Assuring AD compliance is the responsibility of the owner/operator. However, as a pilot, you always hold operational control over a flight, and as Pilot in Command, you always hold responsibility for determining that the aircraft is in an airworthy condition.
Paperwork for an aircraft should always include a list of applicable AD's which can be referenced to determine compliance. The AD's should be listed as having been complied with, or not applicable due to part number or serial number, or the new AD with which they've been superceded. This list should be maintained by the owner/operator, and should be provided to or available to pilots who fly the airplane. Additionally, the airplane should have a maintenace list of items and inspections due, in order for pilots to determine from seeing the list the current status of the airplane. Additionally, a list should be available citing discrepancies, and their status.
With respect to an annual inspection, when a mechanic (IA) completes and signs for one...he is buying the past. If he signs the aircraft as airworthy and approves it for return to service, he's buying the work done by every set of hands that's ever thouched it...and takes responsibility for all the work ever done on that aircraft. This includes ensuring full AD compliance. If the owner/operator does not require the work done, the mechanic performing the inspection cannot approve the aircraft for return to service or sign the aircraft as airworthy; he or she must sign a statement that the aircraft has been inspected in accordance with an annual inspection, and found not airworthy, and a list of discrepancies has been provided to the owner (and if he's intelligent, a duplicate list for himself, and one for the FAA).
