National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

I have a dilemma. I just received a part back from a repair shop that came highly recommended from several Aeronca aviators. The problem is that I did not receive an 8130 or yellow tag of any kind for this part being overhauled. I called the repair shop and talked to the owner who said he lost his certificate to issue yellow tags or 8130’s 6-7 years ago. This is news to me because this information was not initially disclosed and I assumed being a repair station and being highly recomended that the paper work would be included once the part was returned.
My mechanic isn’t happy and is refusing to sign off reinstallation of the part off because there is no documentation of it’s overhaul!

The 8130 and yellow tags are for the installer to determine servicability or conformity. As an installer I would evaluate the part, as well as the rebuilder, and determine installation approval. If it's a good part it shouldn't be a problem to sign off. You are taking some risk as the installer but if it's good what's the difference. The paperwork on a part doesn't mean it's any good, I reject a ton of parts at work for failure OTB.
Also 8130's don't indicate servicability, only that it conforms to a repair standard. The installer is still responsible for servicability of the installation. If the part is an internal engine part, I would be a bit concerned, but a magneto from Al at Savage I'd sign it off in a heartbeat, just depends on the comfort level of the mechanic.
Paul

I will agree with Paul 100%. You mechanic is not signing it off because he doesn't, want the responsibility/liability of the newly installed part. This is a very typical problem in today's FAA/lawsuit world!

Your new part maybe to best overhauled unit in the world but if the paperwork blessing isn't attached then it might as well have a "MADE IN CHINA" stamp on it!

I hope it works out for you.

DC KROG

I agree with you both. If I had my A&P I also would not hesitate to sign the part off. On the other hand if I had known there would be no paper work included I would have fixed the part myself and reinstalled and kept my mouth shut. Honestly it would have worked and been a lot cheaper outcome. Other option would have been to send the part to a licensed shop in Tulsa that I found that overhauls these old parts and would include the paper work to back it. Oh well live and learn.

Can you send it to another shop to check and yellow tag the part?

I did talk with the shop in Tulsa. I told them the situation. The person I talked to offered to do a functional bench check and maintanace release for the bench check only (he didn't give me a price for this). He stated he can not yellowtag the part overhauled unless he goes completely through it again which would cost another $500-$1000 depending on what he finds. My mechanic said to just fly the part and keep my mouth shut but he would not sign the mag off due to liabilty of not having the maintenace release. So bassically I have a part that I cannot document as being overhualed and lose the value of the overhaul being done if I ever resale the plane. The only piece of mind I get is knowing the mag is good. Hindsight is 20/20 and if I knew now what I didn't know then I would have sent my part to the Tulsa shop.