A C172 WAS FLOWN IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH AIRWORTHY ITEMS DISCOVERED IN AN ANNUAL INSPECTION; BUT NOT CORRECTED. LOGBOOK SIGNED OFF 'RETURNED TO SVC.'

Narrative

TRAINING FLT WAS DONE IN AN AIRPLANE THAT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACFT COLLISION ON THE GND AND WAS REPAIRED AND PUT BACK ON THE LINE FOR FLT AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. AFTER THE TRAINING FLT; A MORE THOROUGH EXAM OF THE ACFT LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE A&P WHO ADDRESSED UNAIRWORTHY ITEMS (FOUND DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION); SIGNED THE LOGBOOK OF THE PLANE AS BEING 'RETURNED TO SVC;' AND NOT NECESSARILY IN AIRWORTHY CONDITION. UPON DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE A&P WHO ADDRESSED THE LIST OF UNAIRWORTHY ITEMS (FOUND BY ANOTHER COMPANY THAT DID THE ANNUAL INSPECTION); THE A&P SAID HE DID NOT WRITE THAT THE ACFT WAS AIRWORTHY IN THE LOGBOOKS DUE TO POSSIBLE LIABILITY. THE A&P ALSO STATED THAT HE DID NOT ADDRESS ALL OF THE ITEMS LISTED BY THE OTHER COMPANY BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT 'THEY DID NOT REALLY AFFECT THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE ACFT.' THEREFORE; HE DECIDED TO SIGN THE LOGBOOK AS 'RETURNED TO SVC;' AND ALLOW THE PLANE TO BE RENTED AGAIN; WITH THE QUESTIONABILITY OF ITS ACTUAL AIRWORTHINESS. THE LOGBOOK LISTS THE ITEMS THAT WERE ADDRESSED FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL; BUT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH BEFORE THE ACFT WAS 'RETURNED TO SVC.'