Applewhite Aero ● applewhiteaero.com ● 309 S Cloverdale St Unit D-24 Seattle, WA 98108 ● 

206.762.5285

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Applewhite Aero

Oculus Inspection and Maintenance Program
Applewhite Aero

Oculus Inspection and Maintenance Program

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Record of Changes

Rev. Date Pages Affected REVISIONS AUTHOR CHECK APPROVED

1 6/2/2015 ALL Created Document JDP JME PGA

Source Document

This document addresses requirements of 14 CFR 91.

Reference Document

This document references FAA Order 8130.34C.
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Table of Contents

1.Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................3

A. Purpose of this document....................................................................................................................3

B. Acceptable Inspections and Maintenance Mechanics.........................................................................3

C. Maintaining Records...........................................................................................................................3

2.Yearly Condition Inspection and Interval Condition Inspection ...............................................................3

A. Oculus UAS ........................................................................................................................................3

Fuselage ................................................................................................................................................3

Wing .....................................................................................................................................................4

Elevator and Rudder .............................................................................................................................4

Motor Package and Propeller................................................................................................................4

Avionics and Electrical System ............................................................................................................4

Inspection Completion..........................................................................................................................5

B. Oculus Subsystems..............................................................................................................................5

Laptop Computer..................................................................................................................................5

Transmitter (Hand Controller)..............................................................................................................5

Generator ..............................................................................................................................................5

C. Launch and Recovery System.............................................................................................................5

3.Special Inspections....................................................................................................................................5

Hard Landing ........................................................................................................................................5

RC Lost Link ........................................................................................................................................6

Autopilot Lost Link ..............................................................................................................................6

Poor Control Input Response................................................................................................................6

4.Oculus UAS Maintenance and Repair.......................................................................................................6

A. Structural Damage Replacement.........................................................................................................7

Fuselage Replacement ..........................................................................................................................7

Wing Replacement................................................................................................................................7

Rudder Replacement.............................................................................................................................7

Elevator Replacement...........................................................................................................................7

Propeller Replacement..........................................................................................................................7

B. Electrical Component Failure..............................................................................................................8

Servo Replacement ...............................................................................................................................8

Motor Replacement...............................................................................................................................8

Motor ESC Replacement ......................................................................................................................8

Ardupilot Firmware Update..................................................................................................................8

C. Oculus Subsystems Maintenance........................................................................................................8

5.Appendix ...................................................................................................................................................9
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Oculus Inspection and Maintenance Program

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1. Introduction

A. Purpose of this document

The purpose of this document is to provide an inspection and maintenance schedule for the 

Oculus Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). Careful adherence to the manufacturer’s inspection and 

maintenance program is critical for continued flight safety.

B. Acceptable Inspections and Maintenance Mechanics 

AFS-300 has recognized Applewhite Aero as the manufacturer of the Oculus UAS and that the 

company is qualified to conduct inspections and maintenance. Only trained Applewhite Aero 

employees and individuals trained by Applewhite Aero to conduct inspections and maintenance 

on the Oculus UAS may perform the inspections and maintenance required by the operating 

limitations.

C. Maintaining Records

All maintenance of the Oculus UAS and its subsystems shall be recorded in their respective 

inspection/maintenance records. 

1) Inspection entries must contain the following, or a similarly worded, statement: 

I certify that this UAS was inspected on (date), in accordance with the scope and 

detail of Applewhite Aero’s Oculus Inspection and Maintenance Program, and 

was found to be in a condition for safe operation.

2) Maintenance record entries must include a description of the work performed, the date of 

completion for the work, the UAS’s (or UAS Subsystem’s) total time-in-service, and the 

name and signature of the person performing the work.

3) UAS instruments and equipment required to be installed must be inspected and maintained in 

accordance with the requirements of the appropriate section of Applewhite Aero’s Oculus 

Inspection and Maintenance Program. Any maintenance or inspection of this equipment must 

be recorded in the UAS maintenance records.

2. Yearly Condition Inspection and Interval Condition Inspection

A condition inspection must be completed every year or every 100 hours of flight time, whichever 

requirement occurs first. Yearly and interval inspections use the same procedure. The aircraft, laptop 

computer and RC transmitter all follow the above inspection timing requirement. The generator 

inspection timing is listed in its respective section.

A. Oculus UAS

Fuselage

1. Deterioration, distortion, other evidence of failure to structure

2. Fit of front hatch attachment

3. Condition of elevator attachment, state of foam hinge
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4. Fuselage motor mount. All mounting screws secure

5. Component mounts- Velcro and screws in good shape and secure

6. Attachment of main carbon tube, secure to fuselage

Wing

1. Deterioration, distortion, other evidence of failure to structure

2. Attachment to fuselage and alignment. Support bolt intact from left wing to right wing 

through fuselage. With support bolt in place, left and right wing mounted approximately 

parallel to fuselage.

3. Ailerons and flaps on both wings secure and move freely between recommended throw 

distances Figure 2

4. Aileron and flap servos and aileron and flap connections. Aileron servos secure below 

left and right wings. Push rod connects ailerons to aileron horns. Aileron horns securely 

fastened to ailerons.

5. Spar connector secure and complete with screw. Still provides a tight fit with the spar and 

prevents disconnection

Elevator and Rudder

1. Deterioration, distortion, other evidence of failure to structure

2. Attachment to fuselage. Tail securely fixed to main carbon tube- screw is tight, and the fit 

is still firm and still prevent rotation.

3. Elevator and rudder control surfaces secure to tails and move between recommended 

throw distances in Figure 2

4. Control horns securely fastened to both control surfaces

5. Elevator servo and elevator push rod movement. Elevator servo secure to side of vertical 

tail. Push rod between elevator and elevator servo intact and secure.

6. Rudder servo and rudder push rod movement. Rudder servo secure to side of vertical tail. 

Push rod between rudder and rudder servo intact and secure.

7. Wiring is still all connected without pinching and secure in designated grooves

Motor Package and Propeller

1. Deterioration, distortion, other evidence of failure to structure

2. Propeller securely fastened to propeller shaft

3. Propeller secured to motor, free to rotate

4. Motor connections to ESC

Avionics and Electrical System

1. Deterioration, distortion, other evidence of failure to RC receiver and autopilot system

2. Electrical connections between receiver and autopilot, refer to Figure 3

3. Electrical connections between autopilot and ESC, servos, refer to Figure 3

4. Electrical connections between autopilot and GPS, telemetry system, refer to Figure 3

5. Battery condition. Swelling of packaging, connections
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Inspection Completion

1. Clean all interior and exterior components

2. Preflight inspection

B. Oculus Subsystems

Laptop Computer

1. Check ground control station software loads correctly

2. Check for ground control station software updates

3. Check for damage to ground control station telemetry hardware

4. Test ground control communications link with UA

Transmitter (Hand Controller)

1. Check for radio cover damage

2. Test full range of motion of sticks and switches using monitors section

3. Test communications with receiver

Generator

The generator must be inspected every year, or 100 hours of run time, whichever occurs first.

1. Clean exterior

2. Oil change every 100 hours of run time

3. Test 10 minutes, check for proper functionality

C. Launch and Recovery System

The Oculus UAS is a hand launched aircraft and is manually recovered. No 

inspection/maintenance is required.

3. Special Inspections

Special inspections of the UA and/or subsystems must be completed after a flight anomaly. If a flight 

anomaly occurs, it is necessary to perform the appropriate special inspection to determine the flight status 

of the aircraft.

Hard Landing

Following a hard landing, the UA must be inspected for damage before returning to flight.

1. Check for structural damage or damage to foam on wings

2. Check for structural damage on fuselage, focus on nose and wing joint areas

3. If battery swelling, handle with care and remove immediately 

4. Check avionics for movement and loosened wires

5. Check for damage to control surfaces and linkages

6. If above check normal, power UA following normal procedures and test movement of all 

control surfaces in manual and stabilize mode
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RC Lost Link

Following a radio control lost link, the UAS must be inspected before the UA returns to flight. 

The UA must pass all checks, 1-6. Typically the problem is found in 1-5. If the range check in 

step 6 is found to be inadequate, further investigation is required before the UA returns to flight.

1. Check UA battery for charge, if necessary insert charged battery

2. Check RC transmitter battery charge

3. Check RC transmitter for appropriate model number

4. Check UA wiring

5. Re-bind RC receiver to transmitter following appropriate RC manual

6. Perform range check. Separate RC transmitter and UA by at least 200 ft. Check for 

normal control surface movement at variety of UA orientations.

Autopilot Lost Link

Following an autopilot lost link, the UAS must be inspected before the UA returns to flight. The 

UA must pass all checks, 1-6. Typically the problem is found in 1-5. If the range check in step 6 

is found to be inadequate, further investigation is required before the UA returns to flight.

1. Check UAS battery for charge, if necessary insert charged battery

2. Check UAS wiring

3. Check GCS computer and telemetry unit USB cord connections

4. Close autopilot Mission Planner, restart computer, reopen autopilot Mission Planner

5. Check autopilot Mission Planner for appropriate COM port and baud rate

6. Perform range check. Separate GCS and UA by at least 200 ft. Check for telemetry signal 

strength for value above 90%.

Poor Control Input Response

If the control input response in the pitch, roll or yaw directions is found to be weak or 

unnoticeable, the UA must be inspected before returning to flight. Typically the problem is found 

in 1-5. If response remains poor, the most likely cause of the problem is either the programing of 

the RC transmitter or autopilot. In this case, the user should refer to the appropriate manual to 

adjust the throw range of the surface.

1. Check linkage between servo and control surface for appropriate fastening

2. Check linkage attachment to fuselage

3. Check control surface hinge for proper movement

4. Check control surface control horn for secure fastening to surface

5. Check UAS wiring

4. Oculus UAS Maintenance and Repair

Individuals trained by Applewhite Aero may perform all maintenance and repairs found in section 4. If 

the maintenance is beyond the scope of section 4, the aircraft must be rebuilt by Applewhite Aero.
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A. Structural Damage Replacement 

Structural damage is defined as damage which could prevent the UA from flying safely on its 

next flight. If a component is found to have structural damage, it must be replaced by a 

manufacturer replacement part.

Fuselage Replacement 

1. Disconnect electrical connections between autopilot and all servos, ESC

2. Remove autopilot, receiver, battery, elevator and rudder servos

3. Remove motor assembly by removing both mounting screws

4. Remove both wings and steel support bolt

5. Remove carbon tube connection to tail

6. Replace motor assembly by securing both mounting screws

7. Replace carbon support rods through fuselage

8. Replace wings, using screw to fasten each to fuselage, refer to Figure 7

9. Insert autopilot, receiver and battery

10. Reconnect electrical connections between autopilot and all servos, ESC, refer to Figure 3

Wing Replacement 

1. Disconnect electrical connections between autopilot and wing servos

2. Disconnect aileron and flap push rod from aileron and flap control horns

3. Remove aileron servo and push rod

4. Remove damaged wing

5. Insert new wing, using screw to fasten each to fuselage, refer to Figure 7

6. Securely replace aileron servo on new wing with glue

7. Connect aileron push rod to aileron control horn

8. Reconnect electrical connections between autopilot and wing servos, refer to Figure 3

Rudder Replacement

1. Disconnect rudder push rod and rudder control horn

2. Remove damaged rudder 

3. Secure replacement rudder in mount

4. Connect rudder push rod at outer hole of elevator control horn by pinching clevis pin and 

sliding rubber band over clevis pin, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6

Elevator Replacement 

1. Disconnect elevator servo from push rod

2. Remove elevator

3. Install replacement elevator into tail, refer to Figure 4

4. Connect elevator push rod at outer hole of elevator control horn by pinching clevis pin 

and sliding rubber band over clevis pin, refer to Figure 5

Propeller Replacement 

1. Remove damaged propeller by applying pressure to the motor shaft and equal pressure to 

both blades

2. Insert replacement propeller by applying pressure to the motor shaft equal pressure to 

both blades 
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B. Electrical Component Failure

If electrical hardware becomes faulty, it must be replaced by a manufacturer replacement part. If 

software becomes faulty, it must be updated by the latest available firmware.

Servo Replacement 

1. Disconnect electrical connection between autopilot and servo

2. Disconnect servo from attached push rod

3. Remove damaged servo

4. Insert replacement servo securely using glue

5. Connect servo to push rod

6. Reconnect electrical connection between autopilot and servo

Motor Replacement

1. Disconnect electrical connections with autopilot and motor ESC.

2. Remove both motor mount screws from fuselage

3. Remove motor and motor mount from airframe

4. Insert replacement motor and motor mount

5. Replace both motor mount screws on fuselage

6. Reconnect electrical connections between autopilot and motor ESC, refer to Figure 3

Motor ESC Replacement

1. Disconnect electrical connections with autopilot and motor 

2. Remove motor ESC

3. Insert replacement motor ESC

4. Reconnect electrical connections with autopilot and motor, refer to Figure 3

Ardupilot Firmware Update

1. Follow DIY Drones Ardupilot manual, found here:

http://plane.ardupilot.com/wiki/table-of-contents/

C. Oculus Subsystems Maintenance 

All Oculus subsystems should be maintained per their corresponding manuals.
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5. Appendix

Figure 1: Weight and balance

Figure 2: Control throw settings for elevator, aileron and rudder
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Figure 3: Electrical diagram

Figure 4: Tail Position and Connection

 

 
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Figure 5: Elevator Pushrod Attachment Figure 6: Rudder Pushrod Attachment

 

Figure 7: Wing Attachment