Experts make mistakes

“Trust, but verify,” she told him. “The Russians like to talk in proverbs. It would be nice of you to know a few.” In a press conference, with his characteristic humor, Reagan tried out the phrase in Russian. Rather than being offended, Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviets, laughed and responded with “You say that a lot.” To which Reagan replied, “I like it.”

I like the idea, too, and use it often at the airport. Here’s the thing about general aviation: We’re a friendly, generous bunch. Rarely does a month go by when someone doesn’t offer me the use of their airplane or offer to take me up for a ride in their new toy. As a young, 20-year-old people pleaser, this sort of thing used to make me a little bit uncomfortable. As nice as it was for someone to offer to take me flying, it felt awkwardly insulting to say, “Hey, thanks! But can I see the maintenance logs first?” That all changed for me one day when I was talking with a new student who wanted me to instruct him in his father’s Cessna 172. I told him that before our first lesson, I’d need to see the aircraft logbooks. Instead of being put off by my request, the guy looked relieved. “I’m so glad you asked! My dad said I couldn’t fly with you if you didn’t ask to see them.” Here’s what I realized: It’s acceptable, professional even, to insist on seeing the maintenance logs or the weight and balance or the fuel strainer cup or anything else you need to feel comfortable. You have a right to fly in a safe and legal airplane.

Several times during my career, I’ve been glad I did my own trusting but verifying. One time I was invited to give a checkride in someone’s factory-built experimental airplane. Not being at all familiar, I asked the owner (a commercial airline pilot) to take me up and show me the ropes before I did the private pilot checkride for his son in the same aircraft. But when I asked for the weight and balance documents, he blew me off. “We fly together all the time. You’re lighter than my son, so it should be fine.” When I insisted, I found that we were much closer to the weight and balance limits than expected, and I had to leave my backpack behind. I’m no detective, but I’m guessing that when he and his son flew, they were well over gross weight. Next came the maintenance logs. It was a similar reaction. “The airplane is brand new, so all the inspections are current.” I ended up finding that a transponder check had never been performed. Since we fly out of an airport under the Memphis Class Bravo shelf, the airplane wasn’t legal. Don’t get caught in an unsafe situation. Trust, but verify.

Another time, I was invited to act as safety pilot for an airport friend only to find that his registration certificate wasn’t current. This man was a highly organized professional whom I trusted completely. Was his airplane safe? One hundred percent. Was it legal? Technically no. So, he renewed his registration and invited me to fly again another time, grateful that I had caught the oversight.

A mechanic friend who owned his own airplane once asked me to do his flight review. It felt a little funny asking a trusted mechanic for the maintenance logs on his personal airplane. But he understood. When I couldn’t find the 100-hour inspection, he replied, “We don’t need one. Plane’s not operated for hire.” But it had flown more than 100 hours since the annual, and that aircraft had an airworthiness directive to inspect the seat rails every 100 hours. He just laughed and shook his head. “Can’t believe I forgot that.” Even the experts make mistakes.

I still do my own fuel level check every time I get into an airplane. I can honestly say no one has ever tried to take me up flying without enough fuel, but the fuel caps have been off kilter multiple times. I’m not sure if we would have lost them during flight, but I sure didn’t want to find out. Plus, I always fly just a little more relaxed knowing I’ve seen the fuel levels and caps with my own eyes.

Another time, I was flying with a friend in his Piper Archer. He’d flown the airplane hundreds of hours and certainly seemed comfortable and competent. I asked if I could see a copy of the checklist to acquaint myself with any unique procedures I might not be aware of. As we pulled across the hold short line, I noticed a discrepancy. “Isn’t the fuel pump supposed to be on for takeoff?” He looked at his own checklist and saw that, yes, he’d been missing it all this time.

Remember, when you’re speaking to aircraft owners, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. You’re not working with a world leader trying to end the Cold War. You’re just one pilot talking to another, diligently making sure everyone is safe. That’s always a worthy cause.

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