planenut said:
How about regulations for certified engines in an experimental aircraft.
Dan (and Keith),
The experimental airworthiness certificate applies to the entire aircraft, including all installed components and accessories. This being the case, the exemption called out in 14 CFR 43.1(b) applies to the entire aircraft including all installed components and accessories. What this means is, ANYONE can perform maintenance, repair and/or modification to the entire aircraft. "Anyone" truly means
anyone. You don't have to be the builder, you don't have to be the owner, and you don't have to hold
any FAA certificate of any kind in order to perform maintenance, repair or modification on any part of the aircraft (including the engine).
With all of this as background it's pretty easy to see that the engine cannot be considered to be "certified" or "certificated" when non-certificated individuals are allowed to perform maintenance and repair. In short, an engine installed on an experimental aircraft is itself "experimental".
Now, as for ADs, the official word from FAA legal at the headquarters level is that ADs do not
directly apply to formerly type-certificated components installed in experimental aircraft. however, this does NOT mean that you can simply ignore an AD that may apply to a component of the aircraft. The reason I highlighted
directly is because there is an overlying requirement that the aircraft be maintained and operated in a
condition for safe operation. So, since an AD points out an unsafe condition it would be difficult for the owner/operator of an experimental aircraft to completely ignore an AD and still claim that the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation. To be completely legal the owner/operator must address the safety concern pointed out by the AD. But you would not be required to comply with the letter of the AD. You are free to respond to the safety issue in any way you see fit, so long as you somehow address the safety concern pointed out by the AD. Many times the easiest way to do this is to simply comply with the AD, but the owner/operator of an experimental aircraft has the option of coming up with an alternate response to the safety issue pointed out by the AD.
Clear as mud, huh!!