CESSNA 177R PROSPECTIVE BUYER PLT OPERATES ACFT BEFORE DISCOVERING THAT THERE WERE 3 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES APPLICABLE TO THE ACFT NOT SHOWN AS ACCOMPLISHED.

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I FLEW WITH THE OWNER/OPERATOR (LEASEE?) OF A CESSNA 177RG FOR THE PURPOSES OF A PRE-PURCHASE EVALUATION FLT. THE OWNER FLEW THE FIRST LEG FROM S17 TO AIK; THEN I FLEW FROM AIK TO AGS THEN TO S17. 3 DAYS LATER; I FLEW THE ACFT FROM FDW TO MY HOME BASE OF CEU FOR FURTHER EVALUATION AND TO LOOK AT THE LOGS; ETC. DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE LOGS; I FOUND THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE COMPLIANCE LIST MISSING SINCE 1997. THE ACFT WAS ANNULLED IN MARCH 2002 (IT HAD BEEN ANNULLED EACH YR AND RETURNED TO SVC FROM 1997 TO 2002). THE A&P/IA MECH VERBALLY ASSURED ME THAT ALL AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES WERE COMPLIED WITH AND THAT THE OWNER HAD SIMPLY NOT FURNISHED THE COMPLETE LOGS TO ME. I FLEW THE ACFT FROM CEU TO S17 THREE DAYS LATER AND RETURNED IT TO THE OWNER. AT THAT TIME; THE OWNER CLAIMED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK. I TOLD HIM I WAS PARTICULARLY SUSPICIOUS OF 3 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES THAT WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO BE COMPLIED WITH AT THE MARCH ANNUAL. THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO FIND EVIDENCE ON THE MAINT/ANNUAL INSPECTION WORK ORDERS SHOWING THOSE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. AT THIS POINT; THE OWNER AND I ARE BOTH UNCERTAIN IF THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES HAVE; IN FACT; BEEN COMPLIED WITH. I SUSPECT THEY WERE NOT AND 2 OF THEM HAVE BEEN DUE FOR MANY MONTHS. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE 'OWNER' IS NOT REALLY THE OWNER; BUT LEASES THE ACFT FROM THE OWNER. THE LEASEE WOULD NOT RECEIVE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE NOTICES IN THE MAIL FROM THE FAA SINCE THEY WOULD GO TO THE OWNER/LEASOR. THE LEASEE IS RELYING ON THE A&P/IA MECH TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE AIRWORTHY AND ALL AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES CURRENT. HAD I NOT SCRUTINIZED THE LOGS AND AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; THE OWNER/LEASOR AND LEASEE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE ACFT WITH THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES DUE UNKNOWINGLY. THE OWNER/LEASOR AND LEASEE ARE MEETING WITH THE MECH TOMORROW TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL STATUS OF THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES AND THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE ACFT. I AM VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS SINCE I AM INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE ACFT.