I am a certified marine and genset mechanic, but no aviation experience. OK for me to change oil on my C-150?

Question

Does the FAA have a problem with an uncertified person doing preventative and/or very minor maintenance on their own aircraft?

Answer 1

You can do SOME preventive maintenance if you have a pilots certificate. Changing the oil is is not one of them with out the direct supervision of a A&P.
Edit: eferrell01 pointed out I quoated part 41 instead of part 43, a typo on my part, sorry for the confusion....
See 14 CFR part 43, Appendix A, which says:

c) Preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance is limited to the following work, provided it does not involve complex assembly operations:

(1) Removal, installation, and repair of landing gear tires.

(2) Replacing elastic shock absorber cords on landing gear.

(3) Servicing landing gear shock struts by adding oil, air, or both.

(4) Servicing landing gear wheel bearings, such as cleaning and greasing.

(5) Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys.

(6) Lubrication not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings.

(7) Making simple fabric patches not requiring rib stitching or the removal of structural parts or control surfaces. In the case of balloons, the making of small fabric repairs to envelopes (as defined in, and in accordance with, the balloon manufacturers' instructions) not requiring load tape repair or replacement.

(8) Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic reservoir.

(9) Refinishing decorative coating of fuselage, balloon baskets, wings tail group surfaces (excluding balanced control surfaces), fairings, cowlings, landing gear, cabin, or cockpit interior when removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required.

(10) Applying preservative or protective material to components where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved and where such coating is not prohibited or is not contrary to good practices.

(11) Repairing upholstery and decorative furnishings of the cabin, cockpit, or balloon basket interior when the repairing does not require disassembly of any primary structure or operating system or interfere with an operating system or affect the primary structure of the aircraft.

(12) Making small simple repairs to fairings, nonstructural cover plates, cowlings, and small patches and reinforcements not changing the contour so as to interfere with proper air flow.

(13) Replacing side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or any operating system such as controls, electrical equipment, etc.

(14) Replacing safety belts.

(15) Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system.

(16) Trouble shooting and repairing broken circuits in landing light wiring circuits.

(17) Replacing bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of position and landing lights.

(18) Replacing wheels and skis where no weight and balance computation is involved.

(19) Replacing any cowling not requiring removal of the propeller or disconnection of flight controls.

(20) Replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting of spark plug gap clearance.

(21) Replacing any hose connection except hydraulic connections.

(22) Replacing prefabricated fuel lines.

(23) Cleaning or replacing fuel and oil strainers or filter elements.

(24) Replacing and servicing batteries.

(25) Cleaning of balloon burner pilot and main nozzles in accordance with the balloon manufacturer's instructions.

(26) Replacement or adjustment of nonstructural standard fasteners incidental to operations.

(27) The interchange of balloon baskets and burners on envelopes when the basket or burner is designated as interchangeable in the balloon type certificate data and the baskets and burners are specifically designed for quick removal and installation.

(28) The installations of anti-misfueling devices to reduce the diameter of fuel tank filler openings provided the specific device has been made a part of the aircraft type certificiate data by the aircraft manufacturer, the aircraft manufacturer has provided FAA-approved instructions for installation of the specific device, and installation does not involve the disassembly of the existing tank filler opening.

(29) Removing, checking, and replacing magnetic chip detectors.

(30) The inspection and maintenance tasks prescribed and specifically identified as preventive maintenance in a primary category aircraft type certificate or supplemental type certificate holder's approved special inspection and preventive maintenance program when accomplished on a primary category aircraft provided:

(i) They are performed by the holder of at least a private pilot certificate issued under part 61 who is the registered owner (including co-owners) of the affected aircraft and who holds a certificate of competency for the affected aircraft (1) issued by a school approved under §147.21(e) of this chapter; (2) issued by the holder of the production certificate for that primary category aircraft that has a special training program approved under §21.24 of this subchapter; or (3) issued by another entity that has a course approved by the Administrator; and

(ii) The inspections and maintenance tasks are performed in accordance with instructions contained by the special inspection and preventive maintenance program approved as part of the aircraft's type design or supplemental type design.

(31) Removing and replacing self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted navigation and communication devices that employ tray-mounted connectors that connect the unit when the unit is installed into the instrument panel, (excluding automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)). The approved unit must be designed to be readily and repeatedly removed and replaced, and pertinent instructions must be provided. Prior to the unit's intended use, and operational check must be performed in accordance with the applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.

(32) Updating self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted Air Traffic Control (ATC) navigational software data bases (excluding those of automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)) provided no disassembly of the unit is required and pertinent instructions are provided. Prior to the unit's intended use, an operational check must be performed in accordance with applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.

(Secs. 313, 601 through 610, and 1102, Federal Aviation Act of 1958 as amended (49 U.S.C. 1354, 1421 through 1430 and 1502); (49 U.S.C. 106(g) (Revised Pub. L. 97–449, Jan. 21, 1983); and 14 CFR 11.45)

Answer 2

If you have a valid pilot cert., then yes. It's part of preventetive maintenance along with everything cherokee flyer listed. If you don't feel confident doing it, then don't. But it's easy, like a car. In response to something in another answer, an "inspector" or IA, is only required for a major repair or alteration, which is listed in the FARs in detail. An A&P without one can sign everything else off.

Answer 3

I may be about to learn something, or the rules have changed, or ..... I've been changing the oil in my engines for decades. On Cherokee's list was the oil filter, which is the most difficult part of the change (at least on my plane), so why not the oil, too. I even send it in for analysis about once a year. Something tells me I'd better make a phone call.

Answer 4

Cherokee is right. For any questions, consult the FAR/AIM (Federal Air Regulations/ Airmans information manual)

You can do certain preventative maintenance as a pilot, but it's rather limited. Also, if you don't know what you are doing but want to do it yourself,( like an oil change), pay a mechanic to do it once but ask if you can watch him. He can give you pointers and you can see if it's something you want to tackle yourself.

Happy flying!

Answer 5

The rules have changed somewhat in the last few years with "sport-pilots" being granted certain abilities to sign off their aircraft. As far as I remember, you need to be a certified A&P mechanic before you can make entries in the logbook. Check with your local FAA office before going ahead.

Answer 6

Cherokee copied it right, but quoted it wrong. It is Part 43, not 41. #6, and #23 apply to your case. You can change the oil and filter, because no structural items need to be removed.
Also, if your POH lists oil change as preventive or minor maintenance, you can do it as the owner, if you have a pilot certificate..

Answer 7

their are a number of things a licensed pilot can do on an aircraft and I believe changing the oil is one of them. Check with your FAA , MOT or equivalent authority in your country.

Answer 8

in order to be protected in case of crash, you need to let an AP mechanic do it for you. You can do it yourself, but EVERYTHING has to be signed off on. I dont really know if its illegal or not, but you would be flying an uncertified plane....so yeah it would be illegal.

Answer 9

It is Illegal because of the possibility of your aircraft crashing and possibly killing someone(s) however you can do it yourself as the above mentioned as long as an A&P Inspector signs it off.