Maintenance Safety

Many of us recognize one of the ingredients to making our flying less risky and safer is good maintenance. At the same time, sometimes we give little thought to ways to make aircraft maintenance itself less risky and safer. The fact is the typical private-pilot-or-better performing preventive maintenance under FAR 43, Annex A doesnt pay enough attention to safety while working on aircraft. Some professionals dont either.

A Bartlett

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft maintenance requires meticulous planning, a clear mind, and undivided attention to ensure safety for both personnel and aircraft reliability.
Strict adherence to approved maintenance data, manufacturer's procedures, and chemical safety protocols (including PPE and proper disposal) is crucial for all tasks.
Maintaining rigorous tool control and exclusively using correct, non-improvised special tools are essential to prevent accidents, damage, and catastrophic failures.

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Many of us recognize one of the ingredients to making our flying less risky and safer is good maintenance. At the same time, sometimes we give little thought to ways to make aircraft maintenance itself less risky and safer. The fact is the typical private-pilot-or-better performing preventive maintenance under FAR 43, Annex A doesn’t pay enough attention to safety while working on aircraft. Some “professionals” don’t either.

As an aircraft mechanic and pilot for over 50 years, I have witnessed more than one accident resulting in injury while working on aircraft. But a little common sense goes a long way toward working safely and promoting a safe work environment around aircraft when working with others or alone.