Kevin Carbone of Winchester, Va., advises pilots to find a shop that permits owner assisted annuals.
Bring your own tools. Start with the basics. Remove seats and floor boards to expose stuff. Remove any wing covers, tail cone, engine cover top and bottom. Do the oil change and filter as needed. Get an AvLab test kit. Be handy to help with stuff that requires two people, like testing lights, gear retracts. Change the battery and log it.
A good shop appreciates owner assists and you are getting “intimate” with the flying machine. The extra bonus is that you trim 30% to 60% from the invoice and you learn “stuff.”
Source: http://generalaviationnews.comTip: Assist in your annual