Owner maintenance and brake pads

[Scottsware]

In the past I’ve replaced my own brake pads on the DA40 then had my AP sign it off. I fellow recently said I can change them and sign it off as part of preventive maintenance. I was told the FAR list that includes tires changes and oil changes is no exhaustive but rather representative.

Any one care to chime in? I did some Googling and what I found seemed to support owner changing/sign off of brake pads.

Scott

[krellis]

Generally, preventative maintenance can be done by the owner. Specifically, refer to FAR Part 43, Appendix A, Paragraph C for a complete list.

[dant]

FAR Part 43, Appendix A, Paragraph C for a complete list.

This list is far from complete.

This legal interpretation should help. Basically, anything "simple" a pilot can do under part 91.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/he ... tation.pdf

we believe that such limitation 'is not controlling. Similarly, for the same
reason, we also believe that the following sentence in Advisory Circular 43-l2A,
Preventive Maintenance (which was referenced in Mr. Hernandez's letter), is overly
restrictive. That sentence, found in Paragraph 3(b)(l), states: "If a task or maintenance
function does not appear in the list, it is not preventive maintenance."

[dant]

Case in point: Those of us with Powerflow have a 50 hour visual inspection that must be done for continued airworthiness. This is a trivial inspection to ensure the hangar bracket has not broken, and per my mechanic should actually be done every preflight. Reading part 43 appendix A paragraph C would require that every 50 hours a mechanic come and do this inspection, which is not the case, thankfully.

Many owners of Powerflow equipped DA40s do their own 50 hour oil changes, and "should" be also doing that inspection and signing it off in the logbook to ensure airworthiness. Though to be honest, I doubt that happens, heh.

[Rich]

Yes, you can do your own brake pads. I don’t know about Behrengers, but the Clevelands are pretty easy to do. Specialty equipment:

Safety Wire pliers
Low range torque wrench (75 inch pounds)
Rivet remover/installer tool.

The plane need not be put on jacks or the wheels removed. In my case the wheel fairings are also left completely untouched. Brakes do not need bleeding but it’s possible that upon replacing that some hydraulic fluid could overflow from the reservoirs, so putting something under the copilot reservoirs to catch this is advised.

For Clevelands there is a conditioning procedure that must be followed after changing pads.

[Scottsware]

Thanks for the great feedback..

Scott