Annual

The 182 went in this week for it's annual inspection. The mechanics are doing a very thorough job and found a few non-conforming parts on the mixture control. It's interesting how non-aviation fittings and assemblies end up in an airplane. It baffles one's mind how a trained A&P can use a part from a hardware store or something that looks like it will fit, instead of using an FAA approved part. In any case, the correct parts are now in place. Most of the maintenance items are minor but a couple of note were a damaged gascolator which was letting some unfiltered fuel into the system and some corrosion where the nose gear strut attaches to the firewall. The gascolator is being replaced and the strut attachment is being re-enforced with new screws.

I also learned about FAA form 337 and STC certificates that have to be accounted for each modification. I spent an hour or so sorting through a box of airplane documents looking for relevent maintenance papers. After this annual, all paperwork will be in a easily accessable binder, which will make the paper trail portion of future inspections mush easier.