Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Mechanic near 35A?

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

bsmith3163(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:54 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

I found this on the EAA website:



"Condition Inspection

What is a Condition Inspection?

A condition inspection is the equivalent of an "annual" for a type

certificated aircraft. Although FAR Part 43 specifically states that it does

not apply to experimental airworthiness certificates, the operating

limitations on your homebuilt will include the following (or something

similar):



No person shall operate this aircraft unless within the preceding 12

calendar months it has had a condition inspection performed in accordance

with the scope and detail of appendix D to part 43, or other FAA-approved

programs, and found to be in a condition for safe operation. This inspection

will be recorded in the aircraft maintenance records. Condition inspections

shall be recorded in the aircraft maintenance records showing the following

or a similarly worded statement: "I certify that this aircraft has been

inspected on (insert date) in accordance with the scope and detail of

appendix D to part 43 and found to be in a condition for safe operation."

The entry will include the aircraft total time in service, and the name,

signature, certificate number, and type of certificate held by the

person performing the inspection.



See the condition inspection checklist for use in conducting annual

condition inspections.



Who can perform a Condition Inspection?

The inspection can be performed by any licensed A&P mechanic, an FAA

Approved Repair Station, or by the builder of the airplane provided the

builder obtains a "Repairman's Certificate" from the FAA. Note that unlike

an annual for a type certificated aircraft, the A&P mechanic does NOT have

to have his/her "Inspection Authorization". 



Who can maintain a Homebuilt?

FAR Part 43 specifically states that the rules of that part do not apply to

amateur-built airplanes. Therefore, any maintenance on an experimental

airplane can be performed virtually by anyone regardless of credentials.

(This does not apply to the condition inspection previously discussed). Let

common sense be your guide as to what maintenance you conduct yourself."



The last paragraph holds what I believe to be the answer to your question.

I am new to this type of flying (experimental) so confirm this before you

act on it but I believe the owner may do all maintenance on his experimental

aircraft.  If he is listed on the "Repairmans Certificate" then he can even

do the Annual Condition Inspection.  If he is not the original builder and

he is not listed on the Repairmans Certificate, then he can not do the

Annual Condition Inspection.  He then can have any A&P (one without a

Inspection Authorization is OK) do the annual.



Anyone else know this to be wrong or misleading?



Brian Smith

--

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:59 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

Wingnut,

    I might be off here but I "think" you can make the changes to your fuel 

lines you just can't sign off the yearly conditional inspection.  This might 

not be the right attitude but nobody is ever going to know you changed the 

fuel lines anyway.  Besides, I don't think changing a fuel line would be 

considered a major change any more than changing oil or spark plugs.

     As far as the pitch trim goes, (this is just a thought) fabricate 

another piece of linkage or screw the original one in/out to put the trim 

tab back to zero and disable the servo until you can get to a spot for 

further repairs.  I rarely ever use my elevator trim.



Don Smythe

---

wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:59 am Post subject: Re: Mechanic near 35A?

 	  Quote: 	
		  Therefore, any maintenance on an experimental 

airplane can be performed virtually by anyone regardless of credentials. 

	




Hmm. That's something to chew on. I guess I'll wait until I can talk to a loca A&P. Thanks for the heads up.



-Luis

pwmac(at)sisna.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:00 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

I never heard that the owner of an experimental cannot do his own 

maint. or repairs. The only thing you cannot do if you did not build 

the plane is the annual inspection. If you are confused about the 

rules just ask the EAA and they will tell you what I said above. Just 

follow the advice from the list members as to how to solve your leak.

Regards, Paul

=============



At 07:23 AM 8/25/2006, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



The fuel odor in my kitfox is getting worse. I suspect that it's the 

fuel lines so I want to have them replaced with automotive lines. 

Only problem is that I'm not the builder so, as I understand it, I'm 

not allowed to make this kind of modification myself... Any thoughts?



Can someone point me to a good shop in the near 34A (no FBO at my 

airport). I need something close because my pitch trim decided to 

stop working yesterday (it's stuck in the landing configuration) so 

I'm giong to have to trailer it. I'm so depressed...

jose_m_toro(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:02 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

"wingnut":



It is my understanding that you can do the lines

replacement and any other maintenance on your

experimental.  What you can't do is to perform or sign

the annual condition inspection because you are not

the repairman.



Listers, if this information is incorrect, please

provide feedback for the benefit of all.



Regards!



Jose



--- wingnut <wingnut(at)spamarrest.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <wingnut(at)spamarrest.com>

 

 The fuel odor in my kitfox is getting worse. I

 suspect that it's the fuel lines so I want to have

 them replaced with automotive lines. Only problem is

 that I'm not the builder so, as I understand it, I'm

 not allowed to make this kind of modification

 myself... Any thoughts? 

 

 Can someone point me to a good shop in the near 34A

 (no FBO at my airport). I need something close

 because my pitch trim decided to stop working

 yesterday (it's stuck in the landing configuration)

 so I'm giong to have to trailer it. I'm so

 depressed...

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=57217#57217
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 

 

 

 

 



 browse

 Subscriptions page,

 FAQ,

 http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List



 Web Forums!

 Admin.



 

 

 

 


	




__________________________________________________

jose_m_toro(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:33 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

Luis:



Another source for this information is the EAA web

site, www.eaa.org.  I know this specific question is

answered in that site.



Jose



--- wingnut <wingnut(at)spamarrest.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <wingnut(at)spamarrest.com>

 

 

 > Therefore, any maintenance on an experimental 

 > airplane can be performed virtually by anyone

 regardless of credentials. 

 > 

 

 

 Hmm. That's something to chew on. I guess I'll wait

 until I can talk to a loca A&P. Thanks for the heads

 up.

 

 -Luis

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=57228#57228
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 

 

 

 

 



 browse

 Subscriptions page,

 FAQ,

 http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List



 Web Forums!

 Admin.



 

 

 

 


	




__________________________________________________

wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Mechanic near 35A?

Thanks for the help guys. To be honest, I'm still a little nervous about pulling fuel lines myself. I pulled the turtledeck last night and it looked like a somewhat involved job. I just happened to discover the trim failure the same night (maybe that was God's way of telling me to get an A&P  ).  Then again, it was night and the hangar lights weren't as helpfull as I would have liked.  I'll sneek out for lunch today and see if things look a little less scary in daylight...



What's the best way to drain the fuel? Should I leave a little in the header tank? 

-Luis

funflyer1959(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:59 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

i too had a fuel odor for a time and also couldn't determine the source.  it ended up being from stress cracks at the formed ends near the welds of the aluminum wing fuel tanks. the cracks were so small that only minor discoloration from fuel occurred, but you still got the odor in the cockpit from the wing roots. the cracks were fortunately near the top of the tank and there was never any measurable loss of fuel. (of couse, lighting up a cigarette in the closed cabin would've been interesting)   flying with the doors opened eliminated the odor and kept me flying til time for the annual inspection, at which time the wings were removed and slosh seal installed in both tanks.  problem solved.  finding the problem took a lot of looking, smelling and shaking of the plane with all the cowlings off and everything opened up for inspection.  the stress cracks only appeared in one tank,  but i sealed them both just to be sure.



wingnut <wingnut(at)spamarrest.com> wrote:  [quote]--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "wingnut" 



The fuel odor in my kitfox is getting worse. I suspect that it's the fuel lines so I want to have them replaced with automotive lines. Only problem is that I'm not the builder so, as I understand it, I'm not allowed to make this kind of modification myself... Any thoughts? 



Can someone point me to a good shop in the near 34A (no FBO at my airport). I need something close because my pitch trim decided to stop working yesterday (it's stuck in the landing configuration) so I'm giong to have to trailer it. I'm so depressed...





Read this topic online 	  	 		Get your own [url= http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=43290/*http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains]web address for just $1.99/1st yr[/url]. We'll help. [url=http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=41244/*http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/]Yahoo! Small Business[/url].  [quote][b]

kirkhull(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:11 pm Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

Maintenance on a homebuilt can only be done by an A&P or a person holding a

repairmans cert for that plane. Aka the builder.  Not just anybody can do

the maintenance



--

eccles(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 5:31 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

I do believe that you can do the work as long as an A&P or person with a IA

rating supervises the work.



--

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:32 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

I am pretty sure you can do the work yourself and log it into your required 

log books without any A&P supervision.  If you do not hold a repairmans 

certificate (you didn't build the plane) then you must have a certified A&P 

to sign off the annual condition inspection.  I haven't looked into this 

lately but I'm almost certain that is the way it used to be.  Even on 

certified aircraft, the owner is allowed to do certain maintenance without 

an A&P.



Don Smythe

Do Not Archive

---

blackcatmoan(at)hotmail.c
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:14 am Post subject: Mechanic near 35A?

Dear 'Wingnut':



Don't despair.  Before you get all depressed, know this:  Sometimes, the 

trim gets stuck not because of a mechanical failure, but because the 

rocker-switch gets worn-out.  Obviously, it's intelligent to check all 

possible points of failure, for safety's sake, but I would start with the 

switch.  So, FYI, here's a method for bringing a switch back into service:



Tools needed:  Flat head screwdriver, phillips head screwdriver, a bit of 

sandpaper or contact cleaning solution, good lighting, shop magnet (very 

useful if you drop small springs on the hangar floor), and a good pot of 

coffee (America's favorite drug!!).



1.  Remove the side access-plate on your center cosole.

2.  Stick your hand in there, underneath the switch (make sure master is 

off!) and pinch the plastic tabs holding it in place.  You should now be 

able to pop it out of it's recess.

3.  Crack open the plastic switch casing.   OPEN IT SLOWLY AND CAREFULY.  

There are springs in there that might pop out.

4.  Look at the mechanism.  If you notice, there is a rocker in there that 

moves two springs on either end that push a 'contact cylinder' or 'tab' to 

make contact (close the circuit).

5.  These springs sometimes get compressed, and fail to push the contact 

cylinders all the way.  So, carefully pull the contact cylinders out, and 

put them in a safe place.  Next, pull the springs out.  What you want to do 

now is gently stre-e-e-e-e-tch them to make them just a bit longer (without 

warping them).  Next, with a bit of sandpaper, or contact cleaning solution, 

you want to clean the contacts (which might be carbonized).

6. Put the switch back together.  Now, turn on the master and test it.  

Voilá!  Hopefully, it should be almost good as new, and ready to give you 

many more hours of service.



While you're at it, open the access hatch in the tail section, and make sure 

the trim mechanism looks good (use the builder's manual as reference).  Move 

it up and down, and make sure it travels correrctly.  And most importantly, 

make sure THAT THE TRIM-MOTOR SERVICE BULLETIN IS COMPLIED 

WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Literally, your life depends on 

it.



I know you feel depressed and overwhelmed right now.  But, when you own an 

experimental, "hands-on" is the nature of the game, even if you didn't build 

it.

When you make your first repair, and realize that YOU CAN DO IT, you'll be 

very happy and it will seriously BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE.

Then, when you realize that you just saved hundreds of dollars that you 

would have had to pay an A&P, you'll feel even better!!!!



I hope this avoids you having to trailer it.



Best of luck,

Tony.

---

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum