So, a little vent here. I’m sure Mel and others are thinking the same, but I’m going to voice it. I’m always shocked at those of you who want a free airworthiness inspection. I’ve seen the results of those free inspections performed by FSDO’S and others. Some had some pretty serious safety things missed, like loose jamnuts at BOTH ends of the elevator control rod. Are they intentionally bad inspections? No. They just don’t know where to look.
I actually spend time training inspectors to help them, but it’s only a few local ones.
Think about it—— you just spent how much time and money building a very complicated machine on which even the BEST builder can overlook something, and that includes experienced people like myself, as I have done it. Missing something at this point can have serious, and even potentially fatal results. I just don’t get it.
As Mel said, we DARs are not getting rich off of this activity. There’s a lot of work behind the scenes, sometimes lots of back and forth phone calls helping with paperwork, etc. It’s a service we provide for personal reasons—- to help make a difference and potentially increase the safety factor. I know for a fact I’ve saved at least a half dozen aircraft from being a smoking hole in the ground, and it makes it all worthwhile.
Just look at the statistics: most of the AB accidents happen during the first 8 hours. Why wouldn’t you want someone else to help identify or eliminate anything that could could go wrong on your airplane???
Vic