Annual, 100 hour, Condition Inspection check list.

Things like this may happen if you're  on a long trip and go over the 100 hr. mark. People do a couple of things. Some that fly 125 a year just tend to wait until the annual. You can always do the 100 hr. inspection early too. There is some leeway in the 100 hour inspection, but don't  get carried away. Here's  what I do. I did ANOTHER ? research project many years ago with the FAA. They don't  care how often you do an annual, but after the last one you do you have 12 months to do the next one. They didn't  care if you did an annual every month.

I do 35+ annuals / 100 / rubber changes a year. Good documentation and best maint. practices are the best way to protect everyone involved and comply with the FAA, Rotax and the aircraft MFG.

So I say in my opening sentence in the logbook that I'm doing the 100 hr and annual condition inspection in accordance with the Rotax and aircraft Mfg's  checklist. I use both checklist and fill them out and note anything I do in the margins of the checklist. These annotations get in the logbook too.  There is only a couple items that are different between the 100 hr and annual. So now I cover the FAA, aircraft mfg and Rotax annual and 100 hr inspection requirements. Some aren't  legally required , but I help  protect myself and owner from any FAA and or insurance issues not to mention if you have a liable court incident. Plus if Rotax wants to see your logbooks when you fill out a CSIR you have addressed everything above the norms.  I'm not a believer in doing the minimum or being average. Better to be a cut above the norm and it's just as easy to do. You have covered your bases. I also do some things every annual / 100 hr even if it isn't dictated to be done at that time, but every 200 hrs. This way everyone gets to see trends starting vs waiting 200 hrs when more issues or damage may happen. Some owners may take 3-5 years to put on 200 hrs. I want myself and the owner to see trends and any developing issues before they get bad and try to head off expensive fixes or forced landings.

So whether your doing the 100 hr or annual list them both and indicate that you're doing both on the checklist. Life is easy until we make it hard. The old saying "work smart not hard". 

James Ott wrote:

Since I fly about 125 hours per year I have a dilemma: My airframe condition inspection comes up once per year, but the Rotax 100 hour inspection comes up sooner than one year on random dates. To keep my Rotax warranty valid I do the 100 hr inspections as they come up. But when the annual airframe inspection comes up I find the annual checklist asking me to do quite a few things I may have just recently done on the Rotax 100 hr inspection. I am curious how other Rotax owners who fly more than 100 hour/year deal with this?

Great question James, might be a flight school mechanic on here who can give you an idea. I have not done any annual  inspections with over 100 hours for the year. Flight schools really rack up hours quick. 

James Ott wrote:

Since I fly about 125 hours per year I have a dilemma: My airframe condition inspection comes up once per year, but the Rotax 100 hour inspection comes up sooner than one year on random dates. To keep my Rotax warranty valid I do the 100 hr inspections as they come up. But when the annual airframe inspection comes up I find the annual checklist asking me to do quite a few things I may have just recently done on the Rotax 100 hr inspection. I am curious how other Rotax owners who fly more than 100 hour/year deal with this?

Great question James, might be a flight school mechanic on here who can give you an idea. I have not done any annual  inspections with over 100 hours for the year. Flight schools really rack up hours quick. 

Thanks Roger for your excellent reply.

I have been doing the 100 hour whenever it comes up and log it as a 100 hour inspection. Then when the annual comes up I just skip those items on the checklist that were already done at 100 hours but less than a year ago, and note that fact in the margins. Then I log the annual as complete even though part of it was done earlier.

Hi James,

I'd just list them and do a complete 100 hr / annual together so you don't  open a door you can't  close with the FAA or something else. This way you do one inspection, cover all bases and won't  have to try and defend yourself with the FAA or insurance company. Plus good logbook documentation goes a long way if you file a claim with Rotax.