Overview
Preventive maintenance is regarded as simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts, not involving complex assembly operations. Any certificated pilot, excluding student pilots, sport pilots, and recreational pilots, may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft that is owned or operated by them provided that the aircraft is not used in air carrier service.
Some examples of preventive maintenance are replacing safety belts, changing engine oil, replacing landing gear tires, and updating the navigational database in a panel-mounted GPS. The complete list of approved preventive maintenance items is located in Appendix A of 14 CFR Part 43.