How to know when an aircraft is due for engine maintenance
March 15, 2011, 01:23 pm
Though there are posted Time Between Overhaul standards that tell pilots when they can expect to need maintenance work on their engines, many pilots find that their engine needs servicing despite limited flight hours, according to Plane and Pilot Magazine. These are some tips to keep in mind in order to know when it's time for engine work.
Though the source says there are some major and more obvious signs that an engine is in need of maintenance, such as "a sudden or noticeable loss of power," or "an odd noise," some clues can be more subtle.
In order to be aware of when an aircraft is deviating from its normal behavior, pilots need to understand how their plane operates when it is not having function problems. Ways to figure this out include cutting open single oil filters and sending oil for analysis, the source says.
After establishing an operational baseline, pilots can compare the way their plane is operating to what is normal for the aircraft, the source suggests. They should frequently perform compression checks and review plane behavior each time an oil change is needed.
Sometimes fatal accidents occur despite proper maintenance. Life insurance for pilots is an important consideration to have in order for pilots to provide for their family in the event of an unforeseeable crash.
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