A TECHNICIAN WHO CERTIFIED A NANCHANG CJ-6A FOR A PVT OWNER IS ALLEGED TO HAVE OVERLOOKED OBVIOUS ACFT MAINT DISCREPANCIES.

Narrative

BROKEN CABLE TO FRONT COCKPIT. CANNOT INSPECT BROKEN CABIN INSIDE SHIELD UNLESS CABLE IS DESTROYED. OIL LEAK ENG OUT HORN TO OIL COOLER. GASKET CRACKED AND CAUSED OIL LEAK. GASKET IS SUPPLIED ON ENG FROM OVERHAUL FACTORY. HORN WAS INSTALLED PER INSTALLATION MANUAL. ELEVATOR FABRIC COVER CAME LOOSE BY TRIM TAB. FABRIC WAS LITTLE LOOSE AND OWNER PUT FINGERNAIL UNDER AND TORE LOOSE FABRIC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED RESTORING WORLD WAR II FIGHTER ACFT AND ASSEMBLING AND CERTIFYING FOREIGN ACFT ARE HIS SPECIALTY. THE RPTR SAID AN AIR TRANSPORT CAPT PURCHASED A NANCHANG CJ-6A IN CHINA AND CONTRACTED MY SHOP TO ASSEMBLE AND CERTIFY THE ACFT. THE RPTR SAID THE OWNER OF THE ACFT WAS ADVISED THE BRAKE CABLES SHOULD BE REPLACED PRECAUTIONARY DUE TO BEING ENCASED IN A SHEATH AND CABLE CONDITION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED BUT THE OWNER REFUSED. THE RPTR STATED THE OWNER THEN PURCHASED A RUSSIAN BUILT 9 CYLINDER RADIAL ENG WHICH WAS INSTALLED. THE RPTR STATED THE FIRST FLT AFTER 20 HRS OF CERTIFICATION TIME THE ENG DISPLAYED HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION USING 6 QUARTS IN A SHORT FLT AND NO INVESTIGATION WAS MADE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. THE RPTR STATED A BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED CAUSED BY A BROKEN CABLE AND LATER A RPT OF ELEVATOR FABRIC COMING LOOSE CAUSED BY THE OWNER LIFTING THE FABRIC WITH A FINGER. THE RPTR STATED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENG OIL PROB WAS WITH THE OWNER AS THE ENG WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED AS A UNIT. THE RPTR SAID THE OTHER PROBS WERE ALL OWNER CAUSED AND COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE RPTR STATED NOT ONLY WAS THE OWNER AIR TRANSPORT RATED BUT HAD AN AIRFRAME AND PWRPLANT LICENSE WITH INSPECTION AUTH.