Beacon - certified vs not

A

ateamer

En-Route
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
2,981
Location
Port St. Lucie, FL
Display Name
ateamer
Home Airfield
FD88
I have a 1960 Cessna. I would like to replace the Whelen incandescent beacon with an LED, but don’t want to spend Whelen money.

Looking at 91.205(c)(3), the beacon has to meet the standards in effect on August 10, 1971. That would be 23.1401 in its original 1965 version. That regulation describes colors, angles of visibility, brightness, and flash rate. Newer aircraft have to have approved lighting, but this plane pre-dates that.

My understanding is that I can legally install a non-certified beacon that meets the requirements of 23.1401, as it meets the standars of 91.205(c)(3). Has anyone done the same, or have some input on this?
 
ateamer said:
Has anyone done the same, or have some input on this?
Click to expand...
Couple things:
1) Given you have a TC aircraft the light must be approved. So whether that is a OEM, STC, or PMA version, or installing an "un-certified" light as a Part 43 alteration are your only options.

2) Was the existing Whelen light installed properly before or after the 1971 date? The key terms in 91.205 are "initially installed" which determines the rules you must follow.
 
Last edited:
My take is OP wants to install a LED. I wonder what kind.

IMHO The Flight Strobe FS 4400 is a good non - LED choice if $$ is a factor.

I’ve installed quite a few and folks are happy with them.
 
Bell206 said:
Couple things:
1) Given you have a TC aircraft the light must be approved. So whether that is a OEM, STC, or PMA version, or installing an "un-certified" light as a Part 43 alteration are your only options.

2) Was the existing Whelen light installed properly before or after the 1971 date? The key terms in 91.205 are "initially installed" which determines the rules you must follow.
Click to expand...
The original rotating beacon was installed prior to 1969 (when the logbooks begin - first nine years missing), and was replaced with the flashing beacon in 1976.
 
Magman said:
My take is OP wants to install a LED. I wonder what kind.

IMHO The Flight Strobe FS 4400 is a good non - LED choice if $$ is a factor.

I’ve installed quite a few and folks are happy with them.
Click to expand...
I want an LED, definitely not a strobe. Any LED beacon that meets the color spectrum, brightness and flash rate requirements and doesn’t make radio noise, and that costs significantly less than a Whelen is what I’m looking for. Specifically this one from Aero Lites: https://www.aero-lites.com/product-page/halo-i-series-led-anti-collision-assembly
 
ateamer said:
The original rotating beacon was installed prior to 1969 (when the logbooks begin - first nine years missing), and was replaced with the flashing beacon in 1976.
Click to expand...
Given you have a 1960 Cessna there's a good chance the original beacon was factory installed. So that is your initial installation date and not 1976 per the existing guidance. The main difference with the before/after 1971 cutoff is prior the brightness was 100 candelas vs 400 candelas after. And since the purpose of the light to ensure people can see you I always recommend to install the brighter light regardless of the installation date. As to the aero-lites, great product but you'll need a willing mechanic to install it as an alteration to be legal.
 
Leaving certification issues aside for the moment, if one were to remove the transformer, are there drop-in LED modules that replace only the xenon tube, keeping the rest of the housing the same?
 
I’m not familiar with OP’s capabilities and what his time is worth and

relationship with the A&P (IA).

One option might be for YOU to write up a 337 for a Field Approval

and submit to FSDO for approval. The A&P would not do anything until

YOU get it approved. It’s also possible you may get your Aero-Lite approved

as Supplemental Lighting while keeping existing beacon/strobe for

legality.Note this is not an easy process but you’ll find out WHY the mfg

wants you to do the work. Don’t be surprised if they use the Field Approval

data and get an STC eventually.

If you decide to go this route at least you’ll find out what “Steradians”are!
 
GeorgeC said:
Leaving certification issues aside for the moment, if one were to remove the transformer, are there drop-in LED modules that replace only the xenon tube, keeping the rest of the housing the same?
Click to expand...
Not that I know of. But there are adapter mounts for LEDs to fill the larger openings of the old Grimes beacons and self-contained xenon type strobe assys.

Magman said:
One option might be for YOU to write up a 337 for a Field Approval and submit to FSDO for approval.
Click to expand...
Except with an existing light installed, there is no reason you couldn't install the Aero-Lites as a minor. So no 337 needed. However, some mechanics seem to be a bit hesitant when it comes to upgrading position and anti-coll lights.
 
GeorgeC said:
Leaving certification issues aside for the moment, if one were to remove the transformer, are there drop-in LED modules that replace only the xenon tube, keeping the rest of the housing the same?
Click to expand...
The one I have now uses an incandescent bulb. It’s just a flasher vs strobe. If there was a drop-in LED bulb, that’d be great but I’ve struck out on that. It uses a Whelen bulb that I can’t find any substitute for.
 
I'm glad you came to ask before just doing it. I've had planes come in the next year and a part be different and they just say "it was on there when I bought it" so kudos to you. Have you tried looking on ebay or a salvage yard for a serviceable one?
 
Well, my question is moot at this point. The plane broke down for the second time in three weeks and is AOG. Looks like the left mag - 100 hours after overhaul - is not putting out much of a spark. Which explains why it’s been hard starting since I bought the plane. So any money that was going toward now has to go into the latest unexpected repair. That and the POS Narco audio panel is failing.

I might just chuck the mag and switch to electronic. Trying to decide if that’s the way to go, or just to IRAN the existing mag. Either way, probably no flying for a week or two, and then reduced flying while I save fuel to make up for the bill. I already got nailed for $600 when a wire from the starter switch left me AOG earlier this month.
 
My guess is it’s just adjusting or replacing Contact Points.

Perhaps lack of cam lube.
 
rockyfatcat said:
Read AC_23-27. There are a couple of key points to consider, but many aircraft certified before 1980 can use non-certified, same, similar, or better than original parts with just a logbook entry.
Click to expand...
i.e., via a Part 43 minor alteration which is not exclusive to only aircraft prior to 1980.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top