maintenance

Just because you spent big on the latest digital comm transceiver doesn’t mean it will perform any better than the one it replaced. Antennas matter—a lot.

Operating out of unimproved runways takes a toll on a Cessna nosewheel, but upgrading the shimmy damper can help over the long term.

The engine just doesn’t seem to be acting normally in power output. What’s the first thing to check?

Savvy Aviation’s project to add borescope imagery to its database on cylinder condition has generated massive amounts of data and some interesting results.

Just because it isn’t leaking oil doesn’t mean it’s doing its job. Proactive cleaning or replacement is worth the effort and expense.

Don’t throw good money after bad on major repairs to aging autopilots—or pay full price for a used airplane with one that hasn’t been upgraded.

Six-year life-limited components, the pyrotechnic line cutter replacement is a straightforward task, but bring it to the pros.

Prices are up on propeller overhauls and repair, but the good shops do a lot more than minimum standards and that can make them last longer.

We offer logical advice for chasing fluctuations in fuel pressure on a Lycoming IO-540 and a DIY process for making sure a Cessna flies true.

If the tech fixed three items, one of them will try to kill you.

Walking the floor of a hustling maintenance shop the other day, it was easy to spot planes—old Rockwells, twin Cessnas, Bonanzas—you would want to buy because these days, the better shops only work on well-maintained machines. If you buy a rat with pages of major squawks, don’t be surprised when a shop manager unapologetically tells […]

In many cases, more than the existing weight and balance report shows. When in doubt, roll it up on the scales.