At 00:55 31 July 2014, wrote:

Read 43.1b

(b) This part does not apply to--

(1) Any aircraft for which the FAA has issued an experimental
certificate,
unless the FAA has previously issued a different kind of
airworthiness
certificate for that aircraft; or

......

Has this aircraft ever had an FAA airworthiness certificate other
than
experimental?

FAR 43.7 - Persons Authorized to Approve Aircraft for Return to
Service

(a) Except as provided in this section and §43.17, no person,
other than the Administrator, may approve an aircraft, airframe,
aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for
return to service after it has undergone maintenance, preventive
maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.

(b) The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection
authorization may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,
propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as
provided in Part 65 of this chapter.

(c) The holder of a repair station certificate may approve an
aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or
component part for return to service as provided in Part 145 of
this chapter.

(d) A manufacturer may approve for return to service any
aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or
component part which that manufacturer has worked on under
§43.3(j). However, except for minor alterations, the work must
have been done in accordance with technical data approved by
the Administrator.

(e) The holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an
operating certificate issued under Part 121 or 135, may approve
an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or
component part for return to service as provided in Part 121 or
135 of this chapter, as applicable.

(f) A person holding at least a private pilot certificate may
approve an aircraft for return to service after performing
preventive maintenance under the provisions of §43.3(g).

(g) The holder of a repairman certificate (light-sport aircraft)
with a maintenance rating may approve an aircraft issued a
special airworthiness certificate in light-sport category for return
to service, as provided in part 65 of this chapter.

(h) The holder of at least a sport pilot certificate may approve
an aircraft owned or operated by that pilot and issued a special
airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category for return to
service after performing preventive maintenance under the
provisions of §43.3(g).

[Amdt. 43–23, 47 FR 41084, Sept. 16, 1982, as amended by
Amdt. 43–36, 61 FR 19501, May 1, 1996; Amdt. 43–37, 66 FR
21066, Apr. 27, 2001; Amdt. 43–39, 69 FR 44863, July 27, 2004]