I apologize up front for this type of post and I feel like I'm writing an article, but documentation for many reasons just seems so important and many neglect it. I guess this is my soapbox stand. LOL
Don't open a door you can't close is the best practice because by the time you find out that door has been opened it's too late.
I'm a big believer in trying to do a good job. I treat every plane like it was my own. How hard is it to use a checklist, how hard is it to write down what you did and how hard is it to protect your client and yourself from multiple entities.
Plus if you have to file a CSIR with Rotax for an engine issue good documentation helps. Ask me how I know. LOL
How hard is it to just write down you did the annual condition and 100 hour at the same time. You cover all the bases with just a few words for all regulatory, mfg requirements and other legal authorities. Plus if you're a mechanic you make your customer happy and they want to come back. The 100 hr. and annual condition are fairly close to the same with a few exceptions so why not just do them together and be a cut above average.
If you were in court as much as me over 30 years and watch people get burnt to the ground (doctors, nurses, firemen, policeman, ect..) and lose many times due to poor or neglected documentation, plus have legal authorities like the FAA go after owners and mechanics, insurance companies refusing to pay out due to poor documentation, losing in court over a civil liability case then you'd understand documentation is the one important thing that protects you as the mechanic and or owner. Good documentation is easy and poor documentation is just lazy. Also good documentation helps keep resale value up, let's you know when there is a bad trend with the plane / engine and let's the owner and other mechanics what has been done.
When you buy a used car do you want the one that has no or little paperwork to show how it was maintained or do you want one that has been well documented so you know everything that was done to that auto for preventive maint. and other repair issues and that it was well kept..
I've had companies call me to question other mechanic's work. To this day most have been bad and had to refund money and get the work checked out due to poor documentation. The mechanic can't remember everything they did. Easy things like compression test results, gearbox friction torque, mag check differences, type of spark plugs (gaps and thermal paste application), carb float weight and the list goes on and on. You see all the time mechanics say they installed 3 quarts of Aero Shell Sport Plus 4. They come in liters not quarts.
Aircraft owners want to know what was done and that you are looking out for their best interest and above all their safety.
I learned in court that the bottom line is if you didn't write it down you didn't do it. This is how all those other people over the years lost in court.
In my third week of medical school (1979) three lawyers came in. They said if you get nothing else out of this just remember three words that will keep you out of trouble. I never forgot those words. "Document, Document, Document"
I perform around 35+/- annuals and rubber changes a year plus gearbox's and carb overhauls. Owners come from all over the US. I only have three aircraft at my field. The others don't come from all over because I do the bare minimum work to just get by. I want to strive to do a good job and have never wanted to strive to be just average.
I think my mother had an influence here. LOL
I hope everyone has good days and safe flights!
