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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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It seems as though every FSDO is different in their interpreted policies. I
would suggest you use a DAR that knows the Lancair, even though it will cost
you allot more. The chances are very high that you will get someone who
doesn't know the first thing about a Lancair, or any experimental airplane,
and you won't really get an inspection that will give you a warm fuzzy
feeling about your airplane. They will most likely make sure that your
paperwork is in order, wt. and balance, etc, and either will go over it with
a fine tooth comb, looking at the surface items such as safety wiring, and
stuff like that, and give you a whole list of really stupid items to
complete before the airworthiness is complete, or they will just look it
over and ask the same questions that anyone off the street would ask, or
worse yet, you will get a bozo who doesn't like the fact that there are any
experimental airplanes in the first place, and will turn into a nightmare
for you. I heard of one instance of a FSDO who wanted to see the builder
picture log, and since he didn't have any pictures of him in the cockpit
making airplane sounds, when he first got the kit, he woulnd't go any
farther. It was resolved by going to his superiors, but a nightmare none
the less. I would highly recommend Charlie Kohler. He's a DAR, and will
travel anywhere in his IVP to inspect your Lancair, and fly it too if you so
elect. He's one of the most experienced Lancair pilots out there, at least
in IV's and ES's. You didn't mention what airplane you have, so I can only
assume you have LNC2 since you are installing an IO360. You might at least
talk to Charlie, and get his opinion. Charlie, are you listening?
I had a terrible experience a few years ago when I had my LongEZ inspected.
Just about all of the EZ's in CA were, and are flown the first few flights
in primer. Since none of the flight surfaces are molded, it is very easy to
get one a little different than the other, and you will have to change the
incidence, or other changes, and what a pain it is to have to repaint the
airplane when you do that. Well, even though my LongEZ was in primer, and
ready for paint, the UT FSDO inspector would not give me the AW certificate
until it was completely painted. So I did. They came back out, and they
asked me about stripes, and I mistakenly said that I was going to put
stripes on it. They wouldn't give me the AW without the stripes on it. The
rational was that the flight characteristics would change. I tried to
explain to him that when I was a production test pilot at Cessna, that all
of the 400 series, and Citations are flown for the first few flights without
paint, to no avail. The guy had never even seen a small airplane before,
or at least one smaller than a Boeing, and was trying to compare my airplane
with a B767. Needless to say this turned into a 6 month ordeal. You might
get lucky with the FSDO in your area, but be skeptical. I can tell you for
sure that the FAA isn't looking out for you, but liability for themselves.
I deal with them every day, and since I also work for the FAA (not at the
FSDO) I can tell you this from first hand knowledge.
I'm not going to use my local FSDO, even though I know them. I guess that
should tell you something.
Ron Galbraith
LNCE - N5ES (62.3%)
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LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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