ACFT MAINT PROBLEM IN THAT ACFT LOGBOOK AND ACFT MAINT HISTORY MISSING.

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ON SEVERAL FLTS; THE LATEST BEING ON APR/WED/92; I WAS GIVING INSTRUCTION TO A STUDENT PLT IN HIS PARTNER'S SMA. AFTER HIS SOLO FLT ON MAY/XXX/92; IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH IN A TIMELY MANNER. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION; MY STUDENT AND I DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT LOGS HAD BEEN LOST (OR WERE BEING WITHHELD BY THE PERSON WHO SOLD HIS PARTNER THE AIRPLANE); AND THAT WE NOW HAD NO RELIABLE RECORD TO VERIFY THAT ANY OF THE MAINT HAD BEEN PROPERLY DONE OR DOCUMENTED. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY GNDED IMMEDIATELY. IT WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL THE RECORDS HAVE BEEN LOCATED AND THE RECORDS OF MAINT PROPERLY DOCUMENTED FOR ALL AD'S; ANNUAL INSPECTION; ETC. IF THESE CANNOT BE FOUND; THE ACFT WILL BE RE-ANNUALED AND ALL RECORDS/MAINT WILL HAVE TO BE DUPLICATED. UP TO THIS POINT; THE RECORDS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE; AND I WAS ASSURED THAT ALL INSPECTIONS AND MAINT ON THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN DONE AND PROPERLY DOCUMENTED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN USED FOR TRAINING AND BUSINESS FLTS UP TO NOW; AND AS PIC; I SHOULD HAVE INSISTED TO SEE THE RECORDS SOONER; WHICH WOULD HAVE SAVED US ALL A LOT OF HEADACHE; NOT TO MENTION RISKING FLYING AN AIRPLANE THAT MIGHT BE UNAIRWORTHY. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE; THE AIRPLANE IS IN AN AIRWORTHY CONDITION; BUT IT IS IMPORTANT AS THE PIC FOR ME TO VERIFY THIS. PART OF THE PROBLEM FOR THE RECORDS BEING LOST OR 'UNAVAILABLE' FOR REVIEW LIES WITH THE MECH WHO SOLD THE AIRPLANE TO MY STUDENT'S PARTNER. THERE REMAINS A DISAGREEMENT ON THE QUALITY OF THE ACFT WITH SOME NECESSARY MAINT THAT HAD TO BE DONE TO IT AFTER SALE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE MECH IS HOLDING THE RECORDS ILLEGALLY IN ORDER TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE. NEVERTHELESS; THE LESSON TO BE APPLIED IS THAT WE; AS PIC'S MUST ALWAYS VERIFY THE ACFT LOGS BEFORE FLT TO BE SURE THAT THE ACFT MAINT HAS BEEN PROPERLY DONE AND DOCUMENTED IN THE ACFT RECORDS. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS AS AN INADVERTENT OVERSIGHT. NO INCIDENTS (PER SAY) OR ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED; BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT; THROUGH OUR SYS; WE STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF CHKING THE ACFT LOGS BEFORE FLT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE.