Mark,
Just to carry this point on one step further. I have owned my Coupe
for 21 years. Over that period I have had maybe nine or ten APs do
annuals for me. If I understand you, I paid each of those APs three
or four hours to look at the same paperwork at say an average of
$60.00 an hour (9 * 3 * 60 = $1,620 to $2,400), even though each
signed a line in the log book that says it has been checked. The
first AP gave me a very nice computer printout that he signed off on
each AD that was out at that time. He signed it 20 to 30 times.
I am also very sure that not one (OK one) ordered the aircraft record
from the FAA to see what changes to the aircraft had 337s. Do you
order the aircraft record for every plane you work on?
Having been an motorcycle than an auto tech in a past life, I know
different mechanics look at different thing when working on a
machine. We all have pet things we do. My first AP always removes
the prop. He found a cracked spinner backing plate on mine, be he is
the only one who has ever done that. (He repaired it the first time,
than about ten years latter I took it back to him and this time he
made me replace it because it was repaired. He forget he was the one
who repaired it. The total of the two were about $400) I am
personally more conformable changing APs from time to time because
one AP may over look the same thing.
I believe that most older aircraft are missing 337s either because
they were never issued or there is an honest difference of opinion.
The thing in older aircraft that scares me is the changing of data
plates. You see from time to time people selling log books and data
plates to an old junked or destroyed aircraft. If somebody installs
that data plate on another aircraft, every thing in the log books is
a lie. Doing this is the about the worst case of fraud I can imagine.
At least this got the list talking again.
Richard
N99904
At 09:37 PM 11/21/2008, Mark H. wrote:
Richard,
No flame from me. Yes you have very good points.
This is what I'm getting at.
Say I'm your IA. I do an annual for you. What you pay for is a
complete inspection. And the airplane to be airworthy. That means the
paperwork too. That is what you pay for, and I believe that is what
you sould get. why not do the job right and cover all the bases and
cover you and the mech. It's the right thing to do right?
FYI,When the Faa does an investigation into something, they will
call IA's that work on that type aircraft for their input. So it's
not the insurace company doing the inspection. I have been called a
couple times. Mark
