Loss of records

[Bill Boyd]

Not sure this is the best forum for my question but I'll try putting this here for now.

Among the casualties of the fire that leveled my home on May 13 were my pilot logs and aircraft maintenance logs for airframe, engine and prop. Thankfully my medical, pilot cert and airworthiness docs were in the plane and therefore unscathed.

What does an owner do when all his original and backup photocopies of maintenance logs are lost like this? Besides start over today with new ones...

I am at a loss. In more ways than one, I guess

-Stormy

[CATPart]

This is why I used my phone, and made a movie of turning through the pages of all of my logs. It is the easiest and quickest way to "copy" them. Then I uploaded the movie to one of the popular websites to immortalize it. Note, this is also a good way to share the logs when trying to sell your plane.

Maybe any mechanics that worked on your plane have copies, or at least records of the last pertinent entries?

[SmilingJack]

DocScan HD is a good app to copy your logbooks too.

[enielsen]

Wow... sorry for your loss. Perhaps you can get an affidavit from the insurance company or fire marshall to confirm the loss and also insert such wording in your new log books that there was no prior accident history and all previous maintenance items were adhered to. or something like that?

[Bill Boyd]

in off-site storage of backups. And there's a million digital and a few analog ways to do it. My concern is about this being a done deal. I can't go back an re-do what's been left undone in the way of record-keeping and back-ups...

With what sort of entry do I begin my next pilot and aircraft logs? What if any are the legal repercussions of these records going AWOL?

-Stormy

[Mel]

Try to find all information that is recorded anywhere; FAA, past inspectors (including transponder checks), mechanics, etc.
Beyond that, enter all information to the best of your knowledge and have the entry notarized.
This is common practice.

[esco]

First off - I'm sorry to hear of your fire; hope everyone is ok.

To your question

Originally Posted by Bill Boyd

With what sort of entry do I begin my next pilot and aircraft logs? What if any are the legal repercussions of these records going AWOL?

Suggest a search of FARs - you aren't the first person to lose records.
(FYI, a quick scan of part 61 turned up how to recover a lost pilot or medical certificate; not your issue.)

If Google is your search engine of choice, the string of text below will get you started:
pilot log site:ecfr.gov

Can't speak to legal repercussions.

[flightlogic]

Sorry that happened... can't imagine what that would be like.
Your aircraft insurance company only cares about premiums paid... and then annual inspection and BFR. Ask your CFI that last did your BFR to log that in a new book. Keep a scanned copy of that. In case of a claim, you will be covered. Unless you are headed for an airline career, your actual pilot logbook is fairly useless in my opinion. I have been faithfully putting down my time for 41 years. Could I prove it is true... not really. It is more of a diary than anything. I did present it when I earned ATP single and multi-engine. Then, they denied me an ATP for seaplanes... since there was no approach to shoot to water. Anyway, just rebuild a log book and initial or sign to show you are telling the truth . Best you can do at this point.

[wfinnell]

Advisory Circular 43-9C has a section on how to recover lost or destroyed records

[FasGlas]

Maintenance logs aren't as important as the DME sign off and the phase 1 sign off. That's what proves your airworthy cert is good. Some builders send copies to OK so those are on file in the event the books get lost. Most A&P's / IA's keep records that you can duplicate. Your pitot/static guy will definitely have your records. If you have receipts for any parts that might help reconstruct your books. From this point on maybe scan them as you go.