Return-Path: Received: from hecate.webcom.com ([209.1.28.39]) by ns1.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.3 release 223 ID# 0-64832U3500L350S0V35) with ESMTP id com for ; Sat, 16 Sep 2000 13:23:04 -0400 Received: from eresh (eresh.webcom.com [209.1.28.49]) by hecate.webcom.com (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id KAA18873 for ; Sat, 16 Sep 2000 10:29:56 -0700 Received: from [206.71.97.186] by inanna.webcom.com (WebCom SMTP 2.0) with SMTP id 35436619; Sat Sep 16 10:27 PDT 2000 Message-Id: <000701c02004$739cfc80$0300a8c0@MICRON> From: "Ron Galbraith" To: References: Subject: Re: Conversation with FSDO re: airworthiness Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2000 11:35:00 -0600 X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com Mime-Version: 1.0 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> It seems as though every FSDO is different in their interpreted policies. I would suggest you use a DAR that knows the Lancair, even though it will cost you allot more. The chances are very high that you will get someone who doesn't know the first thing about a Lancair, or any experimental airplane, and you won't really get an inspection that will give you a warm fuzzy feeling about your airplane. They will most likely make sure that your paperwork is in order, wt. and balance, etc, and either will go over it with a fine tooth comb, looking at the surface items such as safety wiring, and stuff like that, and give you a whole list of really stupid items to complete before the airworthiness is complete, or they will just look it over and ask the same questions that anyone off the street would ask, or worse yet, you will get a bozo who doesn't like the fact that there are any experimental airplanes in the first place, and will turn into a nightmare for you. I heard of one instance of a FSDO who wanted to see the builder picture log, and since he didn't have any pictures of him in the cockpit making airplane sounds, when he first got the kit, he woulnd't go any farther. It was resolved by going to his superiors, but a nightmare none the less. I would highly recommend Charlie Kohler. He's a DAR, and will travel anywhere in his IVP to inspect your Lancair, and fly it too if you so elect. He's one of the most experienced Lancair pilots out there, at least in IV's and ES's. You didn't mention what airplane you have, so I can only assume you have LNC2 since you are installing an IO360. You might at least talk to Charlie, and get his opinion. Charlie, are you listening? I had a terrible experience a few years ago when I had my LongEZ inspected. Just about all of the EZ's in CA were, and are flown the first few flights in primer. Since none of the flight surfaces are molded, it is very easy to get one a little different than the other, and you will have to change the incidence, or other changes, and what a pain it is to have to repaint the airplane when you do that. Well, even though my LongEZ was in primer, and ready for paint, the UT FSDO inspector would not give me the AW certificate until it was completely painted. So I did. They came back out, and they asked me about stripes, and I mistakenly said that I was going to put stripes on it. They wouldn't give me the AW without the stripes on it. The rational was that the flight characteristics would change. I tried to explain to him that when I was a production test pilot at Cessna, that all of the 400 series, and Citations are flown for the first few flights without paint, to no avail. The guy had never even seen a small airplane before, or at least one smaller than a Boeing, and was trying to compare my airplane with a B767. Needless to say this turned into a 6 month ordeal. You might get lucky with the FSDO in your area, but be skeptical. I can tell you for sure that the FAA isn't looking out for you, but liability for themselves. I deal with them every day, and since I also work for the FAA (not at the FSDO) I can tell you this from first hand knowledge. I'm not going to use my local FSDO, even though I know them. I guess that should tell you something. Ron Galbraith LNCE - N5ES (62.3%) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>