CMP.WERNER@UTEXAS-20.ARPA (06/20/84)
From: Werner Uhrig <CMP.WERNER@UTEXAS-20.ARPA> which reminds me ..... twice, last year, our engine and airframe log-books had disappeared out of one of our planes (we fly as a non-profit corporation with 20 share-owners, each with his own key, scheduling by phone). the first time, the manuals were returned to the plane after a month, and after an extensive phone and letter canvasing of all members. seems that a new member/owner felt the need to study them extensively and forgot he had them and "ignorant" or "insensitive" to the fact that their availability might "come in handy" in the plane - not to speak of the legality of flying without them. the second time, the absence of manuals were discovered a suspicious short time after having been in maintenance. Repeated efforts to get someone to "discover" them were fruitless. So, we were forced to attempt to reconstruct the plane's history and we were lucky enough that most maintenance records could be found at the FBO of the previous owner in California. To say that it was painful and costly to get a new, reconstructed log-book, is putting it mildly. A few months later, the old manuals "reappeared" in the plane without anybody admitting to it. We suspect that it was the maintenance people at the FBO but I guess we'll never know. Ah, yes, the moral: going through the trouble to make annual photo-copies of new entries is now a standard procedure and well worth it ...... don't find out the hard way !!! -------
CMP.WERNER@UTEXAS-20.ARPA (06/21/84)
From: Werner Uhrig <CMP.WERNER@UTEXAS-20.ARPA> No doubt, Ron is right about his list of legally required items. But it is still a bag of worms to find yourself at the other end of the country, needing repairs, and no log-books for the mechanic to study the plane's history, which often helps to narrow down the problem and avoid unneccessary costs. It is, probably, legal for the mechanic to fix a problem and let you fly away without having to guarantee (and being liable) anyting but his own work, however, I, for one, would certainly not feel very comfortable with the idea that the mechanic did not have the plane's "medical history" available when diagnosing a problem which may effect how long I live. It wouldn't even surprise me if a mechanic would not want to work under such circum- stances or that he finds himself unable to declare the plane airworthy. And once you lost your log-books, how are you going to pass an annual or 100-hour inspection? From experience: watching a plane just sitting there for such a reason is like watching your wallet go down Niagara Falls .... ------- -------
pigrp@ihuxq.UUCP (Peter Fales) (06/25/84)
>which reminds me ..... > > twice, last year, our engine and airframe log-books had disappeared > out of one of our planes (we fly as a non-profit corporation with > 20 share-owners, each with his own key, scheduling by phone). > > the first time, the manuals were returned to the plane after a month, > and after an extensive phone and letter canvasing of all members. > seems that a new member/owner felt the need to study them extensively > and forgot he had them and "ignorant" or "insensitive" to the fact > that their availability might "come in handy" in the plane - not to > speak of the legality of flying without them. Airframe and Engine logbooks are not legally required to be in the plane. Remember ARROW for the required documents? Airworthiness Certificate Radio Licence Registration (N number, etc) Operating Limitations (i.e. placards and instrument markings) Weight and Balance At my former flying clubs the logbooks were kept under lock and key by the chief A&P. -- Peter Fales UUCP: ...ihnp4!iwlc7!psfales Work: Bell Labs IW-1Z243 W: (312) 979-7784 H: (312) 355-4254 [ Send lawyers, guns, and money; Dad, get me out of this. ]
kfr@hou5h.UUCP (06/25/84)
It is my understanding that the only REQUIRED paperwork in the aricraft is that you must carry an OAR. O - operating limitations flight manual OR placards A - airworthiness certificate R - registration The radio licnse must be carried only if a radio transmitter is to be used (FCC regs, not FAA). The flight manual is generally not required for most ASEL, unless required by the type certificate. For most small planes, appropriate placards and ASI markings will surfice.