Hi Tim,
I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong but for what it's worth:
I found out after I purchased my 152 that a no fuel situation resulted in an off airport landing with significant damage in it's first year. I believe that the previous owner was unaware. A search of FAA records returned nothing but later, a check of NTSB reports gave me the information. Nothing was mentioned in the logs and no 337's were filed.
What I found out was at the time of the accident, if the repairs were made by an authorized Cessna repair station, then the work order could substitute for the 337 and log entries. Of course this is a big loop hole in that it relies upon the owner to keep the work order with the logs and advise a future buyer of the accident. Not likely in the days before computers and access to federal records. The shop is only obliged to hold on to the records for three or five years. I have no concern that the repair was anything less then what Cessna required, given the fact it was an almost new airplane and the bank held the note at that time.
I don't know if this situation has changed.
harry
