Nick asked: > Do I still have to have an annual done by an a&p ,a&i . > That is such a waste of money ,when I trust my work better > than others anyway , and live on a fixed income.The Coupe > is kept inside and flown less than 60 hours per year.
It may be a "waste" of money, but it is still required that an AI sign off your aircraft as airworthy within the previous year before any flight. And, most of the work must have been done by or under supervision of an A&P who has to sign off that this is so, thereby putting his/her ticket on the line with the certification. The fact that the 415-C and 415-CD can ALSO be qualified as Light Sport Aircraft doesn't change their essential nature -- they are certificated aircraft and must have all maintenance prescribed therefore. As a practical thing, can you make an arrangement with your A&P and/or AI that lets you do much of the work "under supervision"? That licensed person will need to inspect the work and their license and livelihood is at risk so it's up to you to earn their appropriate respect and trust. (Heck, even I as a mechanical novice, was able to drastically cut my annual inspection costs a couple of times by removing all the cover plates, baggage compartment, seat, cowling, etc. and putting them back on (with the AI checking that I put them on right).) As for you as a Private Pilot operating under Sport Pilot privileges, you just have to abide by the Sport Pilot flying rules. You do have more privileges for aircraft sign off due to your "training to a higher level." John Roach said, "the Model C and CD meet these requirements as long as they have not been flown at weights exceeding 1320 lbs." As far as I know, there's nothing in the regs that says if some previous flight happened to be illegally over the certified gross weight of the plane it becomes ineligible for being an LSA. If the certification was changed, allowing a legal gross weight higher than 1320 lb, then the plane is forever ineligible to be an LSA. Just what constitutes a certification change allowing a legal gross weight higher than 1320 lb. is disputed. (It occurs to me I've never heard of the FAA being involved in this dispute unless the issue was taken to them by a Coupe owner. Hummmm.) So, it looks like you are in good shape for flying as PPouSP. Ed
