Posted for "Jim Auman" <jimauman@comcast.net>:

 If an engine is "continuously" maintained in compliance with all of its
 Type Certificate Data Sheet specs at each "annual" condition inspection
 and logged in the engine's maintenance log then it does not matter if it
 is on an experimental or normally certificated airframe.

 Difference here folks is that only a licenced A&P with Inspection
 Authorization gets to "annual" anything.  Repairmen on Amateur-Built
 airplanes get to condition inspect only.  This point gets lost on many
 airmen debating this subject.

 IA's at each "annual" verify that the powerplant conforms to it's TCDS,
 STC's, and approved field approvals of any mods.

 All of that needs to be seemless; hence, any deviation of an engine, or
 accessory to it, not specifically provided for (above) and "annualed"
 renders the engine experimental and interrupts the "continuous" papertrail
 provision.

 So if you do not posess an Inspection Authorization on your A&P, you must
 have the engine on your experimental torn down and inspected for adherence
 to the manufacturer's specifications and the TCDS if your ever wish to
 return it to the Normally certificated community.

 Of course, returning it to the manufacturer or authorized overhauler will
 do the same thing if proper authorized engine log entries are recorded.

 A Lancairian (with an IA) can keep an engine and prop "annualed" if no
 changes from the TCDS are made during those uses on an experimental
 airframe and proper maintenance log "annual inspection" entries are
 recorded at each condition inspection.


 Jim Auman