Original Posted By: "=?utf-8?Q?randybush2(at)gmail.com?="
Thoughts on having a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) for a Pietenpol.It really boils down to what are your chances ....You'd be ramp check by Mr. FAAHave an accident because of a missing/inop item that was a no go item like a brokenAirspeed Indicator or an expired inspection/certification on your Altimeter.Your insurance company would look very unsympathetically at the missing MEL andthe situation that occurred because you didnt have one.I guess I have a sort of mixed blessing. A real good friend of mine, who livesthree houses down the street is in the Dulles Flight Standards Office and heis among other things a Ramp Checker. I overheard the other day at the localFBO that a couple of guys got ramp checked recently and it sorta went OK. SinceDulles is in our backyard - it doesn't come as a surprise that we get theole "Hi, We're from the FAA and we're here to help you!" greeting. SO.......to be on the safe side with my Piet - I've been studying the rules with lots ofencouragement from my friend (?) Do Piet's have a Minimum Equipment List ? Some say we do and some say we don't.Now, If nothing ever goes wrong and you never get ramp checked maybe you dontneed one. If my 30 years in general aviation has taught me anything itsthat where the FAA is concerned Yes, Henry there is a rule for that! You sayBut this rule says it dont apply FAA says True but these two obscure rulessays it does! Its a stacked deck!Here's what you can expect a really sharp Inspector might say during your rampcheck right after he/she has finished with your Weight & Balance review. MayI see your MEL? (Google Figure 56 FAR Part 91 Ramp Inspection Job Aid)If you say you do not need an MEL for your airplane - then he/she will use
http://fsims.faa.gov/PICResults.aspx?mo ... ctype=MMEL and look at you with a big smile and ask you:Is your aircraft listed under Airplanes? .. No, its a PietenpolIs your aircraft a Single Engine Airplane long pause .Yes .Gotcha !!!Then since you dont have an MEL M SE Airplane R1 -- Single Engine Airplane, Rev.1 Date -- 11/23/2011 now becomes your default MEL. This MEL lists every possible piece of equipment that could conceivably be installedin a single engine airplane. Its an unbelievably long list pages and pages.The Ramp Check of your airplane starts using this MEL. Now, if everything in yourPiet is working and you have all the required goodies (ELT, Shoulder Harness,Day VFR instruments, Pertinent Charts, Placards, Fire Extinguisher {seen thatdiscussed in another post}.etc.) then you are golden. But if you are missinga mandatory item or if its broke he/she can ground the aircraft. Luckily, there are a few caveats some of this stuff has a grandfather clause i.e.,if your aircraft was certified before a certain date the requirement forthat particular item does not apply. My Piet was built in 1988 it all applies!!!! There are other reasons some ofthe stuff may or may not be required. But, you should know what does and whatdoesnt its your airplane. Me, I know that its ALL required.Cant Beatm Joinm: Heres my approach Im going to create an MEL that lists allthe Day VFR Required Equipment (91.205) and put it in the front of my OperationsManual.Airspeed indicator.Altimeter.Magnetic Compass and correction cardTachometerOil pressure gauge (for each engine using pressure system)Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine. (Not Me!)Oil temperature gauge (for each air-cooled engine)Fuel gauge indicating the quantity of fuel in each tank. There are some work-arounds for this one.Safety belt with an approved metal-to-metal latching deviceShoulder Harness each seat Applies to Piets manufactured after July 18, 1978,Emergency locator transmitter 91.207.Appropriate Placards and WarningsI am hoping that the Ramp Checker will find this more acceptable rather than tellinghim I dont have one. Worst case he would point out something Im missing,ask me to correct it, and send me on my way.After all when you really boil it down its a piece of paper in the front of yourAFM. I will post mine when its done it will be in MS Word so you can add/change/deleteentries as you see fit.My 2 cents on the subject . Happy Memorial Day!I welcome any corrections to the above please cite references -- its good forall of us to have this stuff right and readily available.--------Jim McWhorterN687MB (New Owner)Culpeper, VA KCJRRead this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: =?utf-8?Q?cooling_eyebrows?