Colin brings up an interresting point that I had previously clarified with an FAA inspector a few years ago. When you have a homebuilt you can do all of the repairs or modifications weather you built it or not. The only thing the repairman certificate gives you is the ability to do the annual condition inspection. Also, any A&P can do the condition inspection on an experimental. He does not need to be an IA like with a certified airplane. That means that it generally costs a lot less than an annual on a certified plane. So what all this means is that if you are considering buying an experimental that you can not get the repairman certificate on, don't let that factor hold you back. It is nice to have, but you still have 99% of the advantages of an experimental weather you have the cert or not.
Brian Kraut Engineering Alternatives, Inc. www.engalt.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 1:43 AM To: [email protected] Subject: KR> 51% Rule Randy The 51% rule only applies to the actual construction of the kit or aircraft in question. It is what separates a factory built aircraft kit from an amateur built kit. The rules concerning being approved for repairman certificate are left more on the judgement of the Airworthiness Representative who is conducting the inspection at the time the certificate is issued. If the aircraft were complete when purchased but never signed off, and say had been badly stored, so that the new owner had to perform a great deal of repair work and replacement of assemblies/rebuild, the DAR or FAA Rep could feel that he has enough intimate knowledge of the airplane to be awarded a repairman's certificate. I bought mine with 20 hours of engine running and taxi testing but no flight time, and no certificate. I built a new seat for it, installed new lights, radio, transponder, and several other instruments to make it legal for Day and Night VFR, as well as a little bit safer and more comfortable, like GPS, and a new pushtube control for the elevator, and dual sticks. Although the DAR really liked the changes and felt I had done a good job, he didn't award me repairman certification because I had not constructed enough of the original airplane to conduct my own annual condition inspection. He explained that that did not stop me from repairing and then test flying the aircraft, but once a year I have to have another DAR or A&P look over the plane and give it its condition inspection. A small compromise in the scheme of things. Colin N96TA Ormond Beach, FL _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
