From: ReganRanch@aol.com
Message-ID: <61ae9498.364c5adc@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 11:14:20 EST
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Subject: Insurance
Mime-Version: 1.0

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In a message dated 98-11-13 00:01:38 EST, you write:

<< I checked with several agents and found NONE of them would cover my
 aircraft I was working on in the garage, even if it was just "parts" being
 assembled. The analogy one agent told me was "what if you were working on
 rebuilding a car in your garage? You would need auto insurance to cover it". 
 snip
 If anyone knows of a home owners policy that covers building an aircraft in
 your garage - I'd like to know who it is. >>

Republic does. As it was explained to me, you cant insure an aircraft as an
aircraft until it exists. So either it is an aircraft or it is aircraft parts.
The exception is a restoration where you have an entire aircraft that exists
as a legal entity that you have taken apart and the sum of the parts equals
one aircraft.

Look at it this way. Suppose I buy an engine, prop, wheels and a HS from
Lancair and put it in my garage. Is it an aircraft? Obviously not, and if the
garage was destroyed with the parts inside I would file a personal property
claim for some aircraft parts I owned. The analog your agent gave you proves
that he didn't understand your situation. Restoring a car, or an airplane, is
quite different than having some car, or airplane, parts in your garage.

The problem you are having is that you asked if your carrier insured aircraft
parts and they assumed you meant parts from an airplane when in fact they were
just parts and not "from" anything, yet. The "from" implies that the parts are
part of a greater whole.

So when do all the parts become an airplane? Good question. For sure when the
FAA says it is airworthy and perhaps when it can taxi for the first time or
when all the parts are bolted together. Before that I am not sure. One
important point is that if the parts ever become a plane then you need
airplane insurance and that will cover the parts even if they are removed
(with the intent of being reinstalled).

Regards
Brent