by Thomas P. Turner

We pulled your airplane out of the hangar,” the mechanic says on the phone. “Everything’s ready; come pick it up.”

Your airplane’s been in the shop over the last few days for maintenance. The annual inspection’s complete and a few modifications were made—maybe you had it painted, or installed an upgrade. Perhaps a major repair is now finished. Whether the airplane was “down” for something as simple as an oil change or as intrusive as an engine swap, the accident record attests that it’s wise to thoroughly check it out before flying away from the shop. …