At what point is "builder" status conferred?

es330td wrote:
In the thread I started about the 700 mile commuter airplane someone
suggested getting a used Long-EZ. (I would like to point out that my
dream of flying began the day I was much younger when I saw picture in
a late '80's National Geographic of two EZ's and a Viggen flying in
formation so Rutan's designs are dear to my heart.) I started looking
around and found several Long-EZ's for sale or sold recently that
could be had very affordably. I also noticed a number of planes that
would require work that varied from as little as needing an annual to
others that needed an engine/prop to others that were only partially
constructed.

For a homebuilt, is builder status conferred on the person who buys
the kit/plans and starts it or if I buy a partially built plane and do
the rest am I now the builder of the plane?

In addition, what happens if I buy a VFR plane and then replace the
engine and avionics and make it a IFR platform? Am I the builder for
the parts I put on it or does the fact that I bought an already
airworthy plane make it in essence little different than buying a 172?

BTW...I'm joining EAA this week. I have a strong feeling that a lot
of these answers (and a whole bunch of questions I haven't asked yet)
are available on their members only website. I've already told my
wife that Kitplane is to never be recycled but it is also clear that
other resources are required before I spend a dime on anything.

As an aside, thanks for everyone's responses on all these. I
appreciate that nobody complains about my lack of knowledge and that
the discussions here remain civil (thus far, anyway.) I learned a
good deal just reading the discussion following my previous post.

Anyone can work on an Am-HB aircraft. And I mean anyone, you, your
mother, the old guy down the street and his granddaughter. The builder
is the person that is listed as the aircraft builder when the plane gets
it's airworthiness and that person is the only person who can get the
repairman's certificate associated with that plane and what it does is
bestows on the owner the ability to do his own annual condition
inspections. This is important, because while anyone can do any work on
the plane every year somebody either an A&P or the guy with the
repairman's certificate for the plane is going to have to sign off on
what has been done on the plane.

If you buy an aircraft that has been completed by someone else you will
be able to work on it but you will never be able to do the annuals.

One thing to remember. The FAA is probably about to start really
cracking down on these places that build homebuilts for you. So if you
do buy a semi-completed airplane make sure you can prove that it was
semi-completed by someone other than a place doing it commercially.

My bet is by the end of the year we will start hearing stories about
people that used the "builder assistance programs" and then when it
comes time to get the plane inspected no AW certificate is granted.

For more info Google FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-27F.