Certified into Homebuilt?

As far as I know, there is no other way to be able to fix your own plane
than build it or be an AP. Many people get an AP to let them do their own
work and pay him to check the work and sign it off. This is legal.

If that is what you are looking for, you should start asking around for
someone who will do that for you. The only downside is you still need
certified parts.

Only build a plane, if that is what you really want to do. Building a plane
because you want to fly usually doesn't work out for most folks. They end
up never finishing.


"Brad Mallard" wrote in message
...
I am a Private Pilot with about 100 hours. I am looking for an airplane
that
I can call my own, whether it is certified, homebuilt, experimental, or
ultralight.

I have a Cessna 172 that is paid for right now, but I think I can build a
better plane faster that will haul more for about the same money I have
invested in my 172. As it is right now, I can't hardly do anything to my
172, as I am not an A&P.

I talked to my local flight service station and they said, if I built at
least 51% of an aircraft, then it could be classified as experimental.
With
experimental, as long as I have documented everything, and passed their
inspection, and flew the plane for a documented 40 hours in assigned
airspace, then as soon as it was classified as experimental, it would have
the same freedoms as a certified aircraft.

If I wen the other way, and altered an existing plane like a Cessna 172
for
example, then it could be reclassified as "restricted" and I would have to
contact them every single time I decided to fly.

What I think I need from this group is maybe some restriction definitions
for the following: Certified, homebuilt, amatuer built, experimental,
restricted, and ultralight... or any other comments


Brad



"Dude" wrote in message
...
You cannot make a certified plane into a homebuilt.

You can move it from certified to experimental, but it will not be the
same
as a homebuilt and will not be treated as such.

You might be better off telling us what you want to accomplish by doing
this, and someone here will be able to tell you what you are up against.



"Brad Mallard" wrote in message
...
I know this is a popular question, but I have not seen anyone actually
answer it. Can you make a Certified aircraft into a homebuilt? The only
response I have gotten is "yes, but with a lot of paperwork." Is there
a
starting point?

Brad

Dude wrote:
As far as I know, there is no other way to be able to fix your own plane
than build it or be an AP.

Nope, there is another way. Anybody can work on a homebuilt, even if they
didn't build it. The only thing the builder gets is the option to get
a certificate to do the annual condition inspections. If you're not the
builder, you'll have to find an A&P (doesn't need to be an IA like a normal
certificated aircraft).


Many people get an AP to let them do their own
work and pay him to check the work and sign it off. This is legal.

Yes, this is a good idea. My mechanic doesn't charge any additional
for owners helping. She does divide her customers into two groups,
those who participate in the maintenance of their aircraft and those
who are (in her words) "just pilots."

A guy based at our field one day popped in and said he thought there
was something wrong with his battery. The mechanic told him to go
bring it in so it could be tested. He gave her a blank look. "Oh
yeah, I forgot, you're just a pilot. Ron, go give him a hand pulling
out his battery."

"Dude" wrote in message ...
As far as I know, there is no other way to be able to fix your own plane
than build it or be an AP.

Yes there is. Buy an amateur built experimental. The only
maintenance you can't perform on it is the annual condition inspection
(which can be performed by an A&P, rather than an IA).

In the OP's case, if he just wants a plane that he can maintain
himself, the best bet would be to sell the 172 and buy a homebuilt.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)