From certified to LSA

H. Paul Shuch is a Light Sport Repairman with Maintenance ratings for airplanes, gliders, weight shift control, and powered parachutes, as well as an independent Rotax Maintenance Technician at the Heavy Maintenance level. He holds a PhD in Air Transportation Engineering from the University of California, and serves as Director of Maintenance for AvSport of Lock Haven.

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glyn
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:03 pm
Location: Texas

From certified to LSA

Post by glyn »

Quick question.
A budy has an Chief which meets LSA specs. Now since it is already a certified aircraft, can he perform annuals if he only uses it as an LSA?
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if you can't fly right.... fly upside down
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Bill
Posts: 100
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:35 am
Location: Delaware Beaches

Post by Bill »

No (unless he is an A&P), because it is NOT an LSA. It is a certified aircraft that meets the parameters of the LSA rule so Sport Pilots can legally fly it.

I have the same situation with my Ercoupe. BTW, I almost bought a beautifully restored Chief last September, the week before I decided on the 'Coupe.
flyboy2007
Posts: 81
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:18 pm
Location: wisconsin

Post by flyboy2007 »

I think all he can do himself is change the oil and put air in the tires. Maybe but i dont think he can even change the spark plugs. I am looking for a chief myself.
"Keep on Draggin"
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rfane
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Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Post by rfane »

flyboy2007 wrote:I think all he can do himself is change the oil and put air in the tires. Maybe but i dont think he can even change the spark plugs. I am looking for a chief myself.
If he doesn't have a Private Pilot cert., likely he can't even change the oil. Check the FAR's as to what is legal on a FAR 23 certificated aircraft.
Roger Fane
Former owner of a 2006 Flight Design CTsw
glyn
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:03 pm
Location: Texas

Post by glyn »

thanks guys.. we just had a new engine put in it (by an A&P :shock: ) and im doing the test flights on it today.... GREAT airplane !! he's a private pilot, we were just unclear on the regulations. i know that you can take the course to do the work on "your" LSA, just didn't know if you took the course that you could do it on a certified airplane that meets LSA standards..

thanks again.
www.sportflyers.org

www.ussportplanes.com

if you can't fly right.... fly upside down
Jeff Tipton
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Location: Dickson, TN

Post by Jeff Tipton »

If the aircraft is certificated under part 23, then a pilot that is at least a recreational pilot can perform maintenance authorized under FAR 43 appendix A, part c. http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/te ... 51&idno=14

(c) Preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance is limited to the following work, provided it does not involve complex assembly operations:

(1) Removal, installation, and repair of landing gear tires.

(2) Replacing elastic shock absorber cords on landing gear.

(3) Servicing landing gear shock struts by adding oil, air, or both.

(4) Servicing landing gear wheel bearings, such as cleaning and greasing.

(5) Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys.

(6) Lubrication not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings.

(7) Making simple fabric patches not requiring rib stitching or the removal of structural parts or control surfaces. In the case of balloons, the making of small fabric repairs to envelopes (as defined in, and in accordance with, the balloon manufacturers' instructions) not requiring load tape repair or replacement.

(8) Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic reservoir.

(9) Refinishing decorative coating of fuselage, balloon baskets, wings tail group surfaces (excluding balanced control surfaces), fairings, cowlings, landing gear, cabin, or cockpit interior when removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required.

(10) Applying preservative or protective material to components where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved and where such coating is not prohibited or is not contrary to good practices.

(11) Repairing upholstery and decorative furnishings of the cabin, cockpit, or balloon basket interior when the repairing does not require disassembly of any primary structure or operating system or interfere with an operating system or affect the primary structure of the aircraft.

(12) Making small simple repairs to fairings, nonstructural cover plates, cowlings, and small patches and reinforcements not changing the contour so as to interfere with proper air flow.

(13) Replacing side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or any operating system such as controls, electrical equipment, etc.

(14) Replacing safety belts.

(15) Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system.

(16) Trouble shooting and repairing broken circuits in landing light wiring circuits.

(17) Replacing bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of position and landing lights.

(18) Replacing wheels and skis where no weight and balance computation is involved.

(19) Replacing any cowling not requiring removal of the propeller or disconnection of flight controls.

(20) Replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting of spark plug gap clearance.

(21) Replacing any hose connection except hydraulic connections.

(22) Replacing prefabricated fuel lines.

(23) Cleaning or replacing fuel and oil strainers or filter elements.

(24) Replacing and servicing batteries.

(25) Cleaning of balloon burner pilot and main nozzles in accordance with the balloon manufacturer's instructions.

(26) Replacement or adjustment of nonstructural standard fasteners incidental to operations.

(27) The interchange of balloon baskets and burners on envelopes when the basket or burner is designated as interchangeable in the balloon type certificate data and the baskets and burners are specifically designed for quick removal and installation.

(28) The installations of anti-misfueling devices to reduce the diameter of fuel tank filler openings provided the specific device has been made a part of the aircraft type certificiate data by the aircraft manufacturer, the aircraft manufacturer has provided FAA-approved instructions for installation of the specific device, and installation does not involve the disassembly of the existing tank filler opening.

(29) Removing, checking, and replacing magnetic chip detectors.

(30) The inspection and maintenance tasks prescribed and specifically identified as preventive maintenance in a primary category aircraft type certificate or supplemental type certificate holder's approved special inspection and preventive maintenance program when accomplished on a primary category aircraft provided:

(i) They are performed by the holder of at least a private pilot certificate issued under part 61 who is the registered owner (including co-owners) of the affected aircraft and who holds a certificate of competency for the affected aircraft (1) issued by a school approved under §147.21(e) of this chapter; (2) issued by the holder of the production certificate for that primary category aircraft that has a special training program approved under §21.24 of this subchapter; or (3) issued by another entity that has a course approved by the Administrator; and

(ii) The inspections and maintenance tasks are performed in accordance with instructions contained by the special inspection and preventive maintenance program approved as part of the aircraft's type design or supplemental type design.

(31) Removing and replacing self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted navigation and communication devices that employ tray-mounted connectors that connect the unit when the unit is installed into the instrument panel, (excluding automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)). The approved unit must be designed to be readily and repeatedly removed and replaced, and pertinent instructions must be provided. Prior to the unit's intended use, and operational check must be performed in accordance with the applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.

(32) Updating self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted Air Traffic Control (ATC) navigational software data bases (excluding those of automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)) provided no disassembly of the unit is required and pertinent instructions are provided. Prior to the unit's intended use, an operational check must be performed in accordance with applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.
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FLA-CFI
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Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:49 pm

Post by FLA-CFI »

glyn wrote:i know that you can take the course to do the work on "your" LSA, just didn't know if you took the course that you could do it on a certified airplane that meets LSA standards..

thanks again.
It also depends on the course he took. There is the Light Sport Repairman with a "Inspection" rating or "Maintenance" rating.

Inspection allows you to inspect only ELSA aircraft that you own, you can't touch/look at, a SLSA (16 hour course IIRC)

Maintenance allows you to do all inspections and maintenance on all LSAs, SLSA and ELSA. (120 hour course)
Adam

CFI-SP, Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance, Rotax Cert.
Orlando, FL
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