What regulation allows a private pilot to perform preventative maintenance?

• A. 14 CFR part 47.3
• B. 14 CFR part 43
• C. 14 CFR part 91
• D. 14 CFR part 65

Answer: (A)

Preventive maintenance on your own aircraft is allowed under 14 CFR Part 43. This part covers maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations, and it specifies who may perform the work and how it must be documented. For a private pilot, that means you can perform routine, non-technical tasks (like basic inspections, oil changes, tire inflation, replacing certain small components) as long as the work is within the approved scope and you follow proper procedures and recordkeeping. If a task is beyond routine or requires specialized expertise, a certified mechanic should do the work, and you still must have the maintenance properly logged.

Other parts don’t fit this purpose: Part 47.3 deals with registration, not maintenance; Part 91 governs general operating rules, not who may perform maintenance; and Part 65 covers certification of mechanics and repair specialists, not what a private pilot is allowed to do. Therefore, the regulation that allows a private pilot to perform preventive maintenance is 14 CFR Part 43.