What is required when preventive maintenance is accomplished by a pilot?

When a pilot accomplishes preventive maintenance, it is essential to enter a record of that maintenance in the maintenance records. This requirement ensures that there is a formal documentation of all maintenance activities performed on the aircraft, contributing to safety, compliance with regulations, and maintaining the integrity of maintenance history.

This documentation serves multiple purposes: it aids in tracking the aircraft's maintenance history, helps in future inspections, and is beneficial for compliance during audits or reviews by regulatory authorities. Proper maintenance records also support transparency and accountability, ensuring that all maintenance actions are documented and can be verified.

In contrast, other choices may suggest alternatives that do not fulfill regulatory requirements. For instance, entering information in the FAA-approved flight manual would not capture the specific details crucial for maintenance history. Not requiring records at all would also compromise safety and adherence to aviation standards. Lastly, while records submitted directly to the FAA would be relevant for certain reporting situations, they do not replace the necessity of maintaining personal maintenance records in accordance with standard aviation maintenance practices.