A doomed plane which leaked carbon monoxide poisoning footballer Emiliano Sala and his pilot before crashing into the sea had previously been so riddled with faults that an engineer refused to repair it, saying: 'It was not fit to be flown.'
Airfield owner Humphrey Penney revealed the craft had 'a lot of problems' and regular pilot David Henderson was 'unhappy with the maintenance.'
Mr Penney, who is also a licensed engineer, was asked to give a second opinion on the stricken Piper PA-46 Malibu in summer last year.
He spoke out for the first time following today's interim report published by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch which showed that 28-year-old Argentinian striker Sala and his pilot David Ibbotson were exposed to deadly levels of the toxic gas even before the private plane plunged into the English Channel.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Penney said: 'What happened it all so sad and tragic.
We had deep concerns about the plane when we looked it at a year ago.
We nearly took it on but didn't because there were so many problems with it.'Mr Henderson, originally thought to be the pilot who perished on the plane, had taken it to Sandtoft Airport in Belton, North Lincolnshire, on behalf of the owner chartered accountant Faye Kelly.
Sandtoft boss Mr Penney, recalling his examination of the plane, said: 'Christ, this is awful!
A lot needs doing.'
He added: 'The hydraulic motor was a shambles and the flaps, autopilot and de-icing system weren't working and there were several other problems.
Airfield owner Humphrey Penney (pictured) revealed the craft had 'a lot of problems' and regular pilot David Henderson was 'unhappy with the maintenance'
'There was a long list of things things that needed doing and it was going to cost an awful lot of money to put it right, in the region of £14,000 to £20,000.'
It was not in a fit state to be flown for a passenger but only in an emergency a short distance for maintenance and to get it fixed.'
The American craft registered to a Trust with a beneficial British owner, Ms Keely from Bonsall, Derbyshire - a pilot herself - had come to Mr Penney for a second expert opinion from Retford Gamston Airport in Gamston, Nottinghamshire, where it had been based long term.Mr Penney said: '
It was moved here for a relatively short period and we then sent it to another organisation for the recommended work to be done.
I can't comment on what work was later done.'
The plane was moved to nearby Sturgate Airfield in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
No one was available to comment today when approached by MailOnline.Mr Penney added:
'I cannot say if the maintenance was done thoroughly and properly and if it was all fixed but the plane would have had an annual inspection at the end of the year.
If all was good and dandy the plane should have flown safely.
'I know a very large bill for over £10,000 was presented to Faye.'Mr Penney, is now helping air investigators following the shocking crash on January 21 killing new £15 million Cardiff City striker Sala and married father Mr Ibbotson, 59, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire,
He told MailOnline he was 'a little surprised' by the bombshell report stating that the footballer had CO saturation levels of 58 per cent in his blood stream and the pilot was overcome by lethal fumes too, saying: 'I was not expecting that.
That is new information.
'He said that even the 'tiniest hole' in a plane's exhaust can cause a carbon monoxide leak, adding: 'One of the first things to go is the muffler, which goes over the exhaust system to warm the air coming into the craft.
Even the tiniest hole can cause carbon monoxide to pour through the exhaust and go into the cabin.
'Unfortunately, it will poison the pilot and any passenger.They will feel nauseous and drift off to sleep.
It affects people in different ways but there is no odour and it is deadly dangerous.'