ok sorry, you had me worried for a moment.
b) A certificated mechanic may not exercise the privileges of his certificate and rating unless he understands the current instructions of the manufacturer, and the maintenance manuals, for the specific operation concerned.
If american law genuinely excuses the mechanic and holds the the company responsible despite this FAR 65.81 statement, then there is something seriously lacking in american law.
Unless of course in american society the most important aspect of an accident is the legal scrum for damages. Because if we were not at all interested in the safety aspect from a legal perspective, then naturally a mechanic has less money in the bank than the company.
It then follows that if you screw the company regardless its more bucks all round.
Sad, very, very sad.