Aircraft Inspection Types and Areas

Study Notes

Aircraft Inspection

Types of inspections:
- Pre-flight inspections: visual checks before each flight
- Post-flight inspections: checks after each flight
- Scheduled inspections: routine checks at set intervals (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly)
- Annual inspections: comprehensive checks required by regulatory authorities
Inspection areas:
- Airframe and structural components
- Engines and engine components
- Avionics and electrical systems
- Propellers and propeller systems
- Landing gear and brakes
Inspection techniques:
- Visual examinations
- Functional tests
- Measurement and testing
- Non-destructive testing (e.g. X-ray, ultrasound)

Quality Control

Purpose: to ensure maintenance work meets specified standards
Quality control checks:
- Review of maintenance records
- Inspection of completed work
- Verification of parts and materials
- Testing of systems and components
Quality control personnel:
- Responsible for conducting quality control checks
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
- Identify and report discrepancies

Safety Protocols

Hazard identification and risk assessment:
- Identify potential hazards in the maintenance environment
- Assess the risk of injury or damage
- Implement measures to mitigate or eliminate hazards
Personal protective equipment (PPE):
- Required for certain tasks (e.g. welding, chemical handling)
- Ensure proper use and maintenance of PPE
Lockout/tagout procedures:
- Prevent accidental startup of systems or equipment
- Ensure proper isolation and de-energization
Emergency procedures:
- Fire response
- Spill response
- First aid and medical response

Record Keeping

Maintenance records:
- Document all maintenance activities
- Include details of work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted
- Required for regulatory compliance and auditing purposes
Record retention:
- Maintenance records must be retained for a specified period (e.g. 5 years)
- Records must be accurate, complete, and legible
Electronic records:
- Allowed by regulatory authorities
- Must meet specific requirements for security, accessibility, and backup

Repair Procedures

Repair categories:
- Minor repairs: routine maintenance tasks (e.g. replacing light bulbs)
- Major repairs: complex tasks requiring specialized skills and equipment
Repair procedures:
- Follow approved data (e.g. manufacturer's instructions)
- Use approved materials and parts
- Conduct inspections and testing to ensure airworthiness
Repair documentation:
- Document all repairs and modifications
- Include details of work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted

Aircraft Inspection

Various types of inspections are conducted on aircraft, including pre-flight, post-flight, scheduled, and annual inspections.
Inspections cover critical areas, including airframe and structural components, engines, avionics, propellers, and landing gear.
Inspection techniques involve visual examinations, functional tests, measurement and testing, and non-destructive testing methods like X-ray and ultrasound.

Quality Control

Quality control ensures maintenance work meets specified standards, and is critical for ensuring airworthiness.
Quality control checks involve reviewing maintenance records, inspecting completed work, verifying parts and materials, and testing systems and components.
Quality control personnel are responsible for conducting checks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and identifying and reporting discrepancies.

Safety Protocols

Hazard identification and risk assessment are crucial for identifying potential hazards in the maintenance environment and mitigating or eliminating them.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for certain tasks, and its proper use and maintenance are essential.
Lockout/tagout procedures prevent accidental startup of systems or equipment, and ensure proper isolation and de-energization.
Emergency procedures are in place for fire response, spill response, and first aid and medical response.

Record Keeping

Maintenance records document all maintenance activities, including work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted.
Records must be retained for a specified period, typically 5 years, and must be accurate, complete, and legible.
Electronic records are allowed, but must meet specific requirements for security, accessibility, and backup.

Repair Procedures

Repairs are categorized into minor and major repairs, with minor repairs including routine maintenance tasks and major repairs requiring specialized skills and equipment.
Repair procedures involve following approved data, using approved materials and parts, and conducting inspections and testing to ensure airworthiness.
Repair documentation is critical, and includes details of work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted.

Description

Test your knowledge of different types of aircraft inspections, including pre-flight, post-flight, scheduled, and annual inspections, and the various areas that are inspected, such as airframe and engines.