Beyond logging your hours as Remote Pilot in Command, you should also be tracking the hours on your drones. This includes creating and sticking to a drone Maintenance Schedule. Below, we break down exactly what to check before and after every flight, which tasks to repeat each month, and the deep maintenance milestones that keep your sUAS airworthy and Part 107-compliant.
Key Takeaways
- Inspect your drone before AND after every single flight — not just once in a while.
- Replace propellers as a matched set, never one at a time, to avoid vibration and imbalance.
- Part 107 doesn’t require a written maintenance log, but the FAA strongly recommends keeping one anyway.
- Give your frame and hardware a closer look every 10–20 flights or once a month, whichever comes first.
- Plan for deeper service — motor bearings, GPS diagnostics, full log review — every 100–200 flight hours or twice a year.
- Store LiPo batteries at 40–65% charge if they’ll sit idle for 10+ days.
- A logged maintenance history helps to protect you in insurance claims, resale, and any FAA accident reporting.
What Is a Drone Maintenance Schedule?
A drone maintenance requirements schedule is a structured routine of pre- and post-flight checks, periodic (monthly) inspections, and deep maintenance milestones that keep a small unmanned aircraft (sUAS) airworthy and compliant with FAA Part 107. A consistent schedule catches small problems (a hairline prop crack, a swelling battery cell) before they turn into a crash, a grounded aircraft, or a denied insurance claim. A detailed maintenance log showcases your professionalism and attention to detail as a Part 107 pilot.
Pre- and Post-Flight Checks (Every Flight)
These are the checks you run every time you fly, no exceptions; before you take off and again once you land. Below are the drone safety best practices you should follow every flight:
Propellers
Look over each blade for chips, cracks, or warping before you power up. Spin them by hand and feel for any grinding or resistance. If a prop looks even slightly off, swap it out. A cracked prop that fails mid-flight isn’t a minor issue.
Batteries
Check the charge level, then take a real look at the pack itself: puffiness, swelling, or any leakage is a hard no. A damaged battery isn’t worth the risk of flying it “just this once.”
Motors, Chassis & Lens
Clear any dirt, grass, or debris from the motors and airframe, and wipe down the chassis. Give the gimbal a nudge to make sure it moves freely in every direction; a sticky gimbal usually means dirt or damage underneath.
Firmware & Calibration
Confirm both the drone and controller are running current firmware before you fly, and recalibrate the compass or IMU any time the app prompts you to. These checks tie directly into the preflight requirements under §107.49, so skipping them isn’t just risky — it’s non-compliant.
Periodic Maintenance (Every 10–20 Flights or Monthly)
Beyond your everyday checks, set aside time every 10–20 flights, or at least once a month, for a closer inspection.
Start with the frame and chassis. Look for stress cracks, especially around the arms and camera mount, and check that every screw is still tight; vibration works fasteners loose over time, even when nothing looks wrong on the surface.
Next, recalibrate the compass and IMU. Even if your firmware hasn’t flagged an issue, magnetic interference from new flying locations or minor drift can throw off your readings without any obvious warning sign.
Finally, run your batteries through a full discharge and recharge cycle every 10–20 cycles, or roughly every three months. This resets the battery’s internal calibration and helps preserve LiPo cell health over the long run. Skip this practice consistently, and you’ll shorten your pack’s usable life.
None of this takes long, but it’s the difference between catching a problem in your garage and catching it mid-flight.
Deep Maintenance (Every 100–200 Flight Hours or 6 Months)
This is your deeper service interval: the point where you go beyond visual checks and actually dig in.
Replace your propellers as a full matched set, even if only one shows wear. Mixing old and new props introduces imbalance you’ll feel as vibration, and over time that vibration stresses your motors and gimbal.
Inspect motor bearings closely for grinding, resistance, or any “motor obstructed” warning from your flight app. Caught early, a failing bearing is a cheap fix. Caught late, it’s a replaced motor, or worse.
Pull your full flight logs and actually review them, not just skim them. Patterns like a battery that’s been discharging faster than usual, or a motor that’s been running warmer, tend to show up in the data before they show up as a visible problem.
Round it out with a GPS and telemetry diagnostic check to confirm your positioning and data links are still performing the way they should. The FAA’s maintenance guidance is a solid reference if you want a more detailed rundown of what a thorough inspection should cover.
Your Drone Maintenance Schedule at a Glance
| Interval | What to do |
| Every flight (pre & post) | Inspect propellers for chips/cracks/warping; check battery charge and inspect for swelling; clear debris from motors, chassis, and camera lens; verify firmware on drone and controller. |
| Every 10–20 flights / monthly | Inspect frame and chassis for stress cracks and loose screws; calibrate compass and IMU; discharge and recharge batteries to maintain cell health. |
| Every 100–200 flight hours / 6 months | Replace propellers as a matched set; inspect motor bearings for grinding or obstruction warnings; review full flight logs; run GPS and telemetry diagnostics. |
Caring for Your Drone Batteries (LiPo)
LiPo batteries are the part of your drone most likely to fail you if you neglect them, and they need a bit more care than a “charge it and go” routine.
If a pack is going to sit idle for 10 or more days, store it at a 40–65% charge rather than fully charged or fully drained. Both extremes stress the cells over time. Keep your batteries somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight or a hot car trunk.
Watch for cell-voltage imbalance, where one cell in the pack reads noticeably different from the others. That’s an early warning sign of a pack going bad. And in cold weather, preheat your battery before flight; a cold LiPo delivers less power and is more prone to voltage sag mid-flight.
Does Part 107 Require a Maintenance Schedule?
Not exactly. Part 107 requires that your aircraft be in a condition for safe operation and that you complete a preflight check before every flight, but it doesn’t mandate a specific maintenance program or a written logbook. That said, the FAA strongly recommends keeping one anyway. It’s the easiest way to demonstrate due diligence if you’re ever questioned after an incident. For the full regulatory breakdown, see our Part 107 documentation you must carry.
Keeping Maintenance Records
A good maintenance log doesn’t need to be complicated, just consistent. For each entry, note the date, the component involved, the flight hours or cycle count at the time of service, and who performed the work.
This record pays off in ways that aren’t obvious until you need it: it makes troubleshooting recurring issues far easier, it can boost resale value by showing a well-cared-for aircraft, and it’s often requested by insurers or the FAA if you’re ever involved in a reportable accident. Looking to track flight time as well as maintenance? Check out Should You Log Your Flights? for that side of the equation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I replace drone propellers?
Replace them as soon as you spot chips, cracks, or warping, and always swap the full set rather than a single blade. Even without visible damage, most pilots replace props at the 100–200 flight hour deep-maintenance mark.
Does Part 107 require a preflight inspection?
Yes. Every Part 107 flight requires a preflight check to confirm the aircraft is safe to fly, though the FAA leaves the specific checklist up to the pilot. Refer to 14 CFR 107.49 for the exact regulation.
Can I do my own drone maintenance?
For most consumer and prosumer drones, yes — prop swaps, cleaning, firmware updates, and calibration are all things pilots handle themselves. More involved repairs, like internal motor or board issues, are usually better left to a certified repair service.
How often should I calibrate my drone?
Recalibrate your compass and IMU whenever your app prompts you to, and build it into your periodic maintenance routine every 10–20 flights or once a month.
Should I keep a maintenance log?
It’s not required under Part 107, but yes, it’s one of the simplest habits that pays off in troubleshooting, resale value, and liability protection down the road.
Stay Airworthy With MzeroA
A solid maintenance routine protects more than your aircraft. It protects your clients, your reputation, and your remote pilot certificate. If you want to build habits like this into every part of your flying, MzeroA’s Remote Pilot Ground School covers it alongside everything else you need to fly safely and stay compliant. Try it free, no credit card required, at mzeroa.com/store.