When buying a pre-owned aircraft the buyer naturally wants to find out as much as possible about the history of the aircraft, prior to making any commitment.
Aircraft history, inclusive of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance events can only be established via aircraft logbooks. These are invaluable documents which will allow the buyer to paint a picture as to whether the aircraft has a troubled or concerning history or one of a well-cared for machine.
A fixed wing aircraft will normally have several logbooks, which will contain all of the documented maintenance records. The logbook library will comprise of Airframe logbook, which in some instances may also incorporate avionics data and an Engine logbook for each engine.
Once a scheduled service is completed which requires issue of a new Maintenance Release by the engineer conducting the maintenance actions, the expired Maintenance Release is normally kept within the aircraft document set. The expired Maintenance Releases are also a good source of information for any unserviceability which may have occurred during flight operations, as this is a document used by the pilots as a form of communication with engineers and other pilots. For example, a pilot may note a beacon light to be inoperative during a pre-flight inspection and will make an entry within the Maintenance Release: “Beacon light inoperative” Once the defect is repaired, the engineer will make a clearing entry: “Beacon light replaced” and the aircraft will then be returned to service.
It is a regulatory requirement to record any accident events sustained by an aircraft within aircraft logbooks. However, the detail which accident damage entries are required to contain are frequently a source of debate. The wording and interpretation of regulatory requirements is not specific as to how much detail such entries must contain. This means that a one line entry in an aircraft logbook which states: “Aircraft Accident Damaged” does not indicate the size and scope of the damage sustained. This can only be determined by the repair record following the accident damage entry.
It is not unusual for a technician to spend as much time reviewing the aircraft logbooks, if not more than actually inspecting the aircraft during pre-purchase inspection process.
Diligent review of aircraft logbooks is crucial during aircraft pre-purchase inspection process
Safe Flying to all.
Roman Badov
Air Transport Pilot
Head Of Flying Operations - Elite Airways
Head of Aircraft Airworthiness and Maintenance Control
PH: 0400 780 130
eliteairways.com.au