Homebuilt Aircraft and Maintenace
11-23-2009, 11:19 AM
#1
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Homebuilt Aircraft and Maintenace
I am toying with buying a completed homebuilt. I've got a pretty good feel for Insurance and Tie-down costs. I'm looking for expert opinion on the following:
My two big questions are performing regular and annual maintenance, and using auto gas.
1. I believe if you are the original builder, you can perform any maintenance on an aircraft. For the annual, it must be signed-off by an A&P.
But what if you buy one built by another?
2. I'm interested in using auto gas. This would be for either an O-320 or -360 Lycoming. I know an STC is available, but have been told that for Expeimentals, the STC is not required.
Multiple sources say that any Ethanol is a strict no-no, as it can disolve sealants either in the fuel tank or carburetor.
Unfortunately, many sources say that state governments are passing laws to require all auto-gas to contain Ethanol within the next 5 years. Ostensibly to "make us green," it is really the lobbying power of Archer-Daniels-Midlands.
So, do people think there will be a continued source of non-ethanol fuel?
This plane would be for commuting (when weather was good), and I would put about 200 hours a year on it. Besides overhead such as insurance, tie-down, and TBO, own-maintenance and auto gas gets it down into the $65-70 an hour to operate. But, with AVGAS and A&P for all maintenance, it starts to get into the $90-100 an hour range, and I can't really rationalize it.
My two big questions are performing regular and annual maintenance, and using auto gas.
1. I believe if you are the original builder, you can perform any maintenance on an aircraft. For the annual, it must be signed-off by an A&P.
But what if you buy one built by another?
2. I'm interested in using auto gas. This would be for either an O-320 or -360 Lycoming. I know an STC is available, but have been told that for Expeimentals, the STC is not required.
Multiple sources say that any Ethanol is a strict no-no, as it can disolve sealants either in the fuel tank or carburetor.
Unfortunately, many sources say that state governments are passing laws to require all auto-gas to contain Ethanol within the next 5 years. Ostensibly to "make us green," it is really the lobbying power of Archer-Daniels-Midlands.
So, do people think there will be a continued source of non-ethanol fuel?
This plane would be for commuting (when weather was good), and I would put about 200 hours a year on it. Besides overhead such as insurance, tie-down, and TBO, own-maintenance and auto gas gets it down into the $65-70 an hour to operate. But, with AVGAS and A&P for all maintenance, it starts to get into the $90-100 an hour range, and I can't really rationalize it.
11-23-2009, 11:35 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 652
Originally Posted by UAL T38 Phlyer
I am toying with buying a completed homebuilt. I've got a pretty good feel for Insurance and Tie-down costs. I'm looking for expert opinion on the following:
My two big questions are performing regular and annual maintenance, and using auto gas.
1. I believe if you are the original builder, you can perform any maintenance on an aircraft. For the annual, it must be signed-off by an A&P.
But what if you buy one built by another?
2. I'm interested in using auto gas. This would be for either an O-320 or -360 Lycoming. I know an STC is available, but have been told that for Expeimentals, the STC is not required.
Multiple sources say that any Ethanol is a strict no-no, as it can disolve sealants either in the fuel tank or carburetor.
Unfortunately, many sources say that state governments are passing laws to require all auto-gas to contain Ethanol within the next 5 years. Ostensibly to "make us green," it is really the lobbying power of Archer-Daniels-Midlands.
So, do people think there will be a continued source of non-ethanol fuel?
This plane would be for commuting (when weather was good), and I would put about 200 hours a year on it. Besides overhead such as insurance, tie-down, and TBO, own-maintenance and auto gas gets it down into the $65-70 an hour to operate. But, with AVGAS and A&P for all maintenance, it starts to get into the $90-100 an hour range, and I can't really rationalize it.
My two big questions are performing regular and annual maintenance, and using auto gas.
1. I believe if you are the original builder, you can perform any maintenance on an aircraft. For the annual, it must be signed-off by an A&P.
But what if you buy one built by another?
2. I'm interested in using auto gas. This would be for either an O-320 or -360 Lycoming. I know an STC is available, but have been told that for Expeimentals, the STC is not required.
Multiple sources say that any Ethanol is a strict no-no, as it can disolve sealants either in the fuel tank or carburetor.
Unfortunately, many sources say that state governments are passing laws to require all auto-gas to contain Ethanol within the next 5 years. Ostensibly to "make us green," it is really the lobbying power of Archer-Daniels-Midlands.
So, do people think there will be a continued source of non-ethanol fuel?
This plane would be for commuting (when weather was good), and I would put about 200 hours a year on it. Besides overhead such as insurance, tie-down, and TBO, own-maintenance and auto gas gets it down into the $65-70 an hour to operate. But, with AVGAS and A&P for all maintenance, it starts to get into the $90-100 an hour range, and I can't really rationalize it.
the original builder is the manufacturer of the aircraft. If you where the builder you would be authorized to perform all mx and sign off the annual yourself. If you buy a already constructed experimental aircraft the only requirement concerning mx is to have a A&P sign off the annual or the original builder.
I cant state authoritatively concerning the need for STC using autogas. Be prepared for problems from insurance and other liabilities if not complying with AD's, STC's
