The permanent record

The Permanent Record

By John Goglia

May-June 1998

As certified mechanics, we have an obligation to record what work we perform and we must perform what we record.

After reviewing a number of enforcement decisions, I am surprised at how many involve work that is recorded as completed, but not accomplished.

A mechanic was charged with a violation of 43.13A and B for overhaul of an engine which was found after a short period of operation to have problems with the camshaft lobes, multiable tapets, and the tapet bores. Since there are so many of this type of violations, I will talk in general terms.

The common denominator in the majority of these cases is that after the aircraft was returned to service, another mechanical problem occurred which brought further attention to the areas repaired. Often this attention is that of an FAA safety inspector.

In this engine example, a problem occurred which resulted in an emergency landing bringing immediate FAA response. Subsequent engine teardown discovered the problems with the camshaft, tapets, and bores.

The issue boils down to the fact that a certificated mechanic created a record indicating that certain tasks were stated as being accomplished when in fact they were not. As I look through the many examples of this type of activity, one thing is clear. Most of the work is inside a completed assembly where it would require disassembly in order to discover that the work was not performed.

It is also clear that some of the violations have an element of mechanics not thinking about the words that are used to describe the work accomplished. Many FAA safety inspectors are constantly reminding us to be clear and accurate in our logbook entries. That is very good advice. If you clearly record the work you perform, then you will only be held accountable for what you perform.

In the legal cases here, there are cases that certainly look like the mechanic was being held accountable for work that may have been accomplished by another. It is very important to remember that regardless of who performs the task, the person whose signature appears in the record is the person who is legally responsible for the satisfactory completion of that task.

We all (including me) have been rushed and have used broad statements to describe what we have accomplished. However, do not lose sight of the fact that it doesn't have to be a problem with what you have accomplished that draws FAA attention.

After the FAA sends you a letter of inquiry is not the time to reconsider the words that were used in a signoff. Take one more minute and think about the permanent record you are creating and make sure it is correct. The continued use of your certificate depends on it.