Michael,
I'm not at the hangar right now so I don't have access to my "library"; therefore, I am not in a position to cite reg and verse to you. Nonetheless, checking the paperwork (including a review of the logs) has always been a part of an annual inspection. Granted, the IA is more concerned with the mechanical integrity of the aircraft than the operational paperwork; however, he/she is also obligated to bring any discrepancies of such paperwork (i.e. an incorrect address on the registration) to the attention of the owner. Does this mean that we call the FAA to see if the airworthiness certificate on board has been revoked? No. We don't have that kind of time (and you don't want to spend that kind of money) for us to to go into an in-depth check on such things in an annual. If the logs don't contain an entry saying that the airworthiness certificate has been revoked, we take the owner's word that it is still valid. After all, it's in YOUR best interest that your paperwork is straight when a man in a suit walks up to you when you're fueling your plane.
So, does Chris have any recourse against the IAs who have signed off the annuals of his 150 for the past 20 years. No. Even if those IAs were aware that the airworthiness certificate had been revoked, the aircraft could still be annualed. The regs only require that the IA provide a list of discrepancies discovered during the annual to the owner. Chris's only recourse is with the previous owner if that previous owner did not disclose that there was a problem with the airworthiness certificate. (I'm assuming that Chris purchased the airplane with the implication that it was an airworthy airplane.)
Harvey
Last edited by Harvey_Hartman; 09/16/07 09:08 PM.
