Do It Yourself and Accountability

You CAN service your own microlight. This is one area where our sport enjoys an enormous freedom compared to our Group A colleagues. Owners of a Group A machine in theory require a qualified aircraft engineer to change a spark plug. We on the other hand can strip down and rebuild our engines or rebuild the airframe from the ground up after a prang. Whether we should or not is another matter; flying a poorly repaired aircraft can be a deadly business.

Don't attempt work that is beyond your level of knowledge or competence. Seek professional help. If work involves anything other than replacement with standard parts then the BMAA technical office or type approval holder should be contacted before attempting any repair.

There is an approved schedule of inspections and servicing for microlight aircraft. This is detailed in the BMAA technical leaflet no. 020 (issue 1) entitled Microlight Maintenance Schedule MMS1 Issue 2, which is available to download from the BMAA site as a PDF file. [Download link HERE]

All microlight aircraft must have an engine and airframe logbook. ALL work carried out - theoretically including daily inspections - must be entered in this book. In practice many pilots do not record the daily check and most inspectors are not too pedantic about this. You ARE expected to include ANY maintenance, however - even changing a plug or just topping up the gearbox oil. Apart from anything else, this information can provide vital clues in the unfortunate event of an accident. All repair work should be signed off by an inspector before you fly the machine again.

If you change your aircraft in any way - for example, if you fit a radio mount for your handheld - then that is technically a modification. Minor modifications can be approved by the BMAA very quickly, and a small fee changes hands for the privilege. If the modification has already been approved for your type of aircraft then you may be able to go ahead without applying for a minor mod, but if in doubt check first.

If you make a more radical modification - for example, if you want to change the type of propeller fitted - then this counts as a MAJOR MODIFICATION. In the case of propellers The BMAA publish a document catchily entitled Microlight Propeller Changes Already Approved by BMAA Major Modification [Download HERE], and with any luck someone else will have gone through al the pain and paperwork. If you want to make some other serious modification to the aircraft you should consult the BMAA technical office before it becomes any more than a glimmer in the attics of your mind.

Check out the BMAA's list of technical information leaflets HERE. For anything not covered there you can e-mail Guy Grattan at the BMAA technical office.

If you plan to do your own servicing check the ROTAX site for service and technical manuals.

If you would rather leave repairs and servicing to the experts, then ask around your own club first. You can also check the links in our Repairs and Servicing section.

Fly safe . . .