Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

[astjp2]

I have a customer who is telling me that he inspected parts that I have deemed unairworthy and he told me that he looked at them and he has determined there is nothing wrong with them. The number 5 plug wire only has 1 thread left on it, the battery box has a hole in it and the landing gear down lock switch housing was held together with red RTV, I had to cut the switch housing off with a die grinder because it was flopping around and I could not just unbolt it. Do owner feel that they can tell and IA what is airworthy? If that is the case then why would you even do an annual? I almost told them that he can sign it off then! What is worse is said owner claims to be a friend and trying to bully me into just signing it off. I don't need his wife suing me if there is an incident because he was being a cheap prick!

He keeps claiming that he is hurting for money but he was on vacation last weekend and last year him and his wife took a vacation across the southwestern US. Its funny that he pulls his $15K side by side, and the jet boat out of his hanger to put the airplane in! If he was so broke, and doesn't change his life style? WTF? Am I stupid? If I am broke, no eating out, no expensive vacations...I have lost sympathy but I do want to get it airworthy...maybe its time to walk away? Maybe I should just sign it off as unairworthy and note in the log the discrepancies? Then he can try to bully someone else into pencil whipping his inspection....

Rant over.
Tim

[3Dreaming]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

CFR 43.11, (a), (5).

[N96337]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

Yep, sign it off unairworthy and walk away. I always pull my license out and tell them to see if their name is on it....if not, don't tell me what is or isn't airworthy.
Your line said it all....some customers are NOT worth having....it'll only get worse with him...trust me, I know.
John

[PA1195]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

I had several annual inspections on my former PA-11 that used the 43.11 wording. The IA preferred to inspect and not repair or replace. He got paid to look. Then I had one or more A&P's address the discrepancies and sign the logs. They preferred to fix, get paid, and not have the obligation of an IA.

I agreed with the process as the plane was fresh out of restoration (airframe and engine) and there was little of consequence wrong except for minor wear (like externally weathered C-90 rubber engine mounts) or cowl chafing near exhaust stacks.

Now as with other aircraft before the PA-11 I prefer a one stop shop for maintenance. I never argue with a professional and if any customer does then let them find someone else to maintain their aircraft. It's not a gov't welfare program to be debated.

Gary

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

I don't debate with my IA. Ask questions (which he is great about answering) or ask if I can do the repair (which he normally lets me, and then inspects my work) but I never challenge his judgement. Question his logic, but NOT his judgement. If I thought his judgment is questionable, I wouldn't want him working on my plane.

Hank

On rare occasion he listens to my logic and may even change his mind, but it sure doesn't happen often!

[N96337]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

Exactly, Hank! I have no problem showing them what's wrong and why it's not airworthy....but I don't want an argument or whine session about it. I didn't break it or wear it out...or I'd be the one fixing it and picking up the tab. I prefer to have the owner involved and asking questions, but when it's an airworthiness issue, it's MY ticket, so my judgement.
John

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

I wouldn't get upset (OK, I would, but for the sake of this discussion and our mental health let's say I was better than that), I would just say here's my bill for my hours so far, it looks like you need to take your plane to someone who will sign that off. I won't. Wish it was that simple. If it was, both of us would have better blood pressure. You just have to let it go and take a deep breath. As you said at the very beginning, some customers are not worth having. When he takes it to someone else and they won't sign it off either, maybe his attitude will change. What scares me is people who do their best to HIDE the problem from the next guy. Kind of like the guy who borrows tires from another car for the state inspection then puts the bald ones back on after he gets the sticker. At least the idiots tend to eliminate themselves from the gene pool.

Hank

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

Always consider a logbook entry a letter to the judge. I have been there and got burned in the past. Not worth it.

[wmfife]

Re: Some customers are NOT WORTH HAVING!

Our shop has been through no less than FOUR different managements since I started and one was even caught trying to make off with company funds and skip the country.

That may explain why more than once after PAYING for work that wasn't completed I had to go get the right parts and do the work myself. I'm out thousands that never should have been.

Fortunately we have (I think) a good guy in charge finally. One reason I'm out of annual and down for parts. Still.

Sorry should have warned you didn't want to get me started.

But through it all the IA's overseeing all this were and are the (only) ones I could trust. The FAA doesn't hand out those licenses. And I am glad they don't.

End of rant.