Question for the masses; what does YOUR entry for the airframe logbook look like when you do owner maintenance? It seems to be a bit grey as far as how its done. I want my log books to look nice and correct, but I am having trouble finding the proper phraseology for an entry.

Examples might include: oil changes, brake job, tire rotation, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Date > Tach Time > Work Description & Test Run/Check Results > My Name > My Signature > "Owner"

Look at what the A and P wrote and follow that example. Log the date, the tach or Hobbs time, what you did, and your signature, followed by pilot certificate number.

Why certificate #? Because the reg states you must be a pilot to perform preventive maintenance.

MTV

Look at EAA web site, they used to have great examples there. Not sure if they still do, though.

Thanks everyone for the tips on the logbook entry.

blackrock wrote:Look at EAA web site, they used to have great examples there. Not sure if they still do, though.

Mike,

I put a in a google search for EAA owner maintenance logbook entry, and found this (although not straight from the EAA website): http://www.121five.com/admin/FeatureArt ... enance.pdf

Here is the relevant (to this thread) portion:

What is Preventative Maintenance?

"Preventive maintenance" means:
simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not
involving complex assembly operations.

The 31 items that you CAN do yourself
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 certificate
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. 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, an
operational check must be performed in accordance with the applicable sections of part
91.
31. 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.
What will I need?

APPROVED DATA

i.e. Maintenance or Service Manuals for your aircraft, any pertinent Advisory Circulars
like AC43.13 1B, ADs, and any Special Instructions provided for the Continuing
Airworthiness of Supplemental Type Certificate.

SUITABLE WORKING CONDITIONS
Perform the work at a location where all removed parts are protected from dust, dirt or
damage.

TOOLS APPROPRIATE FOR THE WORK BEING PERFORMED
May include jacks, air tools, multi-meter, wrenches, sockets and special tools specific for
the work, etc.

ABILITY
If the preventative maintenance work that you intend to perform is not simple in nature
and is beyond your ability, you are not qualified to continue and must seek the assistance
of a certified Mechanic.

The Sign-Off
Ref. CFR 14 FAR 43.9 - Content, Form, and Disposition of Maintenance, Preventive
Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration Records
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 making the
entry.
(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.
In the case of a Repairman who performs his own Condition Inspection, the Logbook
Entry must also include:
(5) The type of inspection and a brief description of the extent of the inspection.
(6) The date of the inspection and aircraft total time in service.

One of the "biggies" that a lot of you missed above, as per FAR 43.9 (6), is you do not write in "tach" or "hobbs" time.... you must use TOTAL time for the aircraft. It's stated in the last line of the post above. I've seen a case when there was a problem and you can't imagine what a huge deal they made out of the person not using TOTAL time! I always try to put total aircraft time first, then tach, then if an engine log, I put the TSMOH etc...just to keep the book easy to reference.
John

FAR 43.3(g) says that a certificated pilot can perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft owned or operated by that pilot. FAR 43 appendix A (c) quite specifically defines this preventive maintenance.

I include date, tach time, total time (for airframe) or time SMOH (for engine), and sign off with my name, (owner), and PP certificate #.

Sorry but yall are off a bit on the tach Hobbs total time stuff. Yeah total time is a big deal and often missed but it is not a required entry for maintenance. Typically only made at inspections.
43.9 doesn't say anything about total time, tach, smoh or any of that garb.
It would be kinda stupid to not include a total time or tach or something tho. Just not required.
1. A brief discretion of work performed.
2. Date completed.
3. Signature
4. Cert number.
5. Kind of certificate
Done!!!!!

Here are a few examples

Oil change
1. Changed oil and filter. Serviced with xc 2050.
December 25 2015. 1234 tach.
Jack Daniels. PP #7

I did find something to that effect in 43.11. Sounds like the differentiator is whether it's an inspection or not, as PAMR mX noted.

§ 43.11 Content, form, and disposition of records for inspections conducted under parts 91 and 125 and §§ 135.411(a)(1) and 135.419 of this chapter.

(a) Maintenance record entries. The person approving or disapproving for return to service an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part after any inspection performed in accordance with part 91, 125, § 135.411(a)(1), or § 135.419 shall make an entry in the maintenance record of that equipment containing the following information:

(1) The type of inspection and a brief description of the extent of the inspection.
(2) The date of the inspection and aircraft total time in service.
(3) The signature, the certificate number, and kind of certificate held by the person approving or disapproving for return to service the aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, component part, or portions thereof.... Snip

Yep, according to that you're totally right! For the last 30+ years they've pounded into our heads that Total Time in Service must be used in all entries, as per 43.9..... not sure just when that changed....but you can bet I'm gonna be asking some questions. I'll continue to do just that with total time....I've spent (wasted) too many hours of my life straightening out log books that were filled out by some flunky that didn't care to try to make it easy for the next guy....
John

A bit of thread drift but one of my biggest pet peeves!!!


"01/01/01 Annual inspection completed this date. Tach 1234
John Doe
A&P12345678IA"

Logbook entries are good for your own tracking of maintenance and repairs. Otherwise all they do is add fuel to the fire, no pun intended, for the insurance company to try and deny a claim and the accident investigators when they are looking for someone to blame.

I have seen amazing pencil whipped detail in many logbooks of the items completed in an annual. But when you looked at the plane, most of the covers and interior weren't even removed. Wheel bearings weren't even looked at. A complete mess.


On the other hand, i have seen basic one line entries for annuals and nothing else in the books of immaculately maintained aircraft. Yes those brake pads and discs look like new still after 25 years. Yes, never a leak on that 15 year old overhaul. Oh look at that big fully stocked toolbox the owner has in the corner of the hanger and the shelf of manuals.

Maintain and replace whatever you wish on your plane if your comfortable with it - It's your A$$ on the line., only log what you can legal do and keep your entry very basic. Too much detail of things you should not be doing will hang you.

Immaculate logs mean nothing, an immaculate plane does.