Pat,

 

Sorry to hear about your dad, Norbert.  I am a displaced Iowan and was
active in Iowa Couping but I can’t remember your dad – perhaps he didn’t
have the plane before I left Iowa.

 

This group will be happy to help.  You came to the right place.  Also, there
are some owner-wannabes hanging around here.

 

My Coupe was N3802H so I think that yours, N3807H should have been born as a
415-CD in April or May of 1947, serial number 4508.

 

As long as it was never, ever converted to be a higher model, then it’s
automatically eligible as a Light Sport Aircraft.  Read the definition in
the regulation here (it’s in the very first section, §1.1 General
definitions):

http://sportpilot.org/learn/sp_rule.pdf 

 

So, the key thing you need to do is review all the aircraft’s documents
including the document CD that you buy from the FAA.  You order that here:

http://tinyurl.com/rjdao 

 

First, you need to check the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate to be sure
it still says Ercoupe 415-CD.  At this instant, I’m looking at the FAA
aircraft registry web page for that aircraft and it shows the aircraft as a
415-CD – that’s good, but it isn’t enough to be sure.

 

You need to have an AI (Authorized Inspector A&P mechanic) or other expert
go through every page of the document CD to be sure no form 337 was ever
filed changing the aircraft up to a higher model (D or higher).

 

You need to have that expert also go through all the physical documents to
be sure no conversion document exists.  Do you understand what I mean?

 

Similarly check the log books.

 

If there are documents the FAA or an insurance company can find showing the
aircraft was up-converted, then it may never be flown by a Sport Pilot
acting as pilot in command.

 

That serial number plane should be a good model to sell.  It has nearly all
the upgrades they developed through the production run at ERCO.  And, if it
passes the screening and is eligible as an LSA, then it has extra value in
the market place.

 

Feel free to ask all the questions you like.  Just direct the questions to
the forum and we’ll be happy to help.

 

Ed Burkhead

http://edburkhead.com   East Peoria, Illinois

ed -at- edburkhead???.com          (change -at- to @ and remove "???")

Reply via email to