Here is part of a hand out issued by a Flying Instructor Examiner who was formerly Head of Enforcement UK.
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The Check A
I have found that the following questions are not answered well by flying instructors whether assistant or full or for initial issue or renewal.
Q1. What documents have to be complied with for the Certificate of Airworthiness to be valid?
The answer, you will know is;
i) the Flight Manual / Pilots Operating Handbook
ii) the Maintenance Schedule, which for light aircraft is usually the Light Aircraft Maintenance Schedule (LAMS), (CAP411).
The next question.
Q2 What constitutes the Check A on the aircraft and where can I find the details?
Most candidates do not connect Q2 with Q1 and say that details can be found in the aircraft's cheek list, They do, however, know that a cheek A is required before flight each day. Where shown a copy of the LAMS most candidates express surprise and are unaware of the document. When shown the Cheek A, as required by LAMS, most are seeing the list of items required for the first time. So we have Instructors and other qualified pilots carrying out legally required maintenance and not knowing what is required from them,
There is no requirement for the Check A to be signed for, just that it 'must be completed by a person to whom the owner or operator has entrusted the cheek, and to the satisfaction of the Pilot'. However most flying clubs do have a requirement for the Check A to be signed for in the tech. Log
Attached at Annex is a copy of those parts of the Check A that are applicable to a club aircraft. It all seems common sense and, in most cases, is what a prudent experienced pilot would normally check before the first flight of the day However if you read through the details of the Check A you will undoubtedly find items which are not always correct on aircraft you fly.
How important is all this? If a pilot carries out a check A, which is not completed, then the CofA is not valid, and there is the risk of prosecution or civil action in the event of an incident or accident.
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So check your maintenance schedule!