Certification guidance, Part one

[gyroplanes]

The FAA inspectors are now frequently calling my certification applicants and asking questions regarding the eligibility of their aircraft for EAB.

I can not read every EAB forum and blog or builder's site, so be very careful what you post or you may be suceptable for a post inspection FAA surprise.

As I have posted here before, an applicant posted on a bulider's site that he was awaiting my visit and certification so that he could immediately install his long range fuel tank.

This post was read by my FAA advisor (who made a simple N number search) and I received a letter wondering what, if any, fuel tank was installed at the time of certification.

I read a lot of posts, here, that say things like "Only 3 more weeks until XXX finishes my gyro and I pick it up", or "I found a real good deal on a gyro on ebay, It was previously flown for XX hours and never certified". "All I have to do is take it apart, take pictures, and put it back together" then I can get it certified EAB and get my repairman's certificate." All of these "quotes" are an invitation to a headache.

in Part 2, I will help avoid the pitfalls of "how much of the 51% did I really do??

Anyone can read these posts and do. Our forum is often very near the top of the search results for anything gyro related.

[Mike484]

I'm just starting a build and will post the progress on here, hope it helps when its time to bring it to you Tom.

[pancho]

I can't believe how many folks seem to be willing to risk licenses, and even possible jail time for falsification of documents. As Tom is warning us DON'T DO IT!!! It's plenty ok to buy parts and build a gyro, but you really need to be sure that it meets the 51percent rule. Use the guidelines published by the FAA and STICK TO It! Again the AIRCRAFT needs to meet the rule, not the builder. A repairman certificat goes to one of the builders, usually the builder with the most building time. But the 51 percent rule is applicable to the aircraft airworthiness certificate. If you have to get anything other than an "experimental amateur built" certificate, you will wish you hadn't. If you can even get one. So you better prove it was built by amateurs.

[Mike Hook]

Thanks Tom
I am in that build status too. I will follow your posts to make sure that I meet that 51% build. Still looking for parts here and still working on a plan. I need to talk to Ernie and get a list together of parts needed.I will be contacting you to
Handle my paperwork.

Thanks again

Mike

[Mike484]

Tom,
I'm working on a KB3 build and I'm hoping to have it ready for Mentone so I can get you to inspect it for me.

I do have a question though;
For registration and air worthiness, how close to flying does it have to be? What I mean by this is that everything should be done but I may not be at the flying stage at the time. I could be missing a few of the minor details like gauges or minor fixes and was wondering if it had to be flyable before I can ask for DAR services.

[gyroplanes]

Originally Posted by Mike484

Tom,
I'm working on a KB3 build and I'm hoping to have it ready for Mentone so I can get you to inspect it for me.

I do have a question though;
For registration and air worthiness, how close to flying does it have to be? What I mean by this is that everything should be done but I may not be at the flying stage at the time. I could be missing a few of the minor details like gauges or minor fixes and was wondering if it had to be flyable before I can ask for DAR services.

Two seperate things

For registration, not necessarily in flying condition. N numbers are like buying plates for your car, they don't care if it runs or not. It's just to ID the ship.

An Airworthiness requires the ship to be "Airworthy", doesn't have to be painted, stickered up, radioed, faired in, etc.

It has to have the minimum required equipment to get it in the air by regulation. That's all.

[Mike484]

Thanks Tom, I'm shooting to have it ready for you at Mentone.

[gyroplanes]

Any further questions, just ask.
Tom

[j bird]

Tom, I'm nearly ready to have my Dom. inspected for the airworthiness certificate, should I include the ( amateur-built fab. & ass. checklist (2011) with my documentation ? ).
Also, because I'm reasonably close to the regional FAA offices do you think it's prudent to have the FAA inspect the Dom.?

[Resasi]

Tom sent you an email regarding a kit certification for both myself and one other person, not sure if you have received it.

Can I PM you or send the email again?

[j bird]

Yes, I would appreciate it very much.
J.

[gyroplanes]

Hi Leigh, missed you in Florida. The lack of a comma after "Tom" made us mis-read the post. I never received the e-mail and don't do forum PMs. Try my e-mail (below) again.

Jay, the more paperwork you have the better.
Have the inspection checklist (FAR43 Appendix D) filled out.
Have the new 51% checklist filled out and keyed to your builder's log. This should eliminate any question of eligibility.

And, you must have your white registration (N numbers) card in hand.
Tom

[Resasi]

Thanks Tom will-do. Might have some work for you.

Yes real bummer not getting there this time. Family and other issues.

[j bird]

Tom, thank you for the information.

[All_In]

Originally Posted by gyroplanes

Hi Leigh, missed you in Florida. The lack of a comma after "Tom" made us mis-read the post. I never received the e-mail and don't do forum PMs. Try my e-mail (below) again.

Jay, the more paperwork you have the better.
Have the inspection checklist (FAR43 Appendix D) filled out.
Have the new 51% checklist filled out and keyed to your builder's log. This should eliminate any question of eligibility.

And, you must have your white registration (N numbers) card in hand.
Tom

Hmm this sounds like a fairly easy program to write!!! Sort of fill out the from for you by linking sections with checklist etc.

Thanks for the information Tommy U-ROCK!!!!