A PA22-135 WAS RETURNED TO SVC AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WITH UNAPPROVED MAGNETOS INSTALLED ON THE ENG.

Narrative

AFTER COMPLETING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON A PA22-135 WITH A LYC 0-290-DT2C ENG (4 MONTHS) LATER THE ACFT WENT THROUGH A BUYER'S INSPECTION. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS ACFT HAD SLICK MAGNETOS INSTALLED BY THE PERSPECTIVE BUYER WHO RECOGNIZED THROUGH READING HIS 'SHORT WING' PIPER TRADE MAGAZINE THAT SLICK MAGNETOS WERE ONLY APPROVED FOR THE 0-290D ENG. THIS WAS POINTED OUT TO ME. AFTER RECHKING MY TCDC LISTING I FOUND THE DT2C ENG TO ONLY BE APPROVED FOR BENDIX MAGNETOS. AFTER CALLING SLICK ACFT PRODUCTS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DT2C COULD HAVE SLICK MAGNETOS INSTALLED (#4370 AND #4373) WITH FAA FIELD APPROVAL. THIS FACT IS BESIDE THE POINT. THE ACFT HAD NO ENTRY IN THE LOGBOOKS ON THE SLICKS INSTALLED (THIS SHOULD HAVE RAISED A RED FLAG) WHEN I DID THE LAST TWO ANNUALS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THE SLICK MAGNETOS WERE ON THE ACFT 4 YRS PREVIOUS TO HIS OWNERSHIP. I ANNUALLED IT THE LAST 2 YRS. TWO OTHER AI'S ANNUALED IT THE PREVIOUS 2 YRS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE SLICK MAGNETOS COULD BE USED ON THIS 0-290-DT2C ENG IF AN APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL IS SENT TO THE FAA AND APPROVED. THE RPTR SAID THE MAGNETOS WERE INSTALLED AT LEAST 4-6 YRS BEFORE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION THAT THE RPTR ACCOMPLISHED. THE RPTR SAID NO ENTRIES WERE MADE IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK STATING THE MAGNETOS WERE INSTALLED PER FAA APPROVAL. THE RPTR STATED THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE SLICK MAGNETOS' INSTALLATION WAS MAILED OFF LAST WK.