I have been contacted by a few Avionics Repair Shops and Private Individuals to Repair some Uavionix Devices. Most Avionics shops no longer employ bench tech’s they subcontract it out to people experienced with modern device repair. To repair these legally we the repair shop or repair tech needs to have the relevant repair documents schematics and bill of materials at the min. Many private individuals wish to repair their own Non TSO Devices used in experimental aircraft.
The contracting avionics shop or FAA certificated repair station will oversee the repair process, inspect the item upon completion and approve it for return to service. Repair shops also require access to the relevant repair documentation in order to evaluate the equipment beforehand and determine whether a repair of the device is economically viable. Without this documentation the time required to diagnose a fault or multiple and reverse engineer the device often exceeds the value of the equipment itself making a one off or a handful of repairs impractical.
Manufacturers are well aware of this and it is my belief that this is precisely why many withhold repair documentation. By restricting access to schematics, parts lists, and service procedures, they effectively prevent independent third party repair shops from evaluating or performing repairs. This allows the manufacturer to maintain a de facto monopoly over the repair market for their products.
I believe Uavionix Has been Illegally Denying Warranty and Repairs Because they have the Monopoly on Repair and can do so.
I have had many reports of Uavionix denying warranty for items like failed seals resulting in water ingress or other fault like a bad firmware update. Even in a case of accidental damage they push to sell replacements vs. making a part like a plastic housing available and only offer a small core credit for these high value devices at could technically still be under warranty.
If you believe you have been denied warranty repair and forced to buy a new product from Uavionix please file a compliant with your attorney generals office and the federal trade commission.
I made my Request Under Washington States Right to Repair law RCW 19.415 to Uavionix there customer service dismissed the request and finally with enough presistance I was contacted by Uavonix Attorney Benjamin Morse I made my request with him and he sent me a Questionnaire.
uAvionix_ Right to Repair Questionnaire
I Filled out the questionnaire and submitted on Feb 4th 2026 it and it was crickets for a couple weeks On March 2nd I made a Complaint with the Washington State Attorney Generals Office. I have yet to here back from them.
On March 13th I finally got the denial for the requested documentation Schematics and Bill of Materials for the General Aviation ADSB products at are common failure many complaints on the groups and forums.
I am sure the Washington Attorney General will have fun with this one. I have already made my complaint as I had nothing by Silence form Uavionix.
Uavionix products are 100% “digital electronic products” used by thousands if not tens of thousands of private individuals for personal use. Their primary use is for general aviation aircraft.
They also need to understand what “public safety communications equipment.” is I dont think they even read the law.
(6) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require an original manufacturer or authorized repair provider to make available any parts, tools, or documentation required for the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of public safety communications equipment, the intended use of which is for emergency response or prevention purposes by an emergency service organization such as a police, fire, or emergency medical services agency.
I do not think their argument will pass the test.
I will Update as this progresses or if there is an attorney general update.
Many of the manufacturers stated excuses are frankly difficult to take seriously. Anyone with a basic understanding of electronics knows that a bill of materials (BOM) and a schematic can be recreated through analysis of the hardware. The real issue is not whether it can be done but how much time and money must be invested to do it.
If anyone has a broken uAvionix ADS-B device (Skybeacon Tailbeacon) they are willing to donate (it will not be returned) I would be happy to analyze it and document the hardware. My plan would be to generate a Bill of Materials (BOM), take X-ray images of the PCB to identify the internal layers and board layout, and document the component placement.
If time, funding, or community volunteers allow, I may also attempt to reconstruct a schematic from the hardware analysis. I will publish the documents on the blog for repair repair purposes. If they don’t want to make it public I will eventually.
Last Updated on March 13, 2026 by Steven Rhine