Post-Maintenance Preflight Tips

brakes and control locks for example. But after mechanics have been pawing around in it

Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots are the final authority on aircraft airworthiness and must perform a significantly more detailed preflight inspection after maintenance, especially an annual, due to a heightened risk of safety-of-flight issues.
Thoroughly review maintenance records to understand what work was performed and focus inspections on potentially affected systems, such as flight controls, fuel, hydraulic brakes, and electrical components.
Beyond the walkaround, conduct comprehensive operational checks during engine start, run-up, takeoff, and initial flight, paying close attention to system responses, instrument readings, and landing gear operation.
The first flight after significant maintenance should be a deliberate, cautious operational check conducted in good VFR conditions, verifying normal flight characteristics rather than testing limits, and adhering to regulations regarding carrying passengers.

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When discussing preflight inspections, I sometimes hear pilots remark, “I don’t know what I am looking for.” That’s unfortunate, because the pilot is the final authority regarding the aircraft’s airworthiness. As a pilot, you have the responsibility to accept the aircraft as-is and be on your merry way or reject it as unsuitable if something isn’t right. Since it’s up to you to determine if something isn’t right, you probably should at least know a few things to look for.