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Image: NTSB

The old saying, "The job's not finished until the paperwork is done," is never more true than when it comes to documenting maintenance and returning an aircraft to service afterward. Pilots and owners typically depend on maintainers to ensure the correct logbook entries are made before the airplane is flown, but things do get missed from time to time. Ultimately, it’s the pilot who will be on the hook with the FAA for operating an unairworthy aircraft. —J.B.

Anytime someone works on an airplane, mistakes can be made. (Ask Boeing if you’re not convinced.) Typical things found in post-maintenance inspections are loose tools that never got collected and missing cotter pins for securing wheel/tire assemblies on the landing gear. By their nature, retractable-gear airplanes are much easier to inspect, but wheel pants can be removed in a short while. Some owners elect to leave off the wheel pants for just this reason. At bottom, the pilot is the final authority on accepting the airplane. Are the controls free and correct? — J.B.