Question on Owner Produced Interior parts

I was reading on http://150cessna.tripod.com about owner
manufactured parts. I was wondering if I could make my own interior
parts? For example change plastic parts to aluminum, or titanium
such as the plastic instrument bezels, mike holder ECT.

I have access to a really nice machine shop, CNC equipment, laser
cutter's and etchers ect. I can almost make/help make any plastic
part on the inside of the airplane out of aluminum or titanium.

Any advice on this!

In article ,
"NW_PILOT" wrote:

I was reading on http://150cessna.tripod.com about owner
manufactured parts. I was wondering if I could make my own interior
parts? For example change plastic parts to aluminum, or titanium
such as the plastic instrument bezels, mike holder ECT.

I have access to a really nice machine shop, CNC equipment, laser
cutter's and etchers ect. I can almost make/help make any plastic
part on the inside of the airplane out of aluminum or titanium.

Any advice on this!



The FARs specify "equivalent or better," so it should be a no-brainer to
substitute .010 Aluminum for plastic. As for titanium, I can think of a
few applications, but the stuff is really a bitch to work!

Get a friendly AI and fill out some 337s.

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 02:29:35 GMT, Orval Fairbairn
wrote:

In article ,
"NW_PILOT" wrote:

I was reading on http://150cessna.tripod.com about owner
manufactured parts. I was wondering if I could make my own interior
parts? For example change plastic parts to aluminum, or titanium
such as the plastic instrument bezels, mike holder ECT.

I have access to a really nice machine shop, CNC equipment, laser
cutter's and etchers ect. I can almost make/help make any plastic
part on the inside of the airplane out of aluminum or titanium.

Any advice on this!



The FARs specify "equivalent or better," so it should be a no-brainer to
substitute .010 Aluminum for plastic. As for titanium, I can think of a
few applications, but the stuff is really a bitch to work!

Get a friendly AI and fill out some 337s.

The FAR's do NOT specify "equivelant or better". Owner produced parts
must conform to the original specifications and production processes.
You are not allowed to make an aircraft part "better" unless you
obtain an STC or field approval. Owner produced parts do not require
a 337, as they are not major repairs or alterations.

Having said that, the FAR police are not about to come out and see that you've
fabricated a bracket or panel out of aluminum to replace a cracked plastic
panel. Me? I'd stay away from titanium and make it all out of aluminum just to
keep the odd inspector out of the picture. They understand aluminum. They
don't have a freakin' CLUE about titanium.

Do NOT, under ANY circumstances allow yourself to be drawn into the
337-FSDO-Engineering paperwork nightmare. Do it, be safe, and be happy.

Jim




Bill Zaleski
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

-The FAR's do NOT specify "equivelant or better". Owner produced parts
-must conform to the original specifications and production processes.
-You are not allowed to make an aircraft part "better" unless you
-obtain an STC or field approval. Owner produced parts do not require
-a 337, as they are not major repairs or alterations.



Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

But it would probably be a good idea to give your insurance policy a
thorough read before you use any non-standard parts.

It may be just a rinky-dink arm rest bracket, but if your policy calls for
original factory equipment they can refuse to pay, even if the part in no
way contributed to the accident or subsequent damages.


"Jim Weir" wrote in message
...
Having said that, the FAR police are not about to come out and see that
you've
fabricated a bracket or panel out of aluminum to replace a cracked plastic
panel. Me? I'd stay away from titanium and make it all out of aluminum
just to
keep the odd inspector out of the picture. They understand aluminum.
They
don't have a freakin' CLUE about titanium.

Do NOT, under ANY circumstances allow yourself to be drawn into the
337-FSDO-Engineering paperwork nightmare. Do it, be safe, and be happy.

Jim




Bill Zaleski
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

-The FAR's do NOT specify "equivelant or better". Owner produced parts
-must conform to the original specifications and production processes.
-You are not allowed to make an aircraft part "better" unless you
-obtain an STC or field approval. Owner produced parts do not require
-a 337, as they are not major repairs or alterations.



Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

In rec.aviation.owning Bill Denton wrote:
But it would probably be a good idea to give your insurance policy a
thorough read before you use any non-standard parts.
It may be just a rinky-dink arm rest bracket, but if your policy calls for
original factory equipment they can refuse to pay, even if the part in no
way contributed to the accident or subsequent damages.

I'd be surprised to see any insurance policy with that exact wording,
because that would effectively prevent you from getting modern avionics
installed. Ususally there's language to the effect of the airwortiness
certificate must be in full effect. There are provisions in the FARs for
owner produced parts, so that wouldn't "neccessarily" effect the
airworthiness.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

Bill Denton wrote:
But it would probably be a good idea to give your insurance policy a
thorough read before you use any non-standard parts.

It may be just a rinky-dink arm rest bracket, but if your policy calls for
original factory equipment they can refuse to pay, even if the part in no
way contributed to the accident or subsequent damages.

That's pure crap. Having been thru an insurance claim and seeing many
others on the field do likewise it's fairly painless to total an
airplane or even just get a large payout. The insurance company will
send a rep out to look at the wreckage. Assuming you didn't add another
wing somewhere just for the hell of it you can expect to be paid off in
less than 30 days.

"Bill Denton" wrote in message
...
But it would probably be a good idea to give your insurance policy a
thorough read before you use any non-standard parts.

It may be just a rinky-dink arm rest bracket, but if your policy calls for
original factory equipment they can refuse to pay, even if the part in no
way contributed to the accident or subsequent damages.

If somebody buys insurance that is that restrictive they deserve it. I
doubt your scenario has ever come into play. If it has please cite.

Bill Zaleski wrote in
:

The FAR's do NOT specify "equivelant or better". Owner produced parts
must conform to the original specifications and production processes.
You are not allowed to make an aircraft part "better" unless you
obtain an STC or field approval. Owner produced parts do not require
a 337, as they are not major repairs or alterations.

True for a wheel strut, but you would be amazed at how much "decorative
trim" there is in the interior. G

"James M. Knox" wrote in message
2...
Bill Zaleski wrote in
:

The FAR's do NOT specify "equivelant or better". Owner produced parts
must conform to the original specifications and production processes.
You are not allowed to make an aircraft part "better" unless you
obtain an STC or field approval. Owner produced parts do not require
a 337, as they are not major repairs or alterations.

True for a wheel strut, but you would be amazed at how much "decorative
trim" there is in the interior. G


That's my point decorative trim, there are things like Bezels, overlays,
seatbelt holders, mike holders, foot pads on the carpet, fuel selector
placecard on the carpet, plastic seat backs, dash eyebrow's and many other
trim items that are flimsy brittle plastic that dull out and break. With
today's technology on alloys almost the same thing could be made out of
another material it may weigh few grams more than stock and it will be a lot
stronger and will last longer saving me a lot of money in future replacement
parts. As another post said most all of these materials can be found as
surpluss "scrap" for very little money andf only thing lost would be my time
for making the part and I know I have more time than money.