Narrative:

I presented myself and my PA28R-180 to an FAA examiner from the milwaukee FSDO for the CFI practical test, airplane single engine. In going over my aircraft logs, the FAA examiner noted that the aircraft was not in compliance with airworthiness directive 70-09-02 requiring 25 hour recurrent inspections of the propeller spinner bulkhead and backing plate, which takes about 15-30 mins to perform, and can be legally done and signed off by the pilot. Although the mechanic who has maintained the airplane during the 5 yrs I have owned it complied with the airworthiness directive at each annual inspection, he never verbally informed me about it, or that it was out of compliance by the time each annual inspection was done. A mechanic on the field at ues performed the inspection for me and signed the logbook. The practical test was continued. (The airworthiness directive sheet in the logs showed the airworthiness directive and 25 hour requirement). I knew it was my responsibility as owner operator to see to the continued airworthiness of my aircraft. I unfortunately relied on the ap/ia to verbally inform me of such things. I know better now. When we went out to the airplane for the flight portion of the practical test, the examiner questioned the legality of the shoulder harnesses installed for the front seat occupants. These harnesses attach to the rear seat lap belts and the front seat lap belts, but are not permanently installed in any way. And are removed when the back seats are occupied. The company that sold the shoulder harnesses told me they are legal without an stc, form 337, field approval and any other process being required.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28. FAA FSDO FLT EXAMINER FOUND AN ACFT AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE COMPLIANCE TIME THAT WAS OVER INSPECTION TIME LIMITS, AND WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SHOULDER HARNESS INSTALLATION. THE PLT WAS GOING FOR HIS CFI RATING.

Narrative: I PRESENTED MYSELF AND MY PA28R-180 TO AN FAA EXAMINER FROM THE MILWAUKEE FSDO FOR THE CFI PRACTICAL TEST, AIRPLANE SINGLE ENG. IN GOING OVER MY ACFT LOGS, THE FAA EXAMINER NOTED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 70-09-02 REQUIRING 25 HR RECURRENT INSPECTIONS OF THE PROP SPINNER BULKHEAD AND BACKING PLATE, WHICH TAKES ABOUT 15-30 MINS TO PERFORM, AND CAN BE LEGALLY DONE AND SIGNED OFF BY THE PLT. ALTHOUGH THE MECH WHO HAS MAINTAINED THE AIRPLANE DURING THE 5 YRS I HAVE OWNED IT COMPLIED WITH THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AT EACH ANNUAL INSPECTION, HE NEVER VERBALLY INFORMED ME ABOUT IT, OR THAT IT WAS OUT OF COMPLIANCE BY THE TIME EACH ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS DONE. A MECH ON THE FIELD AT UES PERFORMED THE INSPECTION FOR ME AND SIGNED THE LOGBOOK. THE PRACTICAL TEST WAS CONTINUED. (THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE SHEET IN THE LOGS SHOWED THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AND 25 HR REQUIREMENT). I KNEW IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS OWNER OPERATOR TO SEE TO THE CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS OF MY ACFT. I UNFORTUNATELY RELIED ON THE AP/IA TO VERBALLY INFORM ME OF SUCH THINGS. I KNOW BETTER NOW. WHEN WE WENT OUT TO THE AIRPLANE FOR THE FLT PORTION OF THE PRACTICAL TEST, THE EXAMINER QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF THE SHOULDER HARNESSES INSTALLED FOR THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS. THESE HARNESSES ATTACH TO THE REAR SEAT LAP BELTS AND THE FRONT SEAT LAP BELTS, BUT ARE NOT PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN ANY WAY. AND ARE REMOVED WHEN THE BACK SEATS ARE OCCUPIED. THE COMPANY THAT SOLD THE SHOULDER HARNESSES TOLD ME THEY ARE LEGAL WITHOUT AN STC, FORM 337, FIELD APPROVAL AND ANY OTHER PROCESS BEING REQUIRED.

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.