FAA Registration Errors

[blueldr]

While doodling on the internet, I decided to look up the FAA registrations of some of our members airplanes. Of the first four that I looked up, three of them showed the wrong engine type. I happen to know that these four airplanes have all had their engines changed to a different model, or type, by way of a STC, yet three of them still showed the O-300 Continental.
Is it the responsibility of the owner to advise the FAA, or is the FAA supposed to make the change as a result of the 337 that was submitted for the work accomplished?
I have no idea whether or not this could ever cause a problem, but I think it might be to the advantage of the owner of a modified airplane to at least advise the FAA of the error in their registration and have it corrected.
I think it would be in the best interest of any member with a modified airplane to look up his own number on the FAA registry to check on the accuracy of ihe information published.
Perhaps an error like this might, sometime, cause the owner a hassle on an insurance matter.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

The engine issue is minor compared to the amount of aircraft that are in the unknown or questioned category because the triennial post card was returned undeliverable in most cases because the owner illegally did not update the FAA with their current address.

And know we are all paying for it in the name of security with the triennial reregistration.

[jrenwick]

I believe the FAA registry shows the engine type that was given when the airplane was initially registered. When you buy a plane and re-register it, there's nothing on the form about the type of engine. If you change the engine to a different type, you file a 337, but that doesn't mean the registry entry changes. I don't see any way for the registry to be updated because of an engine change. Do you? Maybe if a 170 is re-imported and entered into the registry, its current engine type is recorded at that time.

[SteveF]

Just bought a champ. It was converted from a 7AC to a 7DC with all the paperwork.

All regrestrations sense conversion have said 7AC/Conv 7DC and it has an 85 engine.
Shows as a 7AC with a 65/75 engine.
I wonder if it is entered as it came from factory or if they just don't care.

It flies great so I don't care either. When this physical runs out I will have very
little to do with the FAA and that suits me fine! Hello Sport Pilot bye bye
FAA out of control paperwork for normal tests that the FAA wants outragious
documentation for when you take your physical.

[blueldr]

Bruce,
I've lived at this address for over forty years and I've NEVER received a card of any kind from the FAA concerning my aircraft registration.

John,
I wonder why some of the airplanes that have had engine change modifications show the new engine in the registry?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

All I can say BL is that the old system sent a card to the address of record of every aircraft every three years. If the card was returned to the FAA because it couldn't be delivered, then your registration was in question. If you didn't get the card and it wasn't returned to the FAA then your registration was not in question. It really is/was a ridiculous method when you think about it relying on the ability of the post office to deliver a post card or not.

[N2255D]

All I can say BL is that the old system sent a card to the address of record of every aircraft every three years. If the card was returned to the FAA because it couldn't be delivered, then your registration was in question. If you didn't get the card and it wasn't returned to the FAA then your registration was not in question. It really is/was a ridiculous method when you think about it relying on the ability of the post office to deliver a post card or not.

Bruce, I thought they sent the card to a random group every 3 years. In 21 years of aircraft ownership I received a card one time. It truly was a stupid system but then look at who created it.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Walt, it was to every aircraft every three years. Now I don't know if they were dumb enough to send them to the addresses again and again once they were returned as undeliverable.

I think that it is likely those that don't remember don't because the card was not remarkable. Ir said in big letters if no changes no further action was required, and they looked like all the other junk mail. Likely someone in the household, not necessarily pilot/owner, trashed it without though.

With two aircraft in the house hold the chances I saw one doubled. I'm sure I got them all and it was about every three year. I'd take the card and study i word for word each time. I just couldn't believe I didn't have to do something with it.

One year I remember well because the card came and the postage was not post card rate of about 23 cents. It was some kind of special delivery rate at $4.90. I figured at the time there was about 340,000 registered aircraft and wondered if the 113,300 or so cards that year went out all at $4.90 or a total cost of $555.170 so that the majority of us could through them away or now it seems, not even remember we got them. All to to attempt a collection of information we are all required by law to keep current anyway. I ticked off and kept that card till the next arrived as an example of government waste that I needed to show someone which I never did. Good thing the next card mail rate had returned to the correct postage rate.