The logbook’s reliability / correctness and records are the
responsibility of the aircraft owner and not the maintenance personnel who do
the work or recording. Often owners
do not have a working knowledge of what is required by the FAA for Airworthiness
or what should be entered in the log books.
This is an area where log book research can be helpful.
Research determines that all the FAA requirements are being met, the
maintenance personnel are performing quality work and recording it correctly and
that no inspections or maintenance pertinent to the aircraft is being overlooked
or missed. It is also used to
determine the quality of recorded work, if there is any damage history or
repairs, and 337’s for repairs and alterations.
This all reflects on the value and reliability of the aircraft and may
indicate future problems or long-term concerns.
There is often a pattern of maintenance recorded in the books that
precedes future expensive maintenance.
Since the charges are set by the quality of the logbooks, we can call with an estimate after the books are received. We accept payment by check, MasterCard or VISA. The prices vary from $50.00 per logbook for an easy set to $100.00 per book for a difficult set. The difficulty of the books as to legibility and continent determines the cost per book.
When should I have logbooks researched?
The best times to think about logbook research are when considering the
purchase of an aircraft and when considering selling aircraft.
By all means when purchasing an aircraft get a pre-purchase from a shop
that is familiar with that type aircraft, but does not do the maintenance on
that particular one. Pre-purchases
are always very helpful in determining the quality of the aircraft.
However, it is wise to have the log books evaluated on a periodic basis for long-term owners as a second opinion on the quality of work being
received. This helps avoid problems
further down the road with maintenance and records.
We specialize in piston-powered certified aircraft. We are not familiar enough with the maintenance practices of turbine aircraft to provide the quality of service we desire.
We look for the maintenance history of the airframe, its damage history
that is recorded, status of different airframe components determined by the type
and model of aircraft. We check the
records for tire, brake discs and linings, motors and control cable replacements
and their frequency or lack of it. Instrument
replacements, vacuum pump and filter replacements are checked on frequency or
lack of record. Engine components /
accessories replacements / overhauls are checked for and correlated as to time
between as well as the engine history. Engine
history includes cylinder replacements, total time, time since major overhaul,
who did the overhaul and when. Status
of all pertinent Airworthiness Directives is checked as well Manufacturer’s
recommendations, time limits and specifications. We also look for problems that are peculiar to
the aircraft model and design and the engine.
We record last maintenance on all those items pertinent to aircraft and
look for missing inspections, slow flight period and unusual periods of
down-time which can be questionable.
Information for
Pre-purchases:
Sometimes even a very professional pre-purchase does not include a
complete inspection of the logbooks because it is often very time consuming to
read them thoroughly. We can help you in determining whether an aircraft should
be considered for purchase by looking at the maintenance status, damage history
and AD’s recorded or not recorded in the log books.
We can look for things that should be recorded for that particular
aircraft model, type and age; these items make the aircraft either more valuable
or less reliable purchase. These
are items that would determine whether the aircraft was headed toward
difficulties, was poorly maintained or was well maintained and appears to be a
good purchase.
The length of time required is determined by the state of the logbooks
themselves. Typewritten / computerized entries are easier to read and
therefore take less time to understand. However,
most log book entries (particularly older ones) are hand written and some are
almost illegible and difficult to decipher and understand.
Those take longer and require a greater concentration, greater knowledge
of aircraft terminology and the ability to read between the lines.
This does not mean that some great maintenance was not accomplished, only
that the mechanic himself did the entry and had lost some of his fine motor
skills by being a mechanic. Also
logbook entries can become very faded or water stained and this makes them
almost unreadable. It can take from
½ hour for an easy logbook to more than an hour for a difficult book.
Determining status sometimes takes more than one reading and constant
going back to review.
We read them, recording when different items have been accomplished,
Airworthiness Directive and Service Bulletin status of airframe, engine and all
the accessories. We record engine
total time, time since major overhaul, time since top overhaul, cylinder
replacements and who the work was accomplished by and when.
We check for time intervals on engine accessories, airframe motors and
all the manufacturer’s recommendations on time limits and servicing for the
aircraft and engine. We also check
for 337s for repair or alteration and damage history to the airframe, propeller
or engine. We check for instrument
replacement, vacuum pump and filters replacements.
We check on tire, brake discs and linings replacement frequency.
We also check for the lack of the above records.
Each model of aircraft has design weaknesses that are peculiar to it
alone and look for recorded work in regard to them.
They are at times very difficult to read and comprehend, particularly
those that are faded or almost illegible and the mechanic assumes that you can
read between the lines and follow him. These
books are almost illegible because of fading, water spotting, and mechanic’s
poor handwriting. We have an
understanding of the terminology peculiar to aviation, a fairly well developed
ability to read the almost unreadable and a working knowledge of most small
general aviation aircraft and piston engines.
We know what should be recorded and what can be recorded to cover
something that should have been recorded.
We check the following items:
Maintenance status on items that have time / calendar limits for both
airframe and engine components / accessories.
Items that should be inspected / replaced at regular intervals.
Unusual replacement of some items:
Too
many tire changes, brake disc and linings replacements,
Lots
of instrument work, vacuum pump and filter replacements
Cylinder
or accessory changes
Or
too few of the above
Times where there has been little flight time
Unusual period of down-time or no flight between inspection
Replacement of hoses
What was replaced when the engine was overhauled or replaced
Airworthiness Directives / Service Bulletins
Missing inspections and things that should have been recorded for
aircraft integrity
Accident / damage history, parts replacement
Propeller changes / overhauls
Accident history helps determine the value of aircraft.
It also helps determine the aircraft’s reliability and the possibility
of future or present structural problems that may not be noticed.
If accident repairs are not done correctly or to a level in accordance
with the manufacture, structural problems can develop through weakening /
stressing components / skins or structure.
The re-repair of the damage can be extremely expensive and may not
provide the stability desired.
AD research is done to determine whether all the applicable AD’s are
complied with or signed off as not applicable and that the FAA requirements are
being met. This is the owner’s
responsibility to oversee and not the maintenance personnel’s even though they
are doing the recording. Most
owners do not have a working knowledge of the AD’s and rely upon the mechanic
/ inspector to take care of them.
The results of the research are written in the form of a report listing
the most recent replacements for various items, engine total time, time since
overhaul, cylinder replacements, and manufacturer’s time before overhaul
recommendation. The overhauled and
date will also be listed along with a list of when overhauls on accessories and
other items should be accomplished. There
will be a list of items, replacements or inspection missing if there are any.
Whether there was any accident /damage history with when it was repaired,
by who and flight time will be listed with whether this might jeopardize the
aircraft’s reliability or cause future problems.
Any questionable entries, time periods, unusual down-times will be
listed. There will also be a list of what might need to be checked
and watched in the future.
How
can I have a set of logbooks researched?
First call 520-363-5175 or 1-800-262-9644 to get information.
We will need a full copy of all the logbooks.
It is not recommended that you send the logs themselves as they might get
lost in process and are irreplaceable.
Since the charges are set by the quality of the logbooks, we can call
with an estimate after the books are received.
We accept payment by check, MasterCard or VISA.
The prices vary from $50.00 per logbook for an easy set to $100.00 per
book for a difficult set. The
difficulty of the books as to legibility and continent determines the cost per
book.
If
you would like for your faded, illegible hand-written books to be typed /
computerized, we can provide that service for you. The cost of the service would be determined while the books
are being evaluated. The cost is
determined by the difficulty to read, number of pages and quantity of continent.
Send mail to tim@logbookresearch.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Little Flyers
Last modified: August 14, 2000