A bellanca decathlon recently purchased with a fresh annual inspection was found to be in an unairwo...

Attributes
ACN	401937
Time
Date	199805
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ane
State Reference	MN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Decathlon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	401937
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	401939
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I purchased the aircraft in aug/97. A current annual examination had been done on the aircraft prior to purchase. I used the airplane in tailwheel and aerobatic training and for pleasure flts. On may/xx/98 we tried to start the aircraft and it wouldn't start. An examination showed improper wiring and several other areas of non compliance as the attached report shows. The aircraft has been reported to the local FSDO and is under evaluation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the aircraft was a bellanca decathlon purchased from a private party through a broker and was sold with a fresh annual inspection with the proper log entry but no signature. The reporter said the mechanic who made the inspection prior to the sale did not observe the missing signature and did not appear to have made an intensive inspection. The reporter said the FAA investigation is ongoing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BELLANCA DECATHLON RECENTLY PURCHASED WITH A FRESH ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS FOUND TO BE IN AN UNAIRWORTHY CONDITION.

Narrative: I PURCHASED THE ACFT IN AUG/97. A CURRENT ANNUAL EXAM HAD BEEN DONE ON THE ACFT PRIOR TO PURCHASE. I USED THE AIRPLANE IN TAILWHEEL AND AEROBATIC TRAINING AND FOR PLEASURE FLTS. ON MAY/XX/98 WE TRIED TO START THE ACFT AND IT WOULDN'T START. AN EXAM SHOWED IMPROPER WIRING AND SEVERAL OTHER AREAS OF NON COMPLIANCE AS THE ATTACHED RPT SHOWS. THE ACFT HAS BEEN RPTED TO THE LCL FSDO AND IS UNDER EVALUATION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE ACFT WAS A BELLANCA DECATHLON PURCHASED FROM A PVT PARTY THROUGH A BROKER AND WAS SOLD WITH A FRESH ANNUAL INSPECTION WITH THE PROPER LOG ENTRY BUT NO SIGNATURE. THE RPTR SAID THE MECH WHO MADE THE INSPECTION PRIOR TO THE SALE DID NOT OBSERVE THE MISSING SIGNATURE AND DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE MADE AN INTENSIVE INSPECTION. THE RPTR SAID THE FAA INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A bellanca decathlon recently purchased with a fresh annual inspection was found to be in an unairworthy condition.