A BE350 CAPT RPTS OPERATING AN AIRPLANE THAT HAD EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED MAINT CHK TIME. ACFT STATUS RPT INDICATED NO CHKS WERE DUE.

Narrative

I AM A CONTRACT PLT FOR A PART 91 FLT DEPT THAT OPERATES A KING AIR 350. THE DEPT HAS A CHIEF MAINT OFFICER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING; MANAGING; TRACKING AND SCHEDULING ALL MAINT DONE ON THIS ACFT. THE CHIEF MAINT OFFICER UPDATES AND SIGNS OFF AN ACFT STATUS SHEET EACH DAY STATING THAT THE ACFT IS AIRWORTHY AND NOT DUE FOR INSPECTION. THIS IS THE SHEET THAT THE PLTS CHK BEFORE A FLT AND CONFIRM THE ACFT IS LEGAL. ON APR/THU/05; I FLEW THE ACFT ON A ROUTINE TRIP. ON APR/FRI/05 I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHIEF MAINT OFFICER THAT THE ACFT WAS OUT OF DATE ON A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS; BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT LEGAL FOR FLT. THE CHIEF MAINT OFFICER HAS BEEN REMOVED OF ALL DUTIES AND THE CHIEF PLT WILL TRACK; MANAGE; AND SCHEDULE ALL MAINT FOR OUR ACFT. THIS WILL REMOVE TRUST AS A FACTOR WHEN VERIFYING THE ACFT'S STATUS WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT THE ACFT IS NOT FLOWN PAST INSPECTION IN THE FUTURE. THERE WERE SEVERAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS EVENT. 1) MISINTERP OF THE MAINT PHASE PROGRAM BY THE CHIEF MAINT OFFICER AND PLTS. 2) BREAKDOWN OF COM BTWN CHIEF MAINT OFFICER AND PLTS. 3) PRESSURE TO SCHEDULE THE ACFT INSPECTIONS AS CLOSE TO THE 200 HR TIME FOR MAX BENEFIT. 4) PLT'S FAILURE TO PERSONALLY CHK INSPECTION DATES AND REQUIREMENTS. 5) USE OF AN INACCURATE TIME SHEET TO VERIFY INSPECTION TIMES. 6) CHIEF MAINT OFFICER INACCURATELY TRACKING AND RECORDING INSPECTION TIMES. 7) ACFT NOT ON MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED INSPECTION TRACKING PROGRAM. 8) LOGBOOKS NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO PLTS.