Trust, But Verify

One of the biggest challenges with which each aircraft owner must contend is maintenance. The FARs state the owner/operator is the party responsible for ensuring all applicable inspections and maintenance requirements are complied with for continued airworthiness. Typically, the owner/operator lacks certification to perform the required maintenance and inspections necessary for continued airworthiness and engages certificated mechanics and inspectors to perform the require tasks. While the system usually works well, horror stories do arise. Logbooks go missing, what was scheduled to be a week-long annual inspection can turn into a months-long, expensive ordeal.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft owners are legally responsible for their aircraft's airworthiness but often lack the expertise to verify maintenance, relying heavily on certified mechanics.
A fatal Cirrus SR22 accident resulted from an engine power loss caused by an improperly secured fuel system fitting cap during an annual inspection that was never fully completed or properly signed off.
The incident highlights the critical importance for owners/operators to diligently review maintenance records and ensure all work is thoroughly documented and endorsed, as an incomplete logbook entry can be the only sign of uncompleted work.

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While the system usually works well, horror stories do arise. Logbooks go missing, what was scheduled to be a week-long annual inspection can turn into a months-long, expensive ordeal. Opinions differ on whether certain work is necessary or can be deferred, or is even appropriate. Regardless, each and every inspection and maintenance action is required to be entered into an appropriate record, which in turn is used to demonstrate the aircraft’s airworthiness.