Missing Engine Log Book

"Doug" wrote in message
oups.com...
There is no set amount here. I have heard 25% off total price for
missing logs (totally missing). There is something in the FARS about
re-creating lost logs. That is what I would do if I owned the plane.

(???) IIUC, they are merely attempting to recreate the logs from INVOCIES,
not from shop records (copies of original work).

Also, the OP is in SOuth Africa (?) -- how do THEIR laws figure in?

Just create a log for each invoice or something similar. Sign it off as
"recreated log".

Are the invoices even close to the level of detail as shop records?

Better than nothing. I guess I'd argue for 25% of the
value remaining on the engine until TBO? So if the engine is 50% to
TBO, and a zero time is 40k, then 5k off. (25% of 20k)?

That'd work!

"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
...

"Doug" wrote in message
oups.com...
There is no set amount here. I have heard 25% off total price for
missing logs (totally missing). There is something in the FARS about
re-creating lost logs. That is what I would do if I owned the plane.

(???) IIUC, they are merely attempting to recreate the logs from INVOCIES,
not from shop records (copies of original work).

Also, the OP is in SOuth Africa (?) -- how do THEIR laws figure in?

Just create a log for each invoice or something similar. Sign it off as
"recreated log".

Are the invoices even close to the level of detail as shop records?

Better than nothing. I guess I'd argue for 25% of the
value remaining on the engine until TBO? So if the engine is 50% to
TBO, and a zero time is 40k, then 5k off. (25% of 20k)?

That'd work!


IT WOULD NOT WORK FOR ME!

IMHO no log means no value beyond core and even that is a gamble. A seller
will have lots of arguments as to why more value should be applied but a
buyer can afford to be more discriminating. If it was so easy to rebuild
the logs the existing seller would have done it. You may not get the same
service, from the rebuilder who issued the original repair invoice, that the
original owner would have a right to expect, and in fact the rebuilder may
be unable or unwilling to provide any information to subsequent owners.

IMHO recreated logs are only as good as the PROVABLE data used to recreate
them. Recreated or incomplete or no logs may be legal for private use but I
would suspect they could be a real problem if the owner wished to place the
aircraft in commercial service and would certainly impact resale value.

I would submit that the condition of log books is a clear reflection of the
owners regard for the maintenance process and will probably be indicative of
the quality of the other maintenance that the aircraft has or has not
received. Poor or missing engine logs would make me question the accuracy
of any other logs. Inconvenient paperwork is often conveniently lost

I know of several pilots who no longer log time in their personal pilot logs
because "if it doesn't go in my log, it doesn't go in the aircraft log."

There is no shortage of sellers or their mechanics who are willing to pencil
whip (or forge or misrepresent) paperwork for an aircraft they are selling.
It is the job of the buyer to perform the proper due diligence to determine
the accuracy of any paperwork and to determine the aircraft's fitness for
service and legal airworthiness.

Any OPINIONS (including mine) of aircraft value are irrelevant, as the only
opinion that matters is that of the buyer. However, the opinion of that
buyer will not necessarily extend to any future prospective buyers at the
time of future resale.

Just my .02