Answers Library
Every question.
Straight answers.
What an annual really costs, what an AD means for your airplane, when to overhaul, what a pre-buy should catch. Written by a working maintenance shop, in plain English, with the regulations cited.
Inspections
How do I prepare my airplane for an annual inspection?
Book early, deliver organized logbooks and an AD list, write down every squawk, fly the plane shortly before drop-off, and empty the cabin.
How long does an annual inspection take?
Most piston annuals take about one to two weeks of calendar time; the hands-on labor is often 12-35+ hours, and findings and parts set the real timeline.
What happens if my aircraft fails its annual?
The IA signs the inspection with a dated list of discrepancies. Once those items are fixed and signed off by a qualified mechanic, you can fly.
What is an IA, and why does it matter for my annual?
An IA is an A&P with FAA Inspection Authorization (14 CFR 65.91-65.95); an annual must be signed off by an IA, a rated repair station, or the manufacturer.
What is included in an annual inspection?
An annual is a full airworthiness inspection of the airframe, engine, prop, and records to at least the scope of 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix D, signed by an IA.
What is the difference between an annual and a 100-hour inspection?
Same scope, different rules: annuals are due every 12 calendar months and need an IA; 100-hours apply to for-hire use and an A&P can sign them.
Costs & Billing
How does Wingman price and bill maintenance work?
Wingman bills labor hourly against an estimate you approve first, takes an hours-based deposit on inspections, and prices each finding for approval.
How much does a 100-hour inspection cost?
A 100-hour inspection usually costs about the same as an annual: inspection labor hours times the shop rate, plus any repairs the owner approves.
How much does an annual inspection cost?
Inspection labor for a piston single typically runs about $1,500-$5,000+, but repairs found during the annual usually decide the final bill.
Engines
How should I care for my engine at high density altitude?
Lean properly for takeoff and climb on normally aspirated engines, manage CHTs with airspeed and cowl flaps, keep filters clean, and fly the engine regularly.
Should I replace one cylinder or do a top overhaul?
Replace one cylinder if the problem is isolated on a healthy engine. If several are bad or TBO is near, a full overhaul is often the better buy.
What does a borescope inspection show?
A borescope lets a mechanic see inside each cylinder without removing it: exhaust valve condition, cylinder wall wear and corrosion, the piston, and cracks.
What does a compression test tell you about an engine?
A differential compression test measures how well each cylinder seals at the rings and valves. It flags leaks; it does not diagnose the cause by itself.
What does oil analysis tell you?
Oil analysis measures wear metals and contaminants in parts per million. Its real value is the trend, which can flag engine wear long before it fails.
When should I overhaul my engine?
Overhaul when condition says so: metal, rising oil use, cam or bottom-end wear, corrosion, or a prop strike. For most Part 91 owners, TBO is not mandatory.
Regulations & ADs
Can I fly with an expired annual?
No. 14 CFR 91.409(a) bars flight without an annual in the past 12 calendar months, with no grace period. The only exception is an FAA special flight permit.
How do I know which ADs apply to my aircraft?
Search the FAA's Dynamic Regulatory System by make and model for the airframe, engine, propeller, and every installed appliance, then check serial numbers.
What are the transponder, pitot-static, and ELT inspection requirements?
Transponders need a test every 24 calendar months (91.413), altimeter and static systems every 24 months for IFR (91.411), and ELTs every 12 months (91.207).
What is an airworthiness directive (AD)?
An airworthiness directive is a legally enforceable FAA rule under 14 CFR Part 39 that requires a fix or inspection to correct an unsafe condition.
What maintenance can an aircraft owner legally do?
An owner with at least a private pilot certificate may do the preventive maintenance listed in 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix A and sign for it, but not inspections.
What makes an aircraft legally airworthy?
An aircraft is airworthy when it conforms to its type design (including approved alterations) and is in condition for safe operation, per 14 CFR 3.5.
Buying an Aircraft
Should I get a pre-buy inspection or an annual when buying an airplane?
Get a pre-buy first to decide whether to buy and negotiate, then an annual for airworthiness; a pre-buy annual can work, but a failed one leaves an entry in the seller's logs.
What logbook red flags should I look for when buying a plane?
Watch for missing or replaced logbooks, gaps in time, no AD status list, missing Form 337s, hidden damage history, and engines with long periods of disuse.
What should a pre-purchase inspection cover?
A good pre-buy covers logbooks and AD status, engine condition, airframe corrosion and damage history, systems and avionics, plus a written report with costs.
Avionics
How long does an avionics upgrade take?
A simple avionics swap typically takes a few days; a navigator one to two weeks, an autopilot two to four, and a full glass panel several weeks or more.
What are the ADS-B Out requirements?
Since Jan. 1, 2020, 14 CFR 91.225 requires ADS-B Out meeting 91.227 standards in most airspace where a Mode C transponder is required, including Class B and C.
Working with Wingman
How do I approve repairs during an inspection?
At Wingman, each finding appears on an online estimate with photos and video, labeled Airworthy, Recommended, or Optional; you approve or decline each item.
How do I schedule maintenance with Wingman?
Call (970) 292-0719 or email hello@wingmanaerocare.com. Annuals are typically booked a few weeks ahead; an hours-based inspection deposit is collected when the aircraft arrives.
What aircraft does Wingman work on?
Wingman AeroCare works on piston singles and twins, including Cirrus, Bonanza, Baron, Cessna singles, and Piper PA-28, PA-32, and piston PA-46.
What do I do if my aircraft is AOG in Northern Colorado?
Don't fly it until it's airworthy. Call Wingman AeroCare at (970) 292-0719 with your tail number, location, and symptoms; after-hours AOG help by arrangement.
What does Wingman's labor warranty cover?
Wingman's labor warranty covers the workmanship on work Wingman performs for 90 days or 100 flight hours, whichever comes first.
What is a managed maintenance program, and is it worth it?
A managed maintenance program gives you one contact who tracks ADs, schedules work, and coordinates shops; it pays off most for busy owners, complex aircraft.
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