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Rotax maintenance sched- required or recommended?

in General Tech Discussion 12 years ago
Is the Rotax maintenance scheduled required by law or just recommended by Rotax? Also, can I as the owner/pilot legally do any of the work? I am not a certified mechanic but figure that I can change spark plugs, for example.

I looked at the maintenance schedule this morning. I am approaching the 150 hr maintenance checks. I checked the engine log book and see that the 125 hr maintenance was not done.

I am trying to understand what I can and cannot do, and where I can go for the maintenance that I cannot do.

Thanks!

  • Re: Rotax maintenance sched- required or recommended?

    by » 12 years ago

    Hi Mike,

    This question has more than one part or facet and is one of the most misunderstood areas. There are a few qualifiers here and I'll stick to only the basics. Things like, what country someone lives in and what category is your plane registered, is it a 912S cert. engine in a certified aircraft or a 912ULS in an Experimental or LSA. Certified aircraft and engines are a little different and are regulated just like all the other certified aircraft. All these questions would need to be put forth first.
    I'll make my comments based on the US regs. and LSA and Experimental aircraft with the 912ULS or UL.
    The other issue here is what the aircraft MFG wrote down in the POH or AOI or you included in your original papers filed when an Experimental received its airworthy certificate. I'm working through some of this right now with the FAA.

    First Rotax inspections are this: It must (it's required by Rotax and I hope you registered your engine) have a 25 hr.TTSN inspection to keep your warranty and this should be documented in your logbook. The 50 hr. is optional. Then you have 100 hr. and Annual inspections for the life of the engine. Rotax wants them done to ensure your safety and to keep up a healthy engine. I always do both together and log them as such which helps avoid 2 inspections a year and satisfies the FAA and Rotax regs. and recommendations. Use the Rotax Line maint. manual check list for inspections. Best to sign each item off as you do it. the hole punch it and keep it in a 3 ring binder. (same for the fuselage part of the inspection)

    So what is required by law in the US that is regulated by the FAA. This partly depends on what the aircraft MFG put in the AOI and or POH, but most fall a little short.
    The simple answer is NONE is required by law except the Annual. I personally and professionally follow all the Rotax recommendations for maint and their schedule and think all should, but the FAA says Rotax can not legally impose anything more regulatory than what is in the FAA regs. So the question begs; what if someone says I don't want to do my 25 hr. TTSN warranty inspection. Legally they don't have to (not smart), but Rotax doesn't have to give you a warranty either and you could be flying around with a failure waiting to happen out of ignorance because you didn't want to do a simple inspection. I takes all kinds and I have seen many and many have had issues that cost them money or they had catastrophic off field landings.

    Always better to get as much education as possible in any committed endeavor in life.

    On the Experimental aircraft: anyone can do the work in between the annual, they do not need any type of certificate. When it comes to the Annual then you need to have the builder's certificate issued by the FAA or a license like an A&P.

    The ELSA group falls under much the same umbrella except the Annual is an Annual Condition Inspection and it can be performed by an LSRM-A or an A&P.

    The SLSA group can't do any of their work and needs an LSRM-A or A&P.
    In either the ELSA or the SLSA you are allowed to do preventive maint. as prescribed within the FARs just like the certified aircraft. MFG's can not make new regs over and above the FAA or give any or allow you to do anything against what is written within the FARs.

    This should have covered the basics for you.

    I look at it this way. Rotax has decades of engine experience and 22+ years with the 912. They have spent millions or dollars in research and have millions of hours of experience and seen every dumb thing an owner can do to an engine. Unless I or someone else can top that and boast they know more than Rotax it would be pretty wise to follow their lead and recommendations. Doing the right thing may also protect you in several legal aspects too.


    If you want to go deeper into the legal discussion for more specific answers then give me a call.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

    Thank you said by: jack duncan
      
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  • Re: Rotax maintenance sched- required or recommended?

    by » 12 years ago

    Roger, thanks for all the info. My question is not about whether or not I should do the inspections, rather it's about WHO can do them.

    My AC is a Quicksilver Sport 2S and the engine is a 582 mod 99. It is registered as an X-LSA.

    I am taking the Repairman course so that I can do the annual condition inspection. But I'm not sure if that includes the engine or not.

    I just want to be sure whatever I do is both safe and legal.
      
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  • Re: Rotax maintenance sched- required or recommended?

    by » 12 years ago

    Hi Mike,

    If you take the two day course you are good to go for airframe and engine. You'll fill out a form when done and get the FAA's blessing and they'll give you a card. You will then be able to work or inspect any ELSA that you own. I would how ever recommend that you take a Rotax class and at the very least find an experienced Rotax tech and get a good class from them and use them frequently for a resource. Print out all the manuals that pertain to your engine and airframe.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
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  • Re: Rotax maintenance sched- required or recommended?

    by » 12 years ago

    I'm going to call my closest Rotax dealer and find out how much they charge for a 150 hr inspection, and if I can watch and learn while they do it.
      
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