Experimental Maintenance

The History of the Experimental Aircraft Overview What is an Experimental Aircraft and why is a special airworthiness certificate issued in the experimental category The History of the Experimental Aircraft Who is allowed to maintain Experimental Aircraft Who should maintain experimental aircraft What Rules and regulations apply Operating Limitations and changes in Aircraft configuration Do A.D.s apply to my Aircraft and the components installed, and who can sign them off Why should you maintain a Log Book

What is a Experimental Aircraft An aircraft that does not have a Type Certificate, or does not conform to its type certificate and is in a condition for safe operation. Additionally, a primary category kit-built aircraft that was assembled without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder.

Why is a special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category issued Research and development Showing compliance with regulations Crew training Exhibition Air racing Market surveys Operating amateur-built, kit-built, or light-sport aircraft Special Airworthiness Certificate, Experimental Category for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA)

1946 saw the birth of the Ultralight Aircraft Association The History! In 1910 Alberto Santos-Dumont was the first to offer for free construction plans. In 1936, an association of amateur aviation enthusiasts was created in France. In 1938 legislation was amended to provide for a Certificat de navigabilité restreint d'aéronef (CNRA, "restricted operating certificate for aircraft"). 1946 saw the birth of the Ultralight Aircraft Association In 1953 the Experimental Aircraft Association in the United States and the Sport Aircraft Association in Australia. Until the late 1950s, builders had mainly kept to wood-and-cloth and steel tube-and-cloth design. Burt Rutan introduced the canard design to the homebuilding world and pioneered the use of composite construction. Metal construction in kit planes was taken to a new level by Richard Van Grunsven in his RV series In recent years, the less restrictive regulations for homebuilts allowed a number of manufacturers to develop new and innovative designs; many can outperform certified production aircraft in their class.

Who is allowed to maintain experimental Aircraft? Anybody! Unless per 14 CFR 43 §43.1 (b) This part does not apply to any Aircraft for which the FAA has issued an experimental certificate, unless the FAA has issued a different kind of airworthiness certificate for that aircraft. (d) This part applies to any aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category except: (1) The repair or alteration form specified in §43.5 (b) and 43.9 (d) is not required to be completed for products not produced under an FAA approval; (2) Major repairs and major alterations for products not produced under an FAA approval are not required to be recorded in accordance with appendix B of this part; and (3) The listing of major alterations and major repairs specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of appendix A of this part is not applicable to products not produced under an FAA approval. If your operating instructions state to maintain the Aircraft under 14 CFR Part 43.

It is legal but……………….. Do you have the knowledge? Should you maintain your Aircraft? It is legal but……………….. Do you have the knowledge? Do you have the tools? Do you have the necessary manuals? Do you have the time? Do you have safety in mind? It’s more than you at risk!

Part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Parts Rules and Regulations, what applies Part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Parts Part 21, subpart H, Airworthiness Certificates Part 45, Identification and Registration Marking Section 91.313, Restricted category civil aircraft: Operating limitations. Part 91, subpart D, Special Flight Operations. Section 91.715, Special flight authorizations for foreign civil aircraft. Part 375, Navigation of Foreign Civil Aircraft Within the United States This may not be a complete list of all applicable FARs.

Helpful Advisory Circulars 20-27G, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft 21-4, Special Flight Permits for Operation of Overweight Aircraft 21-12, Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate, FAA Form 8130-6 (Instructions for completing 8130-6) 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices - Aircraft Inspection and Repair 45-2, Identification and Registration Marking 90-89, Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook

Operating Limitations F.A.A. Order 8130.2G, Section 9 paragraph 4104, Issuance of Experimental Amateur-Built Operating Limitations. a. Operating limitations must be designed to fit the specific situation encountered. The ASI may impose any additional limitations deemed necessary in the interest of safety. The ASI and/or designee must review each imposed operating limitation with the applicant to ensure that the operating limitations are understood by the applicant.

Operating Limitations b. The following operating limitations shall be prescribed to experimental amateur-built aircraft: (9) Aircraft instruments and equipment installed and used under 14 CFR § 91.205 must be inspected and maintained in accordance with the requirements of 14 CFR part 91. Any maintenance or inspection of this equipment must be recorded in the aircraft logbook and maintenance records.

Operating Limitations (19)After incorporating a major change as described in 14 CFR § 21.93, the aircraft owner is required to reestablish compliance with 14 CFR § 91.319(b) and notify the geographically responsible FSDO of the location of the proposed test area. The aircraft owner must obtain concurrence from the FSDO as to the suitability of the proposed test area. If the major change includes installing a different type of engine (reciprocating to turbine) or a change of a fixed-pitch from or to a controllable propeller, the aircraft owner must fill out a revised FAA Form 8130-6 to update the aircraft’s file in the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch. All operations must be conducted under day VFR conditions in a sparsely populated area. The aircraft must remain in flight test for a minimum of 5 hours. The FSDO may require additional time (more than 5 hours) depending on the extent of the modification. Persons nonessential to the flight must not be carried. The aircraft owner must make a detailed aircraft logbook and maintenance records entry describing the change before the test flight. Following satisfactory completion of the required number of flight hours in the flight test area, the pilot must certify in the records that the aircraft has been shown to comply with 14 CFR § 91.319(b). Compliance with 14 CFR § 91.319(b) must be recorded in the aircraft records.

Weight Balance structural strength Reliability 14 CFR 21 § 21.93 (a) Changes in type design are classified as minor and major. A "minor change" is one that has no appreciable effect on the: Weight Balance structural strength Reliability Operational characteristics, or other characteristics affecting the airworthiness of the product

Do A.D.s apply to my Aircraft and the components installed? The following is from A.C. 39-7C Section (8) APPLICABILITY OF AD's: Unless specifically stated, AD's apply to the make and model set forth in the applicability statement regardless of the classification or category of the airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft.

Do A.D.s apply to my Aircraft and the components installed? A.C. 39-7C Section 8: (e) Every AD applies to each product identified in the applicability statement, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of the AD. In short, either the requirements of the AD can be performed as specified in the AD and the specified results can be achieved, or they cannot.

Who may comply with and sign off an A.D.? A.C 39-7C Section 13: RESPONSIBILITY FOR AD COMPLIANCE AND RECORDATION: (a) This responsibility may be met by ensuring that properly certificated and appropriately rated maintenance person(s) accomplish the requirements of the AD and properly record this action in the appropriate maintenance records. This action must be accomplished within the compliance time specified in the AD or the aircraft may not be operated. (f) Pilot Performed AD Checks. Certain AD's permit pilots to perform checks of some items under specific conditions. AD's allowing this action will include specific direction regarding recording requirements. However, if the AD does not include recording requirements for the pilot, § 43.9 requires persons complying with an AD to make an entry in the maintenance record of that product. § 91.417 (a) and (b) requires the owner or operator to keep and retain AC 39-7C 11/16/95 Par 13 6 certain minimum records for a specific time. The person who accomplished the action, the person who returned the aircraft to service, and the status of AD compliance are the items of information required to be kept in those records.

They add value to the Aircraft They help with future inspections Why should you maintain Log Books? They add value to the Aircraft They help with future inspections You know how long a part has been installed You know who installed it for warranty purposes The F.A.A. recommends it, keep them on your side You only need to maintain 1 book After an incident, your Log Books are the first thing the F.A.A., and your insurance company want to see With incomplete Log Books you will fight the insurance company to pay your claim!