Jeff, this regulatory loophole and interpretation has created a lot of consternation and confusion in our community. Anyone with a pilot's certificate can properly document the work they accomplish as driven by Part 43 - Preventative Maintenance.
Mike Robertson, FAA Airworthiness Inspector, Spokane FSDO stated that anyone can do the repair work, Major or Minor on Experimental Certificated Owner Built and Maintained OR Experimental - Warbird Exhibition. A prudent individual would get that work supervised by an A&P or involve an A & P with I/A authorization if it should involve the scope of an FAA form 337.
The rub comes on compliance with the annual "Conditional Inspection" which can only be completed and documented by the actual Repairman who produced the certificated OBAM originally or they.. the second purchaser must get a signoff from a current A & P (active within the last 3 years). The documentation of those experiments can grow hair really fast.
Often, owners seek any A & P willing to sign it off. Sometimes the second owner erroneously signs the Conditional that they (the second owner) do not have the authorization to perform. Golly, they were just following the Checklist provided by the Repairman.
It was an F-86 Warbird that plowed into the Sacramento - Baskin & Robbins on a quiet Sunday morning back in the 70's that took out all those children and led to the major FAA rewrite of 1973.
For me as an airline mechanic, A&P with I/A and EAA Tech Advisor, I shudder at some of the work, and inspection being done by "Good Ole Poor Boys" that own warbirds - on the cheap. I know no one in the Lancair community would do unauthorized repairs on experiments without approval and supervison.
**
Life Limited parts are a unique feature of production certificated GA aircraft and I am not familiar with OBAM examples. That said, just maybe the L-39 landing gear or recycled PW turboprops from the Beech Starship used in the EPIC OBAM could be "Life Limited". At work, we keep extensive records of the hours in service. At the death of that part, execution of the mechanic who fails to remove and destroy it follows forthwith never to be heard from again.
Bogus parts is another can of worms. Home Depot Aviation Department and ACE Hardware Aviation Parts excluded of course.
Think Safety, practice common sense and liability settlement costs to those surviving family members .
John Cox
Bill,
Could you cite the regulation or Advisory Circular that says if you did not build it (an experimental aircraft) any subsequent work has to be approved ( I presume an A&P signoff)? Part 43 specifies who may maintain an aircraft. 43.1 exempts experimental aircraft from the rest of the rquirements of Part 43 except for aircraft that have had other airworthiness certificates previously issued (your Chipmunk).
I am not aware of any requirement by the FAA that requires non builders of experimental aircraft have an A&P do the work, supervise the work or sign off the work.
Best Regards,
Jeff Edwards
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Wade <super_chipmunk@roadrunner.com>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Sent: Wed, Jun 17, 2009 5:45 pm
Subject: [LML] Re: life time of components in experimentals
Hi Ralf-
When I first bought my Chipmunk (which is Experimental/Exhibition), the local IA said I could do the work on it as it was not Type Certificated. One day I emerged from the bowels to find a nice man asking what I was doing. He turned out to be an FAA Inspector. He said that because DeHavilland was the builder, not me, any work other than preventive maintenance had to be approved by a certificated mechanic.
From then on I worked under the IA. Because you bought the plane and didn't build it originally, when your rebuilding is done you'll have to get a Condition Inspection done by an A&P and subsequent work would also have to be approved. As you're working on a plane that has flown I'm assuming that you're doing the work in a hangar at your home base. If so I'd suggest that you find a local mechanic that you trust and have that person guide you. When the time comes the inspection will be easier.
I may be wrong but my understanding is that aircraft used in non-commercial operations don't have to follow manufacturer's life limits although common sense dictates some exceptions. Certain helicopter and turbine components come to mind. That goes double for Experimentals- you could probably use garden hose if you thought it might work and could convince your mechanic. Up here I've seen duct tape used and there are stories about 2x4's. And those were Certificated... Ultimately, it depends on what the mechanic is comfortable with. If he signs off on something he could be putting his certificate and livelihood at risk. Of course you are potentially putting your aircraft and your life at risk as well.
Specifically on the hoses- it depends. One of the first things I did on my planes was to replace all the hoses even though many were still usable (flexible, no obvious defects). I generally used Teflon hoses that don't have a finite life- they're replaced "on condition". Good information can be found in the Aircraft Spruce catalog, AC 43.13, and the Sacramento Sky Ranch website.
Generally, lack of use can be harmful. There might not be much mechanical wear but corrosion, gasket shrinkage and dried lubricants become potential issues. -Bill Wade
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 1:45 PM
Subject: [LML] life time of components in experimentals
Dear subscribers,
I learned from an aircraft mechanic at our airport that many components in a certified airplane have a limited life time.
0A
For examples hoses for hydraulics, brakes or fuel need to be replaced after ten years.
When I wanted to put the fuel pump back in the plane on my 4P rebuild project I found on the back of the pump the note that the pump needs to be replaced or serviced after ten years.
I had a pre buy inspection done at Lancair. At this time most of the components were already 12 years old. Lancair didn’t mention anything about expired components.
I am wondering if I should put all my old stuff back in the plane as long as it looks half way decent or if should replace certain things.
What components do I need to replace – the components of my 4P are approx 13 years old but the plane has just 240 hrs. I would describe the physical appearance of most of the components as old and messy.
Thanks for your help
Ralf
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Fax: (419) 369 33 32