Making decisions
There is an old saying that goes:
RULES ARE FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FOOLS AND THE GUIDANCE OF WISE MEN
Sometimes it's hard to accept that you are in the first category and not the second but there are times when you just have to accept that someone else knows better.
I'm not an engineer but from what I understand bogus parts come in all shapes and sizes:
1. Those that are recycled - serial numbers erased or changed and forged support papers to back it up. Very dangerous as the official life of the component will certainly be exceeded.
2. Parts manufactures in non-approved facilities and given false papers. (I visited Russia recently and they told me they had problems with TR blades being knocked up in small workshops in Asia)
3. Military parts. Lifed items are particularly vulnerable here and the reason military parts should not be seen as acceptable replacements is because the military use different limitations for their use and this will be reflected in the life it has.
4. Scrap parts being re-used after repair by unqualified or uncertified organisations.
The pilot in this case thought he knew better and paid for his arrogance or ignorance, or both, with his life. We have to be sure that we learn from this and that his loss in some way benefits the pilot/owner community.
G.