Not true. IA's do this and its a good way to get your ticket pulled if an FAA inspector goes thru the logs. FAR 43 appendix D specifically says:
Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall, before that inspection, remove or open all necessary inspection plates, access doors, fairing, and cowling. He shall thoroughly clean the aircraft and aircraft engine.
The only person that can perform an annual is an IA. Therefore he technically is the one that's supposed to do the above. Including cleaning it! This is precisely the regulation the inspectors use to bust IA's signing off annuals following a 100 hour inspection by another mechanic. Because even they are smart enough to know that it makes no sense to open the airplane up twice. Now there is a gray area about having supervised help remove the panels and cleaning.
bob..please tell me where in.43 App D it says anything that the IA has to perform the inspectiion ...an A&P can perform a 100 hr Inspection and sign for it. The same inspection can constitute an annual inspection after the IA confirms all the work perofrmed under the 100 hours inspection is C/W and then the IA alone can sign as an annual and return to service.....do you know that I can inspect a King Air, citations,, falcons, etc... and return to service without an IA iaw their inspection programs since they are not considered annuals....The key word is ANNUAL.
I am not trying to be argumentative abour the subject here but i made a living out of my tool box in both the airline and general aviation both on a repair station and working as a former IA. This is not the first time this argument is raised....Hundreths of shops in the US operate the same way...you may want to read 43.11, 43,13 and, 43.15
43.7 b) The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection authorization may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 65 of this chapter.
Here is the FAR specifying IA's job.... Under 65.95(2) me as an A&P can perform the 100 hr and the annual inspection (if it is going to be signed as an annual) and be supervised by the IA.
65.95 Inspection authorization: Privileges and limitations.
(a) The holder of an inspection authorization may?
(1) Inspect and approve for return to service any aircraft or related part or appliance (except any aircraft maintained in accordance with a continuous airworthiness program under part 121 of this chapter) after a major repair or major alteration to it in accordance with part 43 [New] of this chapter, if the work was done in accordance with technical data approved by the Administrator; and
(2) Perform an annual, or perform or supervise a progressive inspection according to ??43.13 and 43.15 of this chapter........................