Ready for DAR

[dcsfoto]

Para 459(e) is correct

first there is FAA DC Policy then Regional Policy now down to Office Policy.

In my area , due to all the builders for hire our office policy is to look close at photos and the build log. The Kitfox build manual is what i am using along with photos.

Best to get a DAR and see what they need

I do Kitfox aircraft in my area for free but I am in Little Rock Ar

call me if needed

David Kelm

[Dutch]

My experience was about the same as Jim. Getting the repairman certificate however was another matter. The FAA guy wanted way more selfies than I was able to produce. He finally relented when I explained to him that I was the one who took the photos & therfore could. Not possibly be in the pics. Anyway good luck.

Dutch

[tommg13780]

I think Dutch has brought up the most relevant point. The purpose of build log is to verify that all construction work was done by amateur labor. I've been through 3 original A/W inspections and build log was never mentioned unless I volunteered to show it. All of these inspections were done by a DAR. I'm ready to ask for a repairman certificate on my 4-1200 and that has to be done at the FSDO, at least that's the policy in the Albany, NY FSDO. I'm in the same situation as Dutch with lots of photos, text and receipts but none with my face in the picture. As I understand it the repairman interview is generally done by an FAA administrator at his/her desk. A possible substitute for the selfie type photos may be a sworn affidavit that's been notorized stating that you have performed the build labor with possible exception of allowed tasks such as paint work etc. good luck, we have a great guy (DAR) that's authorized to inspect in your area as well as most of the New England states. His contract is through the Boston MIDO. He's quite reasonable on price and travel expense.

[jonstark]

[QUOTE=tommg We have a great guy (DAR) that's authorized to inspect in your area as well as most of the New England states. His contract is through the Boston MIDO. He's quite reasonable on price and travel expense.[/QUOTE]

The FAA DAR directory is out of date. They have all retired in my area. What is your man's name? Local builders are now having to use a FSDO inspector.

Jon

[tommg13780]

Ron Jones, DAR located in Eaton, NY, near KVGC. 315-684-7221. He generally answers the phone at his shop. I'd suggest a pre-inspection meeting to review paperwork for errors and omissions. After that he opens a "window" that may be 30 days to actually perform the inspection. The paperwork is by far more critical to a successful outcome that the airplane.

http://eatonaviation.com/

[efwd]

Hello Gentlemen.
With regard to a builders log. I started construction of my SS7 March 12 of this year. I have not created a builders log outside of placing dates on the pages of the construction manual. My RV4 I started 15 years ago didn't come with such a manual that has the completion date lines to fill in so I kinda thought this would suffice. I have been meaning to call John to ask this question but since your mentioning this here I guess its as good a place as any to get some information. I have been taking photos of my boys and I doing the build so I should be fine by the end with photo documentation but the log? Are you just "journaling" the build in a book as I did years ago or how exactly do they wish for you to log the time? It seems journaling is just going to be paraphrasing the construction manual.
Thanks
Eddie

[DesertFox4]

Eddie, you should be fine with using the build manual. It has a place for date and your initials when a build task has been completed. That was acceptable to my DAR back in 2003 for my model 4 build along with photos. Of my current build I bet I have 500 plus photos already and many more to come before completion.

I do recommend keeping photos of the build and trying to get yourself in as many of the photos as practical throughout the different phases of the build. If I find myself alone and wanting a photo of a part of the build with myself in the photo as proof, I set my digital camera on the timed photo setting and quickly get into the shot before the timer takes the photo. After I accumulate a batch of photos I transfer them to a flash drive containing all my build photos. That flash drive then goes into my fire proof safe until the next download of photos. With photos of you building and your dated and initialled build manual, it would be hard to dispute just who did the majority of the construction, either for your airworthiness certificate or your repairmans certificate.