Components

Chapter 6: Components

Overview

Components represent the trackable parts and equipment on your aircraft. From engines and propellers to avionics and life-limited parts, the component system helps you maintain detailed records of each item's history, specifications, and maintenance requirements.

Understanding Components

What is a Component?

A component is any part of your aircraft that you want to track separately:

  • Engines: Track hours, TBO, overhauls
  • Propellers: Track hours, maintenance, AD compliance
  • Avionics: Track installations, software updates
  • Accessories: Alternators, magnetos, vacuum pumps
  • Life-Limited Parts: Seat belts, ELT batteries

Component Hierarchy

Components can be organized in a parent-child structure:

Airframe
├── Engine (Lycoming O-360-A4M)
│   ├── Magneto - Left
│   ├── Magneto - Right
│   ├── Alternator
│   └── Starter
├── Propeller (McCauley 1A170)
└── Avionics
    ├── Garmin GTN 750Xi
    ├── Garmin GNS 430W
    └── Transponder - GTX 345

This hierarchy helps you:
- Organize related components
- Track component-specific ADs
- View maintenance history by system

Adding Components

From Setup Wizard

When you first add an aircraft, the setup wizard offers to create common components:
- Main engine(s)
- Propeller(s)
- Major systems

Manual Creation

  1. Navigate to Aircraft > Components
  2. Click Add Component
  3. Fill in the component details (see below)
  4. Click Save Component

Component Fields

Field Description Example
Name Descriptive name "Engine" or "Left Magneto"
Manufacturer Who made it Lycoming
Model Model number O-360-A4M
Serial Number Unique identifier L-12345-51A
Part Number Manufacturer's P/N (optional)
TBO Time Between Overhaul 2000
Manufacture Date When it was built 1985-03-15
Total Time Current total hours 1543.5
Time Since Overhaul Hours since last major overhaul 543.5
Book Type Associated logbook Engine
Parent Component Hierarchy parent Airframe (or None)
Notes Additional information "Factory reman installed 2020"

Viewing Components

Component List

Navigate to Aircraft > Components to see all components:

  • Name and identification
  • Hours information
  • Status indicators
  • Quick actions

Component Detail View

Click a component to see:

  • Specifications: All component details
  • Maintenance History: Logbook entries linked to this component
  • ADs: Airworthiness Directives applicable to this component
  • Documents: Attached files
  • Children: Sub-components (if hierarchical)

Hierarchy View

Toggle between:
- Flat list: All components in a simple list
- Tree view: Hierarchical organization

Managing Component Hours

Total Time

The cumulative hours on the component since new (or since last major overhaul that resets time).

Time Since Major Overhaul (TSMOH)

Hours accumulated since the last major overhaul:
- Relevant for engines, props, and other overhauled items
- Used to calculate TBO remaining
- Resets to zero after overhaul

Updating Hours

Component hours can be updated:

  1. Through logbook entries: When you link a logbook entry to a component and include hours
  2. Manual update: Edit the component directly

Best Practice: Link logbook entries to components so hours update automatically.

Component Documents

What to Attach

  • 8130-3 Export Airworthiness Approval Tags
  • Overhaul records
  • Service bulletins completed
  • Installation paperwork
  • Warranty information
  • Photos

Uploading Documents

  1. Edit the component
  2. Scroll to Documents & Images
  3. Upload files (images or PDFs)
  4. Save the component

Component and AD Tracking

Component-Specific ADs

Some ADs apply to specific components rather than the airframe:
- Engine ADs
- Propeller ADs
- Avionics ADs

When creating or editing an AD, you can assign it to a specific component.

Viewing Component ADs

On the component detail page, you'll see:
- All ADs assigned to this component
- Compliance status for each
- Due dates based on component hours

Editing Components

  1. Navigate to the component
  2. Click Edit
  3. Modify fields as needed
  4. Click Save Changes

Changing Parent Component

  1. Edit the component
  2. Select a new Parent Component from the dropdown
  3. Save changes

The component moves in the hierarchy.

Deleting Components

  1. Navigate to the component
  2. Click Edit
  3. Scroll down and click Delete
  4. Confirm deletion

Warning: Deleting a component:
- Removes the component record
- Does NOT delete linked logbook entries
- Does NOT delete child components (they become top-level)
- Removes component-AD assignments

Common Component Types

Engines

Key fields to track:
- Manufacturer (Lycoming, Continental, etc.)
- Model (O-360-A4M, IO-550-N)
- Serial number
- TBO (Time Between Overhaul)
- Total time
- TSMOH

Related maintenance:
- Oil changes
- Compressions
- Magneto timing
- Overhauls

Propellers

Key fields:
- Manufacturer (McCauley, Hartzell)
- Model and hub serial
- Blade serial numbers (in notes)
- TBO
- Total time

Related maintenance:
- Inspections
- Dynamic balancing
- Overhauls
- Blade repairs

Avionics

Key fields:
- Manufacturer (Garmin, etc.)
- Model
- Serial number
- Part number
- Installation date (in notes)

Related maintenance:
- Software updates
- Database updates
- Inspections
- Repairs

Life-Limited Parts

Parts with calendar or hour limits:

Examples:
- ELT batteries (calendar life)
- Seat belts (calendar life)
- Fire extinguisher (service date)
- Vacuum pump (hour limit)

Track expiration dates in the component notes or through schedules.

Best Practices

Be Complete

Enter all identifying information. Serial numbers are crucial for tracking.

Use Hierarchy

Organize components logically. Put magnetos under the engine, not at the top level.

Track Hours

Keep component hours current, especially for engines and props.

Always link maintenance entries to the relevant component.

Attach Documentation

Upload 8130-3 tags, overhaul records, and installation docs.

Document Overhauls

When a component is overhauled:
1. Update TSMOH to 0
2. Attach overhaul paperwork
3. Create a logbook entry documenting the installation

Component Scenarios

New Engine Installation

  1. Edit the old engine component, add note "Removed [date]"
  2. Create new component for the new engine
  3. Enter all specifications from data plate
  4. Set TSMOH (may be 0 if new/overhauled)
  5. Upload 8130-3 and installation paperwork
  6. Create logbook entry documenting the change
  7. Link logbook entry to new engine

Propeller Overhaul

  1. Create logbook entry describing the overhaul
  2. Link entry to propeller component
  3. Edit component, set TSMOH to 0
  4. Update total time
  5. Attach overhaul records
  6. Add notes about what was done

Avionics Upgrade

  1. If replacing, note removal in old component
  2. Create new component for new equipment
  3. Document installation in logbook entry
  4. Attach STCs, 337s, and installation paperwork
  5. Update aircraft equipment list

← Previous: Logbook Entries | Next: Airworthiness Directives →

Was this helpful? Send feedback