Permit Renewal Inspection (For the U.K. *).
Following the guidelines below should enable your inspector to carry out an effective and time efficient inspection for the revalidation of the Permit to Fly of your Europa.
• The aircraft should be presented for inspection recently cleaned inside and out, all tools, charts, headsets, seat cushions, and any other non-relevant paraphernalia, etc. removed from the cockpit, but with temporary or removable equipment such as a hand-held radio or a moving map tablet mounted as they would be in flight, ideally already de-rigged on a reasonably clean and level surface and with good access to the fuselage, both sides of the wings and the tailplanes and in an environment that is well lit, dry and protected from the elements.
• Avoid the distraction of children and animals being around during the inspection and limit other people to those who might be assisting during the inspection process.
• Ensure that all routine maintenance tasks have been carried out beforehand and a worksheet prepared or logbook entries made that detail the work done since the previous inspection. E.g. oil and filter changed, fuel and air filters clean, wing and tailplane rigging pins and sockets, tailplane torque tube and all moving parts cleaned and re-lubricated. Take care not to over grease parts, especially the undercarriage retraction mechanism, to minimise attracting dust and grit.
• Engine cowlings and all access panels should be removed. These may be replaced following inspection of the relevant area (check first), but try and avoid shaking the aircraft about when tightening attachment bolts while the inspection is going on.
• Have available something for your inspector to lie on, particularly if the floor is dusty or dirty.
• For the undercarriage retraction check on the Monowheel, have ready the means to safely support the rigged aircraft, up off the main wheel and to support at least the port wing to prevent the fuselage rolling while someone operates the retraction lever. Using an engine hoist with good condition lifting straps around the landing gear frame upper fittings is one satisfactory way of lifting the aircraft.
• On a suitable table in good light, have available for examination by your inspector the following documentation:
i) The airframe logbook (up to date).
ii) The engine logbook (up to date).
iii) The propeller logbook - VP propellers only (up to date).
iv) The aircraft’s Operating Limitations document (this forms part of the
Permit to Fly, so if lost, a replacement will need to have been purchased
from LAA).
v) The current Weight and Balance report.
vi) The current Aircraft Radio Licence.
vii) A copy of any MPDs, SBs, etc. that have been carried out since the
previous inspection.
viii) A copy of documentation that concerns any ongoing modifications or
repairs.
ix) The worksheet(s) detailing maintenance and other work carried out since
the previous inspection.
Andy Draper. LAA Inspector number 591. October 2021
*For the benefit of non U.K. members, the inspection of Europa aircraft in the U.K. is devolved to the LAA by consent of the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority. The LAA annual inspection sometimes referred to as the ‘permit renewal’, is one of the main activities each year in the life of an LAA aircraft. A time to do the annual maintenance check and fly it to a schedule to check handling and performance. An aircraft’s Permit to Fly is validated by a Certificate of Validity (CoV) that is issued by the LAA annually on satisfactory completion of an inspection and check flight.
UK LAA Permit Revalidation System overview - 19 min video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOGRQ89dOA8
