AD Database ?

[Mike]

I am somewhat new to flying and considering buying an airplane. But
with all the ADs/SBs/etc. out for all kinds of airplanes, I was
wondering if there is somewhere online I could go plug in the type of
airplane - C182, and serial number - 18281234 and get a list of all
outstanding ADs/SBs/etc that the airplane is subject to.

Any info available like this? I would sure hate to buy something only
find it wouldn't be flyable without big bucks being sunk into it first.


Thanks

[Bob Noel]

In article . com>,
"Mike" > wrote:

> I am somewhat new to flying and considering buying an airplane. But
> with all the ADs/SBs/etc. out for all kinds of airplanes, I was
> wondering if there is somewhere online I could go plug in the type of
> airplane - C182, and serial number - 18281234 and get a list of all
> outstanding ADs/SBs/etc that the airplane is subject to.

Unlikely. If there were, then the software programs providing this information
wouldn't be quite so popular.

btw - You also have to look for ADs/SBs/etc for the engine, prop, and all
accessories. Even some circuit breakers have ADs.

>
> Any info available like this? I would sure hate to buy something only
> find it wouldn't be flyable without big bucks being sunk into it first.
>
>
> Thanks

All ADs can be found online at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule

[Dave Butler]

Mike wrote:
> I am somewhat new to flying and considering buying an airplane. But
> with all the ADs/SBs/etc. out for all kinds of airplanes, I was
> wondering if there is somewhere online I could go plug in the type of
> airplane - C182, and serial number - 18281234 and get a list of all
> outstanding ADs/SBs/etc that the airplane is subject to.
>
> Any info available like this? I would sure hate to buy something only
> find it wouldn't be flyable without big bucks being sunk into it first.

Ask your nearest A&P/IA. They have software for finding this kind of information
so that they can properly inspect for compliance. The software is probably more
expensive than you want to pay for your purposes, but you can probably find a
friendly IA who will look some things up for you or let you use his software.

[Dave Butler]

Mike wrote:
> I am somewhat new to flying and considering buying an airplane. But
> with all the ADs/SBs/etc. out for all kinds of airplanes, I was
> wondering if there is somewhere online I could go plug in the type of
> airplane - C182, and serial number - 18281234 and get a list of all
> outstanding ADs/SBs/etc that the airplane is subject to.
>
> Any info available like this? I would sure hate to buy something only
> find it wouldn't be flyable without big bucks being sunk into it first.

Point your browser at http://groups.google.com,
type in "AD search group:rec.aviation.owning".

[Michael]

> I am somewhat new to flying and considering buying an airplane. But
> with all the ADs/SBs/etc. out for all kinds of airplanes, I was
> wondering if there is somewhere online I could go plug in the type of
> airplane - C182, and serial number - 18281234 and get a list of all
> outstanding ADs/SBs/etc that the airplane is subject to.

The closest thing to what you are looking for is this:

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet

Unfortunately, it's not as simple as searching by airplane serial
number. You need to make an equipment list - Airframe, Engine,
Magnetos, Prop - there is even a transponder with an AD against it.
Also, forget serial number - you will have to read the AD and determine
if it applies.

SB's won't be there, but they're not mandatory for Part 91 operation.

There is commercial software to do this as well, and I've used it - but
I don't find it to be any betterat the task than the FAA's free search
engine.

The real problem is not finding the AD's, though. The real problem is
determining applicability. Was it done? Does it need to be? Unless
you trust the guy who did the last AD search, you will have to go
through the logbooks, working backwards, to make sure each one was
done. What's more, there is such a thing as paper compliance. I owned
an airplane that supposedly had a fuel line replaced per AD in the
1960's. When I removed the fuel line, it had a 1950's date tag.

Whichever way you do it, a comprehensive AD search takes someone who is
experienced at it (he might or might not be an A&P, and an A&P may or
may not be experienced) at least two hours, and that's paper
verification only on a simple fixed gear airplane. It goes up from
there. Not knowing what you are doing, you might manage to get it done
in a day if you have help. Your chances of figuring it out on your own
are slim.

Michael

[Blanche]

The ADs are online, the SBs are usually considered "proprietary"
to the vendor and you need to go to them directly.

[Steve Foley]

I think the Canadian FAA equivalent puts many of them on-line.


"Blanche" > wrote in message
...
> The ADs are online, the SBs are usually considered "proprietary"
> to the vendor and you need to go to them directly.
>

[Jeff]

" I would sure hate to buy something only
find it wouldn't be flyable without big bucks being sunk into it first."

Be sure to do a good pre-buy inspection and use the AOPA services that will
do title searches and such. There shouldn't be any reason that you buy a
plane with anything "surprising" about it in the paperwork.

jf

[George Patterson]

Jeff wrote:
> " I would sure hate to buy something only
> find it wouldn't be flyable without big bucks being sunk into it first."
>
> Be sure to do a good pre-buy inspection and use the AOPA services that will
> do title searches and such. There shouldn't be any reason that you buy a
> plane with anything "surprising" about it in the paperwork.

The pre-buy definitely should turn up any non-compliances, but you should also
add language to the sale contract to the effect that the owner warrants that all
ADs have been complied with and agrees to pay compliance cost if this turns out
to be not the case.

Of course, if you are knowingly buying an aircraft that has outstanding ADs,
that language would have to be worded to exclude those.

IMO, an owner who is claiming that all ADs have been handled will have no
hesitation in signing such an agreement. I certainly didn't when I sold aircraft.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Steve Foley]

The question arises when the owner THINKS all the ADs have been complied
with.

After I bought my Cherokee I found out that the oil pump AD need to be done
at the next overhaul, or by some time in 2003 (I think). Something that
three different IAs missed was the fact that the next overhaul must occur at
or before TBO. Mine had been beyond TBO for two annuals and my pre-buy.

The IA who did the pre-buy offered to replace the pump at no cost, but he
was 300 miles away.

So I had the choice of having it done locally for $800 or flying the plane
three hundred miles, staying in a hotel while it was fixed, and flying it
back home.


"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:pyV_e.17035$L15.13472@trndny01...

> The pre-buy definitely should turn up any non-compliances, but you should
also
> add language to the sale contract to the effect that the owner warrants
that all
> ADs have been complied with and agrees to pay compliance cost if this
turns out
> to be not the case.
>
> Of course, if you are knowingly buying an aircraft that has outstanding
ADs,
> that language would have to be worded to exclude those.
>
> IMO, an owner who is claiming that all ADs have been handled will have no
> hesitation in signing such an agreement. I certainly didn't when I sold
aircraft.
>
> George Patterson
> Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your
neighbor.
> It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.