Peter: One method of protection would be to register a first charge on your airplane with the FAA.   Anyone else comes second and can't supercede your interest.    When mortgage fraud was in the news, our bank gave us a free LOC at no charge (of course) but it registered the security interest with the bank and stopped the potential for mortgage fraud while we're away traveling.  Since the Lancairs are not over 550HP or more than 8 seats the Cape Town accord and international registration is not a factor.  It should be easy protection and I believe the registration of a security interest with the FAA is only $5.  Has anyone used that technique to prevent this type of disaster?