Avionics Upgrades: What can be done with an out of production SLSA?

MarkH

MarkH

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MarkH
I am looking at an SLSA that needs some work, and I want to make sure I am not buying a plane that will never be what I want.
Its an all-metal LSA that hasn't flown in a while, and to get it to where I want it, I would need to add a ADS-B and a digital autopilot.

As I understand, avionics for SLSAs have to be approved by the manufacturer, this SLSA's manufacturer closed up shop more than a decade ago. The (ideal) hardware I would like to use for the upgrade includes a uAvionics echoUAT and an MGL autopilot. I don't know for sure they are not approved for this airframe, but I think they were both released after the manufacturer went under. I know I can convert the plane to an ELSA to do so, but I would prefer to not do that.

I have 2 questions:

If the manufacturer is no longer approving equipment for an SLSA, is there a process to install unapproved equipment without approval?

If there is a process, can that process be applied to experimental avionics without converting the airworthiness to ELSA?
 
MarkH said:
As I understand, avionics for SLSAs have to be approved by the manufacturer,
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MOSAIC changed everything on the SLSA alteration requirements. I haven't followed that part much, I would suggest to get up to speed on it as I believe an LSR-M can sign off any major alteration on a SLSA without OEM assistance.
 
Bell206 said:
MOSAIC changed everything on the SLSA alteration requirements. I haven't followed that part much, I would suggest to get up to speed on it as I believe an LSR-M can sign off any major alteration on a SLSA without OEM assistance.
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I didn't realize that MOSIAC was impacting SLSA alteration rules, I guess I was so focused on the changes to EAB, I didn't think to look.
 
I'm taking the class now. You don't need the lsrm. A 2 day LSRI can do the maintenance and annual too if it is converted to Elsa.. But, I'm not sure a slsa can be modified without manufacturer approval.
 
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Asked in the class. For slsa a lsrm may annual it but a lsri cannot. Was advised modification of slsa not possible with defunct manufacturer. Would need to convert it to Elsa.
 
FORANE said:
Was advised modification of slsa not possible with defunct manufacturer.
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MarkH said:
I didn't realize that MOSIAC was impacting SLSA alteration rules,
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Looking at the revised 91.327 under section (b)(6) about major alterations and repairs, it states in accordance with the manufacturer... OR a person acceptable to the FAA.

If it were me, I'd dig into who "a person acceptable to the FAA" would be in approving SLSA major alteration with a shutdown mfg'r. I seem to recall there was a lot of discussion on this during the NPRM phase and who would be acceptable. While I don't think the airworthiness revision goes into effect until next June, I would reread the NPRM parts concerning major alterations and who could approve them, then talk to your local FSDO or someone with more knowledge. The way I see it, the intent of the revisions was to make LSA rules more compatible to the existing system which would allow an ASI or someone similar the ability to approve major alts to an SLSA even if the OEM is still open???

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Bell206 said:
My guess since Part 43 is applicable to an SLSA the same performance rules will be used to determine a major vs minor alterations.
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Yes, that's what we were advised.
 
FORANE said:
Asked in the class. For slsa a lsrm may annual it but a lsri cannot. Was advised modification of slsa not possible with defunct manufacturer. Would need to convert it to Elsa.
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If that's what Carol said, I'd be inclined to believe it.
BTW, the common term we see used is Light Sport Maintenance Repairman, but what the FAA put on my certificate is Repairman Light Sport Aircraft with limitations specifying Aircraft, Glider, etc. I use RLSA-A when signing off airplanes.
 
jnmeade said:
If that's what Carol said, I'd be inclined to believe it.
BTW, the common term we see used is Light Sport Maintenance Repairman, but what the FAA put on my certificate is Repairman Light Sport Aircraft with limitations specifying Aircraft, Glider, etc. I use RLSA-A when signing off airplanes.
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Acronym changed. It's now LSRI-A or LSRM-A.
 
To the original question, Carol is quite well informed...what she says.

As a Repairman you are inspecting to make sure it still complies with the ATSM statement of Compliance much like an A&P makes sure a certified plane complies with it's Type Certificate.

I'd re-ask the question about a Repairman with an Inspection Rating. I do believe you can inspect a plane You Own, but you must be the owner.

FWIW, my certificate says "Repairman Light Sport Aircraft". And under Limitations it lists: -Maintenance and -Airplane. I'm not sure what newly issued certificates will say or what the preferred Acronym will be.
 
jbarrass said:
To the original question, Carol is quite well informed...what she says.

I'd re-ask the question about a Repairman with an Inspection Rating. I do believe you can inspect a plane You Own, but you must be the owner.
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So, it was Brian who said it but no matter as he's well informed also.

Regarding the LSRI-A and inspecting your own SLSA, that's a no go. A LSRM-A may do that inspection. Convert that SLSA to a ELSA and the LSRI-A may complete the inspection. Further, the OP wants to put in a glass panel; that may be done on a ELSA but not on a SLSA.
 
The only place you will find the definition of a person acceptable to the FAA is in the discussion section of the original final rule..

Section 91.327(b)(1) now requires that the aircraft be maintained in accordance with the applicable provisions of part 43 and maintenance and inspection procedures developed by the manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA. For the purpose of this section, “a person acceptable to the FAA” includes the following:

  • The manufacturer that issued the statement of compliance.
  • Any person who has assumed, and is properly exercising, the original manufacturer's responsibility for carrying out the continued airworthiness procedures described in the consensus standard.
  • The holder of an FAA-approved technical standard order (TSO) authorization, parts manufacturer approval (PMA), type certificate (TC), or supplemental type certificate (STC) for a product or part installed on the aircraft.
  • Any person authorized by the manufacturer to produce modification or replacement parts in accordance with the applicable consensus standard addressing “qualification of third-party modification or replacement parts.”
The term “person acceptable to the FAA” is not intended to include FAA designees. Under the terms of their delegation, individual FAA designees are not authorized to make design changes or other modifications to aircraft having a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category.
 
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