MopeyGecko
31st May 2013, 21:22
Hello all. Andy here, new to the forum.
I've come into possession of a 1972 Robin DR400 160 in a bit of a sorry state having not been flown for 15 years and I'm looking into what is involved in getting it airworthy. I understand it'll be difficult to give indications as to what is involved from a physical point of view without inspection but I'm more looking for general advice as to legalities of what can and can't be done and the processes I may need to follow. The last C of A was 1999 with 1125 hours from new and log books are missing.
I've been approached by a competent but unqualified 3rd party who would like to take this on as a project in return for a share but I'd like to independently satisfy myself as to what the whole thing entails and remain objective and unemotional.
Engine wise I believe this will need to be sent away to be fully rebuilt and zero houred and there is little can be done to reduce costs in this area.
With respect to work on the airframe is this something that a competent DIYer will be allowed to do? A report made in 2008 indicated that the spruce itself appeared to be in good condition after inspection without a full strip down but the surface covering would be in need of replacing and therefore repainting.
That's the background so I guess what I'm really asking is will a competent DIYer be allowed to undertake any work restoring an aircraft such as this and if so is there anything they are not allowed to do? Secondly if they are allowed what would be the steps required in order to comply with the requirements to obtain a c of a? Would it be possible for a qualified engineer to supervise the work in stages and are any likely to do this? I don't believe the economics would allow a repair under commercial terms and this is possibly the only hope of the aircraft flying again.
Thanks in advance
- Andy
I've come into possession of a 1972 Robin DR400 160 in a bit of a sorry state having not been flown for 15 years and I'm looking into what is involved in getting it airworthy. I understand it'll be difficult to give indications as to what is involved from a physical point of view without inspection but I'm more looking for general advice as to legalities of what can and can't be done and the processes I may need to follow. The last C of A was 1999 with 1125 hours from new and log books are missing.
I've been approached by a competent but unqualified 3rd party who would like to take this on as a project in return for a share but I'd like to independently satisfy myself as to what the whole thing entails and remain objective and unemotional.
Engine wise I believe this will need to be sent away to be fully rebuilt and zero houred and there is little can be done to reduce costs in this area.
With respect to work on the airframe is this something that a competent DIYer will be allowed to do? A report made in 2008 indicated that the spruce itself appeared to be in good condition after inspection without a full strip down but the surface covering would be in need of replacing and therefore repainting.
That's the background so I guess what I'm really asking is will a competent DIYer be allowed to undertake any work restoring an aircraft such as this and if so is there anything they are not allowed to do? Secondly if they are allowed what would be the steps required in order to comply with the requirements to obtain a c of a? Would it be possible for a qualified engineer to supervise the work in stages and are any likely to do this? I don't believe the economics would allow a repair under commercial terms and this is possibly the only hope of the aircraft flying again.
Thanks in advance
- Andy