From: Sky2high@aol.com
Message-ID: <76714baa.36ecaaaf@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 01:37:35 EST
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Subject: Major Alterations
Mime-Version: 1.0

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Please note that someone has incorrectly pointed to the Long Beach FSDO and
its' references to FAR 43.  

You are the manufacturer of your EXPERIMENTAL airplane and it has no type
certificate.  FAR 43 is a reference for type certificated aircraft which is
why your airworthiness limitations reference only the DEFINITION in FAR 21.93.

FAR 21.93 is the appropriate reference to have posted on your wall.  This FAR
defines a minor change as one that has no appreciable effect on weight,
balance, structural strength, reliability, operational characteristics, or
other characteristics affecting the airworthiness of the product.  A Major
Change is anything else (this is the usual obscure FAA way of defining
things).  NOTE:  discard any other words in this FAR since it is only
referenced for the DEFINITION of a "major change".

After you read the Long Beach FSDO  and its reference to FAR 43, throw it
away.  This is clearly aimed at mechanics messing with type certificated
commercially built aircraft.

Experimental aircraft exist in a wonderful and unique crack in the the FARs. 

Consider that you are the manufacturer, but you cannot perform the annual
"condition inspection" without being at least a certificated repairman.  To be
a repairman for your aircraft, you must only be the manufacturer.  Cool.   

You need not be an AI or A&P to do this.   

BTW,  some of the FARs referenced in your airworthiness certificate
limitations are not in the standard AIM/FAR.  Go to the web,your local FBO or
FSDO and get copies of these items so you know what are your limitations.

Scott Krueger
N92EX as modified by the manufacturer and his repairman representative.