Missing Engine Log

[mhorowit]

This Tcraft I"m looking at. Has several engine logs but is missing the latest.
How serious is that? Is a missing engine log worth anything off the cost? - MIke

[flyguy]

Re: Missing Engine Log

Wouldn't that mean that you would have to tear it down and start over? How would the bureaucrats know what you have there, so they can cover their backsides. All the other records are available from the FAA on a CD, Cheap, no problem.
Darryl

[Steve Green]

Re: Missing Engine Log

How long ago is the last engine log entry? That is the last real record for the engine, and anything else (repairs, inspections, etc) since then is unknown, reducing the value of the airplane.

The last engine entry on my airplane was well before the last known flight (as indicated in other records I found), both in calendar time and in operations time. My offer for the purchase reflected that unknown.

For what it is worth.

[Garry Crookham]

Re: Missing Engine Log

Mike:
A missing logbook could be a minor annoyance, or a major problem. If the engine's last major overhaul (or any major maintenance) was recorded in the missing logbook you will need to contact the overhaul facility, or A&P who performed the overhaul, and reconstruct the logbook from that point. Make sure that any applicable AD notes have been complied with (shouldn't be much of a problem if it's an A-65...there aren't many...don't forget mag and carb AD's). Also verify that the data plate on the engine matches the maintenance records that you have........also make sure the airframe logbooks match the serial number on the airframe data plate.
A classic horror story: A local pilot purchased a multi-engine seaplane...opted to skip a pre-buy inspection. Yep, you guessed it...both engine logs and both prop logs did not match the engines/props on the airplane. Doubled the cost of the airplane to straighten that mess out.
Good luck.

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa

[alwaysoar]

Re: Missing Engine Log

Harry Fenton's site has information on buying an engine without logs. Check that out.

[Acroeric]

Re: Missing Engine Log

There is no FAA required overhaul period for a small Continental engine unless you use it in a part 135 charter. If you wanted to run one for 3000 hours you can do just that. I have run engines that were missing logs and relied on 1) new AD search, 2) compression, 3) oil consumption, 4) fuel consumption, and 5) operating temperatures to indicate the condition. As long as the engine AD's are complied with and all parameters are within limits then there is no reason you can not run it unless there is reason to believe that the overhaul was not done to limits. As for value- obviously it is worth much less.

[mhorowit]

Re: Missing Engine Log

Harry Fenton's site has information on buying an engine without logs. Check that out.

What a great site! Thanks for the pointer - MIke

[mhorowit]

Re: Missing Engine Log

Harry Fenton's site has information on buying an engine without logs. Check that out.

Here's Fenton's first paragraph :"I usually don't worry too much about lack of logbook information as the "current state condition" is really what counts. As long as compression is in limits, oil temps, pressure, and consumption are in line, you should be good to go"

I had a prop strike on my last engine. Wood prop on an A-65 came out unscratched. Just on a whim, my A&P did a "run-out" measurement on the flange and found it out of spec. It could have been out from the day it was manufactured, it could have sustained an undocumented prop strike, or it could have been my prop strike. In any event, we sent it to an engine shop for inspection. While it was open, they found the cam shaft wearing, lifters not rotating, a bearing shifting from it's mount and other 'stuff', the end results was expensive. I sent the oil off for analysis 25 engine hours prior, with no adverse report returned.

Additionally, how do I check temp, pressure and oil consumption for an engine in storage?

My limited observation seems to conflict with Fenton's premise. Am I missing something in the discussion? - Mike

[Len Petterson]

Re: Missing Engine Log

NO mike you are not missing anything. My friends 0 290 Lycoming ran good prodused power but high oil temp made us suspisios, Yes the oil consumption went sky high about 10 hr into the ownership. Top over haul with new rings and some guides but the oil temp is still on the high side.
A complete tear down can give you a Supprice either way good or bad it happens with any machine or engine. If it runs good produses power runing it is about the only way to find out if it going to last.
The more they run, the longer they last!
Len Petterson

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: Missing Engine Log

Could high oil temp cast suspicion on the crankshaft?