BELL 206 DATA PLATE with Log Books
 

for sale on ebay, The DATA PLATE with LOG BOOKS and PAPERWORK for a Bell 206
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BELL-206-DA...IAAOSw-ZJeH1xM

How would one use such elements?, wouldn't that mean that the recipient aircraft would have an inconsistent record.

would any of it be a LEGAL project?

Don't know if possible in other countries, but it's not legal in the US to install non-original data plates. For years people did swap data plates, etc. only because the rule was not enforced by the FAA. Now it's different plus the feds came out with new guidance against it several years ago. Unfortunately, some people still wish to play the game.

It certainly used to be practiced. My last flight, in the 52nd week at Pleiku was to fly up the valley north of Dak To, just south of the Dak Sut Special Forces camp, and retrieve a data plate from the ship I had left on fire the day prior ( a whole other story ) and this was the reason I was given: there was a business in using UH-1 data plates and building a new machine around the data plate.

FAA guidance...
 

John, we need to meet up again in The Long Bar Orlando so I can hear that story!

When a data plate is created, a certain amount of tax has to be paid. Thus a business appeared, whereby a wreck was bought, the data plate and some serviceable components removed, and a new aircraft is built - it had to use a number of original components, and it saved a bucketload in taxes.

A friend bought one of these, a Canadian re-built AS350 which had been used for longlining, so it had to be re-created in the same style, with the pilot seat on the left and the throttle quadrant on the floor at the left door. He put a bench seat across the front and it was a handy 7-seater.

Wasn’t there an accident last year that involved a machine that was partially built from a wreck and was only discovered during the investigation that the data plates didn’t match? Can’t remember exact details but do remember it was discussed on here.

Brown Bomber 🙄

212, sounds like a plan.Just advise when you’ll be in Orlando.

Yes. But the data plate switch and accident where two different issues that the media put as one in the same after the accident.
https://www.ntsb.gov/legal/alj/OnODo...ation/5652.PDF
https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/62...atalities.html

Wrench 1

Thank you for the clarification, and for reminding me I posted it.... at least by brain cogs are still turning I guess... slowly!!!

Not only that, but Bell keeps track of the serial numbers of their aircraft. They gleefully let the FAA know which ones have been destroyed, removing that SN from their roster of approved helicopters. The ad on eBay says it's a 1970 Bell (not AB) 206 (no mention of configuration) and the data plate and logbook are in England. Also says it's for an operational aircraft with no damage history! One wonders then, how did the data plate come adrift from the aeroframe? Did it fall off? Did someone turn the original ship (likely an A-model) into a static display?

If you read the sellers Ebay feedback it looks like they have already broken up the original helicopter and sold it for parts.

That was a common practice in the crop dusting world in the 60's and 70's. A data plate and logbooks were valuable commodities. Black market I suppose.

Was still a thing 30 or so years ago when I was spraying crops, the operator I worked for kept some hanging around "just in case".

Didn’t Hansen or some of the other tuna boat helicopter companies recently have the FBI on their ass for this?

Yes. The original charges on Hansen were about swapping data plates and rebuilding aircraft from salvage. Which led to charges against a FAA ASI for issuing AWCs sight unseen to these aircraft. Then there was a tax issue. And the latest is they used un-certificated pilots and mechanics during their ops. Who knows what they'll find next....

If you know where to look on most Bells there are other ID plates scattered around on the frame so that you can check whether the “cuffs match the collar” so to speak.

Most people are not aware of them or where to look.

If you look at the ebay sellers page and check other items for sale by seller, there is a whole list of parts from a Bell 206 Jetranger (including the log book and data plate). There are pictures of blue doors from a Jetranger, and a blue tail fin/boom..... I know that sceme but a present cannot put my finger on which one it is ! There are also log books and a data plate for an Agusta Bell 206 Jetranger. Other itmes are for Longranger doors and many Bell 47 parts.

Funnily enough, the Hansen case was just in the news again. A full range of interesting accusations being leveled at them.
https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2...es/4475316002/