidance on cleaning and preventing corrosion damage, which includes instructions on washing the aircraft. Maintenance personnel should follow applicable aircraft and engine manufacturer maintenance instructions for aircraft-specific cleaning methods, materials, and precautions.”