Drone exam · Maintenance and airworthiness

A contractor serviced the drone yesterday and signed its own paperwork. Can the operator ignore an obvious defect found today because maintenance was outsourced?

Answer

No. Outsourcing work does not remove the duty to operate only a serviceable aircraft. Stop the flight and resolve the defect.

Explanation

Maintenance providers can perform work, but operational responsibility still requires the aircraft's current condition to be acceptable.