Proper maintenance is essential to safety in aviation. As with all other high-performance aircraft, the PA46 requires close scrutiny and regular maintenance by a qualified, type-specific mechanic to ensure that all systems are functioning properly. Regardless of the timing or cause, the first flight after maintenance requires an extra dose of care and caution.

The primary means of identifying any issues and correcting them before one becomes a problem is to follow carefully an extensive and well-structured checklist.