A dear friend/super aviation mechanic wrote this, and with his permission I cut and paste it for my own blog...don't judge me :)
The 100 Hour Inspection
Happy April to everybody!
Ever wonder what goes into a basic 100 hr inspection on a WVFC (place I used to work) plane. Well this article will give you a brief description of what service is performed during a 100 hr inspection.
●We perform a thorough engine run up which includes a magneto drop and systems check.
●Next we remove the cowling and perform an oil change. First the engine is solvent washed so it will be easier to inspect. Next we drain the oil. We take an oil sample of your engine oil at every oil change to monitor wear. We inspect the sump screen for excessive contaminants. Then we replace the oil filter and service the engine with oil.
●We remove the bottom spark plugs and perform a compression test of all the cylinders while the engine is hot. We then verify the engine to magneto timing. Next we remove the top spark plugs from the engine. We clean, gap, and test all spark plugs.
●We inspect the exhaust and intake system. We check all engine controls for operation, security, and lube them.
●Next we will closely examine your engine for any signs of abnormal wear or indications of trouble. You might be surprised what we are able to find and prevent from ever becoming an airworthy issue!
●We remove the propeller spinner and inspect the bulk heads. We inspect the propeller for nicks and dress the propeller blades.
●We jack up both left hand and right hand main gears. Next we will inspect all tires and brakes for wear. We service the tires with air per the appropriate maintenance manual. We then jack up the nose gear. We inspect the tire, torque links, steering mechanism and shimmy damper. We service the tires with air and the strut with nitrogen if needed.
●We open all the wing, fuselage, belly and interior inspection panels. Next we inspect all control surfaces including ailerons, flaps, rudder, and elevator. We then lube all control surfaces appropriately.
●We perform an ops check on all lights both interior and exterior. We also check the stall warning horn and the pitot heat function.
●We then remove the main battery, service the battery and charge it.
● In the cabin of the aircraft we check seats, seat tracks, control yokes, lights, gauges, placards, rudder pedals, pilot and co-pilot push to talks, and lube all controls.
●We service the brake fluid reservoir with hydraulic fluid.
●We will next comply with any AD's that apply during this inspection. Next we will address any squawks or observations that have been reported from the last 50 hours of flight.
●We then proceed to wipe down the belly of the aircraft with solvent, clean the inside and outside windows, and vacuum the interior of the aircraft. We then put the aircraft back together and prepare it for the engine run-up. We will run the engine and check for any leaks or other signs of trouble.
Finally we make appropriate log book entries, update the time in Cassi (computer system at WVFC), and clear any squawks.
Your aircraft and your safety are our primary concerns!
