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3 Answers

Lost physical Logbook – have online backup, legality question

Asked by: 2018 views , , ,
FAA Regulations, General Aviation, Instrument Rating, Private Pilot

Hello, I apologize If this question has been asked, i've tried a brief search with nothing exactly like this situation. 

 

I have lost my initial logbooks for PPL, HP Endorsement, and a good amount of Instrument training recd. I've got all of the times and comments backed up on zulu log, including the CFI(I)'s name, and certificate number. FAA regulations require training time to be logged and endorsed by the CFI with a signature.

My question is: are the online records and paper records (after I duplicate them to a new logbook) sufficient without the signature of endorsement?

Another option i've conceived is to fill out a completely new log book based on the online records and attempt to track down all the CFIs and have them either endorse the book directly again, or to send them a letter of verification of times, have them sign and get it motorized and then keep that in my log book. 

 

Thanks in advance for your help and input!

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3 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Apr 28, 2019

    Technically, no. If you don’t have the instructor’s physical or electronic signature, you don’t have an endorsement. You writing in someone else’s name is generally not considered their signature.

    Both of your other options seem acceptable. If you have your PPL, I wouldn’t fret too much about the pre-PPL items. Generally speaking, the FAA considers the issuance of your PPL as verification of the hours entered in your 8710 application.

    See the link for the FAA’s guidance on the subject of lost logbooks.

    http://fsims.faa.gov/PICDetail.aspx?docId=8900.1,Vol.5,Ch1,Sec8

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  2. bc199 on Apr 28, 2019

    Mark, Thank you for the reply. I figured the Issuance of the PPL was verification of the hours and the FAA would be less strict about requiring a signature on those individual logs. I suppose that is the saving grace in all of this, no matter what I still have the PPL. Do you think it’s worth the time to request the records (8710) from the FAA and keep those in the new logbook, or is that a bit overkill?

    The Post PPL hours are mostly solo or PIC time that doesn’t require signatures, but there is about 35 hours of instrument instruction that now will have no verification, and I’d rather not start at nill for my IR again. I think i might try to contact the FAA to see if the “letter” idea I had might work, I don’t see why it wouldn’t as long as each individual log entry is on the letter to the instructor and it is notarized. If anybody else has any insight or examples of what they did in similar situations I would love to hear them. Thanks again!

    -B

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  3. Mark Kolber on Apr 29, 2019

    Personally, I’d request a copy of my 8710. If nothing else, it will give a future DOE something to look at and a baseline for a new logbook.

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