Preventive Maintenance Hot Air Balloons

Preventive Maintenance Definition of Preventive Maintenance Items that are considered Preventive Maintenance Who can perform Preventive Maintenance Logbook entries for Preventive Maintenance

Definition Webster’s - Preventive: devoted to or concerned with prevention, Maintenance : the upkeep of property or equipment FAR’s - Preventive Maintenance : means simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR Part 43 Appendix A Preventive maintenance is limited to the following work provided it does not involve complex assembly operations:

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance AEROSTAR CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS INSTRUCTION (ACAI) PART I 2.0PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE The holder of a private pilot or commercial pilot certificate may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft that he/she owns or operates that is not used in air carrier service. A logbook entry must be made that the aircraft is returned to service after conducting preventive maintenance. This entry must be made in accordance with FAR Part 43 (see Appendix A.) WARNING All replacement parts installed in Aerostar/Raven hot air balloons must be FAA approved parts (with the exception of instrument batteries). Failure to comply with this requirement will render the aircraft UNAIRWORTHY, and may result in severe damage, injury or death.

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR 43 Appendix A ( 6) Lubrications not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings. ACAI 2.0 (7) Replacing small standard parts, where disassembly of primary structures or components is not required in order to replace the part, such as quick release pins, instrument batteries, fuel line hand turn POL O-rings, external envelope handling lines and 4-pt burner block adjustments. Also, tightening nuts and bolts on the superstructure and burner frame

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR 43 Appendix A (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. ACAI 2.0 (4) Patching holes or tears in the envelope skirt or dipper regardless of size, utilizing approved methods and materials. Also patching small holes in the envelope, within allowable damage limits, utilizing approved methods and materials. (see section 2.1)

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR 43 Appendix A (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. ( ACAI 2.0 (3) Moistening or applying protective materials to basket wicker. Also refinishing or applying protective material to decorative furnishings of the basket such as leather upholstery which does not require disassembly of any primary structure or interfere with the integrity of the fuel system.

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR 43 Appendix A (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 interfere with an operating system or affect the primary structure of the aircraft. 15) Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system. ACAI 2.0 (12) Horizontal and vertical rattan repairs using approved materials and not requiring skid or floor disassembly or removal. Repairs not to exceed 8 adjacent horizontal or vertical reeds or combination therefor, except at skid line where repairs may not exceed 2 adjacent reeds.

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance

. ACAI 2.0 (5) Replacing prefabricated fuel hoses. This constitutes only complete hose assemblies generally with POL or CGA- 555 fitting type connectors and/or (JIC) flare fittings, not involving disassembly and re-assembly of threaded pipe fittings. FAR 43 Appendix A ( 22) Replacing prefabricated fuel lines

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR 43 Appendix A (24) Replacing and servicing batteries ACAI 2.0 (6) Replacing or cleaning spark plugs or electrodes on electric ignition systems. Piezo-electric igniter cleaning and adjustment are considered applicable here (see figure 2.3).

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR 43 Appendix A (25) Cleaning of balloon burner pilot and main nozzles in accordance with the balloon manufacturers instructions. ACAI 2.0 (1) Removing dust, soot and debris from basket and/or burner that does not require disassembly of any basket primary structure or burner assembly components.

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance FAR 43 Appendix A (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. ACAI 2.0 (10) Interchanging balloon baskets, burners and cables that are specifically designed for quick removal and installation, when such removal / installation can be accomplished by the pilot; provided that baskets are interchangeable as listed in the Flight Manual for that envelope. (see section 1-3 of the aircraft flight manual)

Items That Are Considered Preventive Maintenance ACAI 2.0 (11) Cleaning and inspection of the envelope suspension cables, also the removal and installation of prefabricated suspension cables. (2) Removing dirt and debris from hook and pile fastener tape

NOT Preventive Maintenance Most repairs and maintenance are NOT considered preventive maintenance and must therefore be accomplished by authorized personnel at a FAA certified Repair Facility. The following are examples of repairs or maintenance that MUST be performed by a FAA certified Repair Facility: (1) Burner maintenance requiring ANY valve or component disassembly. Other than normal fuel hose removal or attachment, any repair/replacement to the burner plumbing cannot be construed as owner/operator-authorized preventive maintenance. (2) Fuel cylinder valve maintenance requiring valve or component disassembly. (3) ANY envelope repairs other than those outlined in paragraph 2.1. (4) Repair or replacement of basket skids, weaving frame or basket floor. Repair of wicker exceeding 8 adjacent horizontal or vertical rows or combination thereof, or repair of more than 2 vertical rows of wicker at skid line, constitutes a sizable weaving repair and cannot be construed as preventative maintenance. (5) Repairs to or replacement of aluminum or stainless steel basket frame. Replacement of any connector fittings other than 4-pt burner blocks. (Preassembled frames designed for quick disassembly and reassembly are excluded here.)

Who Can Perform Preventive Maintenance ? FAR 43.3 b) The holders of mechanic certificates c) The holders of repairman certificates d) Persons working under the supervision of mechanics and repairman may perform the... preventive maintenance... that his supervisor is authorized to perform, if the supervisor personally observes the work being done to the extent necessary to ensure that it is being done properly and if the supervisor is readily available, in person, for consultation. e) Repair stations certificated under Part 145 g) The holder of a pilot certificate issued under part 61 may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft owned or operated by that pilot...

How Should The Work Be Performed ? Performance rules (general). (a) Each person performing maintenance, alteration, or preventive maintenance on an aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance shall use the methods, techniques, and practices prescribed in the current manufacturer's maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness prepared by its manufacturer, or other methods, techniques, and practices acceptable to the Administrator, -and- He shall use the tools, equipment, and test apparatus necessary to assure completion of the work in accordance with accepted industry practices. If special equipment or test apparatus is recommended by the manufacturer involved, he must use that equipment or apparatus or its equivalent acceptable to the Administrator. (b) Each person maintaining or altering, or performing preventive maintenance, shall do that work in such a manner and use materials of such a quality, that the condition of the aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance worked on will be at least equal to its original or properly altered condition (with regard to aerodynamic function, structural strength, resistance to vibration and deterioration, and other qualities affecting airworthiness).

Return to Service After Preventive Maintenance 43.5 Approval for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration. No person may approve for return to service any aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance, that has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration unless - (a) The maintenance record entry required by 43.9 or 43.11, as appropriate, has been made;

Return to Service After Preventive Maintenance 43.7 Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration. (b) The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection authorization may approve an aircraft, c) The holder of a repair station certificate may approve an aircraft, (d) A manufacturer may approve for return to service any aircraft, (f) A person holding at least a private pilot certificate may approve an aircraft for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of 43.3(g).

Return to Service After Preventive Maintenance 43.9 Content, form, and disposition of maintenance, preventive maintenance, (a) Maintenance record entries…. each person who maintains, performs preventive maintenance, rebuilds, or alters an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part shall make an entry in the maintenance record of that equipment containing the following information: –(1) A description (or reference to data acceptable to the Administrator) of work performed. –(2) The date of completion of the work performed. –(3) The name of the person performing the work if other than the person specified in paragraph (a)(4) of this section. –(4) If the work performed on the aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part has been performed satisfactorily, the signature, certificate number, and kind of certificate held by the person approving the work. The signature constitutes the approval for return to service only for the work performed.

Return to Service After Preventive Maintenance Examples : The following preventive maintenance has been performed to this aircraft in accordance with FAR 43 and the Aerostar Continued Airworthiness Instructions: Installed new batteries in instrument pack, washed down gondola wicker, applied leather preservative to side rail and scuff leather. This aircraft is Approved for Return to Service January 01, 200X John Q. Pilot Certificate # Removed Aerostar burner HP3S-1999, Installed Aerostar Zone V Turbo Burner HP3S-2000 for use with this system. Total Time on new burner 1.0 hours. This aircraft is Approved for Return To Service February 28, 2000 Bob D. Pilot Certificate #

Preventive Maintenance Summary It pays to take good care of your balloon. Your life and the lives of your passengers depends on it. You can save money and have a better understanding of your aircraft, if you participate in some of the maintenance yourself. You might save yourself some embarrassment, and your repair station some headaches. FAR 91 - General Operating and Flight Rules Subpart E - Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations General (a) The owner or operator of the aircraft is primarily responsible for maintaining that aircraft in an airworthy condition.