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Bob,
In the first place, there
was never a 415-C/D. There was the
415-C (1260 lb.), the 415-D (1400 lb.), the 415-CD (1260 lb. again), then on to
the E, G and later manufacturers and models. I have seen people who don’t know this claim that their
plane has been modified to be 1400 lb. gross weight and is now a “C/D”.
Aircraft
Specification A-787 Note 3 explicitly says “serial number 113 thru 4423 and
4500 and up, designated Model 415-C, also eligible as Model 415-D under terms
of this specification provided the following changes are incorporated.”
http://edburkhead.com/Ercoupe/index.htm
and scroll down for A-787.
A case could be made
that, if no paperwork was ever sent to the FAA then the conversion to D has not
been made. But watch out for the
insurance company – if there are documents they can find saying it was
converted then unscrupulous insurance companies may refuse to pay if you have
an accident when operating under the privileges of a Sport Pilot.
If that CD you got was
the FAA records CD for that airplane and has paperwork showing conversion, then
the plane was incorrectly advertised and you deserve your deposit back.
If the FAA’s records CD
for that plane has NO trace of conversion then it may be eligible. But, if some other documents are out
there that could be acquired by the FAA or an insurance company you’ll have to
consider the purchase very carefully.
The actual regulation for
Sport Pilot says that the plane must never have had, in it’s history, a gross
weight higher than 1320 lb. (in the quote, capital letters mine, http://sportpilot.org/rule/sp_rule.pdf
first long paragraph):
Part 1 – DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Amend 1.1 by adding the following
definitions in alphabetical order to read as follows:
1.1 General definitions.
* * * * *
Light-sport aircraft means an aircraft,
other than a helicopter or
powered-lift that, SINCE ITS ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION, has
continued to meet the
following:
…
(ii) 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended
for
operation on water; or . . .
If the CD you got was the
FAA records CD, then that plane is simply not eligible for Sport – there’s
positive evidence that it was converted.
The FAA may someday soften but there’s NO sign of it now.
Ed
Burkhead
http://edburkhead.com/
ed -at- edburkheadQQQ.com (change -at- and remove the QQQ)
I know you believe you understand what you
think I said, but I am not sure if
you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. (Jim, AKA Midnight Plowboy)
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