Verify A&P is legal/able/current?

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JasonM

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Just wondering if there is an easy method to verify the mechanic working on your airplane is legal/able/current etc. Having had few different hands on my airplane lately without many choices on who is doing the work, I thought it would be nice to know when on a trip if something happens, that the person turning wrenches is qualified.
 
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JasonM said:
Just wondering if there is an easy method to verify the mechanic working on your airplane is legal/able/current etc. Having had few different hands on my airplane lately without many choices on who is doing the work, I thought it would be nice to know when on a trip if something happens, that the person turning wrenches is qualified.
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The short answer is: No! The longer answer is: No Way!

The FAA's requirements for mechanic currency is mostly impractical and unenforceable and the FAA doesn't really try. No database is maintained that you could reference.

Some cautionary things to consider, however, is to consider who common the aircraft is that you are talking about. 100's series Cessnas and Cherokees are aircraft that most reasonably competent mechanics can deal with. If you have something that is not common, you need to get with the type clubs, forums, etc. and find out who the experienced owners are recommending.
 
Yeah, Ask them. Sure we can give you a some line.... but if you talk to the guy and ask pointed questions, without being a jerk of course, you can get a pretty good feel for the guy.

Me, I have spent the last 5+ years since A&P school working in Alaska to Africa and in VA & KY/IN on a wide variety of A/C from the standard cessna/Piper planes, Beech, Tripacers, Bell 206's, Astar 350's, Robbies and some on C208's, B100 C90 King Airs, DHC-6, Eclipse Jets. Not super familiar with some of the latter... Get me the manuals and I'll work on just about anything. I also know what I wouldn't work on and what is above my skill level. I'm not super skilled at sheet metal or doing composite repairs on a significant structure.

At one point or another it's as much a matter of how did manufacturer X decide to solve the problem as compared to Man. Y's solution. Yes if you get the guy that has 50 years experience working on Bonanza's he'll be able to to tell you all the idiosyncrasies of the aircraft, but you might have to travel awhile to get to that guy. Is it worth it to you?

Look around his hangar. How's the shop? Being tidy isn't the only thing that matters, but it helps. There are some guys that are really good wrenches that aren't organized. Ask other people around about the mechanic.
 
It is like what A&P's go through looking out for the deadbeat, cheap, jerk owners. You never know what your going to get!:yikes:
 
JasonM said:
Just wondering if there is an easy method to verify the mechanic working on your airplane is legal/able/current etc. Having had few different hands on my airplane lately without many choices on who is doing the work, I thought it would be nice to know when on a trip if something happens, that the person turning wrenches is qualified.
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Ask how much the A&P charges, every one here knows you get what you pay for. Cheap Mechanics can't be any good.
 
Post request for info on this board,asking for good mechanic at the airport you are going to have work done. Plenty of opinions ,for sure.
 
If the person has an A&P licence then they should have it with them or close by. The AI will have their certificate as well. If you roll into a repair station then the structure is such that any designated employee can work on your aircraft with the chief inspector taking responsibility for the work on behalf of the repair station. You could ask if there is anybody there familiar with your model of aircraft on the field. Maintenance on aircraft is required to be done with the current data from the manufacturer. It may also depend on the type of discrepancy you have. The process is such that after corrective action there should be an operational or functional check.
 
I've posted this on POA many times, but it may bear repeating.

Mr. Grove, the man who owned Grove Airport in Camas, WA, did all sorts of A&P work on hundreds of airplanes for decades. Annuals, repair, overhauls, complete rebuilds. After he died, it was found out that he had no FAA certificates at all.
 
Some shops don't even use A&P, the AP/IA simply inspects and signs off their work.:confused:
 
kgruber said:
Mr. Grove, the man who owned Grove Airport in Camas, WA, did all sorts of A&P work on hundreds of airplanes for decades. Annuals, repair, overhauls, complete rebuilds. After he died, it was found out that he had no FAA certificates at all.
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What did the owners of those planes have to do after the FAA found out about this?
 
Ron Levy said:
What did the owners of those planes have to do after the FAA found out about this?
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I'm really not too sure. He did work for me, and I did nothing....other than an annual the next year. This was 45 years ago and a kinder and gentler FAA.
 
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