FAA DESIGNATED PLT EXAMINER; GLIDER INSTRUCTOR AND ATP RATED IN AIRPLANES; CONDUCTED FLT ORIENTATION RIDES IN AN AS-K13; WHEN THE GLIDER HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN AN ANNUAL OR 100 HR INSPECTION WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

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XXX IS A GLIDER CLUB THAT OWNS AND OPERATES FROM ZZZ. ON SEP/XA/99 XXX HOSTED AN FAA WINGS SAFETY DAY. I AM THE ONLY FAA DESIGNATED PLT EXAMINER CURRENTLY AUTH TO CONDUCT PRACTICAL TESTS IN GLIDERS IN 2 FAA DISTRICTS. ONE OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF XXX IS AFFILIATED WITH THE FSDO. I WAS THE 1 OF 2 SPEAKERS DURING THE FAA WINGS SAFETY DAY. I WAS FOLLOWED BY THE FSDO'S ACCIDENT PREVENTION SPECIALIST. AFTER THE FORMAL SAFETY PRESENTATION; THE CLUB GAVE ORIENTATION FLTS TO PARTICIPANTS WHO DESIRED TO DO SO. THE MGR OF FLT OPS PICKED PEOPLE HE FELT WOULD BEST REPRESENT A GOOD SAFETY ATTITUDE TO GIVE THE RIDES TO OUR GUESTS. THE PRINCIPLE PLTS WERE OUR CHIEF FLT INSTRUCTOR; THE FAA MGR; AND MYSELF. THE 3 OF US MET WITH THE TOW PLTS AND MGR OF FLT OPS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE FLTS. THE GLIDERS PROVIDED TO EACH INSTRUCTOR WERE; MORE OR LESS; ASSIGNED RANDOMLY. AFTER THE MEETING; EACH OF US PERFORMED A PREFLT INSPECTION ON OUR RESPECTIVE ACFT. FROM THAT POINT ON; MY PORTION OF THE DAY WENT UNEVENTFULLY; GIVING RIDES TO VISITORS WHO DESIRED RIDES. ON OCT/XB/99 I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM THE CHIEF FLT INSTRUCTOR INFORMING ME HE HAD DISCOVERED THE GLIDER I WAS FLYING HAD LAST HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION IN AUG/98. THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT LEAD TO A SIT SUCH AS THIS. I HAVE LITTLE OR NO CTL OVER ALMOST ALL THE FACTORS. THE ONE FACTOR I DID HAVE CTL OVER WAS MY PERSONAL CHKING OF THE ACFT LOGBOOKS PRIOR TO FLT. WHILE IT IS IMPRACTICAL TO REVIEW THE ACFT LOGBOOKS BEFORE EVERY FLT; I AM GOING TO SET UP MY OWN PERSONAL SYS TO INSURE I KNOW WHEN THE NEXT ANNUAL IS DUE ON EVERY CLUB ACFT I FLY. THIS IS AN EASY TRAP TO FALL INTO. I RECALL NOT TOO LONG AGO WHEN ALMOST EVERY INSPECTOR IN ONE FSDO WAS SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY FOR FLYING AN AIRPLANE OUT OF ANNUAL. THE AIRPLANE THEY WERE FLYING HAD BEEN CONTRACTED FOR BY THE FAA IN ORDER FOR THE INSPECTORS TO MAINTAIN PROFICIENCY; YET IT DID NOT HAVE AN ANNUAL. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT THE FAA WOULD DO TO A LOWLY DPE IF THEY WOULD DO THAT TO THEIR INSPECTORS. PLEASE DO NOT REPRINT THIS RPT IN CALLBACK. THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAA IS A TENUOUS ONE AT BEST AND I AM AFRAID IT WOULD BE ALL TOO OBVIOUS TO CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO FILED THIS RPT; EVEN IF IT WERE SANITIZED.