Are there any secrets to doing a Damage History Search?
There are a couple of things that are often missed. Most accident reports either omit or misstate the aircraft serial number. So searches must be conducted using the aircraft registration number rather than the serial number. And, because registration numbers are frequently changed and reassigned, it is imperative that all prior registration numbers also be checked. The ONLY way to positively determine all prior registration numbers assigned to an aircraft is by examination of the FAA aircraft file. Dont be deceived by services that claim to have a database of all prior registration numbers they only cover a few years.
