F.A.A. inspection,what do they look for?

There is only one final inspection now when you are done,Tim. Mainly what they want to see is paperwork and markings....your builder's log and some photos taken along the way helps. They will want one photo of your craft to keep. They want to see the passenger warning on the panel, the word "Experimental" visible to a boarding passenger, a data plate on the keel, and in my case, a compass deviation card. They generally aren't concerned about the safety or quality of your craft as we are allowed to fly anything we come up with. The nicer ones will point out anything unsafe they see to you, but that is not their required function. Some will get picky about the color and positioning of your N-number and some will not. The regs call for horizontal placement unless impractical. I mounted mine vertically and nothing was said, but others got a hard time about it. I guess you need your permanent airworthiness certificate by the time of the inspection also. That's all I can think of, but there may be more that someone else can fill in.
 
Tim,

Try contacting your local F.S.D.O. and ask if they have an 'Experimental builders kit".

When I started building mine, I contacted the Baton Rouge FSDO, and they sent a kit with all of the required paperwork and Advisory Circulars to use as a guideline.
 
Tim,

As the builder, you make the determination of the airworthiness of your craft and your aircraft and engine logs will reflect that you find it to be airworthy. For the most part, the initial airworthiness inspection is to ensure that all the paperwork is in order, the aircraft is properly marked and placarded, and the data plate is correct and in place. It needs to be in a "ready to fly" condition" and the inspectors will typically go over it for grossly bad things that may affect safety of flight and should be corrected.

If you coordinate with the FSDO before hand, you should be able to get your repairmans certificate at the same time as your airworthiness certificate. Have your logs and pictures and wow them with intimate knowledge of the construction process.

How rigorous an inspection you get will depend on the person doing it. Just make sure all the paperwork is correct and all the markings and equipment are in accordance with the FARs and it'll go fine.
 
Registration

Registration

KenSandyEggo said:
I guess you need your permanent airworthiness certificate by the time of the inspection also. That's all I can think of, but there may be more that someone else can fill in.

I believe Ken was referring to your assigned registration numbers ("N" numbers).

The biggest setback in attaining the Airworthiness Certificate has been reserved, as opposed to, assigned registration.

Until the numbers are assigned to your aircraft and properly displayed you can not receive an airworthiness certificate.

The answer to your question is as varied as the person who performs the certification. Good luck.
 
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In 1999, the guy that came as the DAR that inspected my gyro was older than dirt. A real nice old time pilot. But I don't think he had seen a gyro since they were used for mail service, which he probably witnessed firsthand. He was only interested that the paperwork was correct. He looked at the gyro more out of being curious than anything. The O.L's were negotiated over the phone with him beforehand, and he was completed in less than half an hour with my airworthiness certificate now in my pocket. THe blades were still in the box along with the hubbar, and he never asked about them. Hardly the "fine tooth comb" inspection. I didn't know to thank him or call the paramedics first for him, but the $200 seemed to help his health out. He did pass on several months later, thanks Mr.C.D. Barber DAR #WP525001; hope you have smooth skys around you in heaven. The next day the gyro took to the air for the first time and have never regretted building it since then.

Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel, Ca SportCopter N86SH
 
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If you have a name of the inspector, ASK HIM what he wants to see. I had a great inspection experience with the Seattle FAA.
 
Tim,
The guy from the FAA that inspected my gyro wanted to see it "ready to fly", so I had to put the rotorblades on it. Since he worked for the FAA the inspection was free. He came to my house to inspect the gyro since I lived along the highway that he travels to go home.

He was a nice guy that didn't give me a hard time but he was thorough. He checked bolts for the correct threat length past the nuts & the correct method for tying safety wire.
In fact I didn't tie the safety wire to his satisfaction on my rudder turnbuckles, so he fixed them for me.
 
Here's a link to the website of the DAR I will be working with later this month. It looks like he may be more thourough than what I've heard about some inspectors.
Ken Blalock website
 
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