SonexBuilders.net

Guys,
I have until March yet to get this fixed but have a question. My sonex has nav, strobe, and landing lights on it currently (when I bought it) My landing and strobe are working however my nav lights are not functioning as of right now and only had one working when purchased. Although I am having trouble getting past just the light bulb in the wing tip, I feel if I stop flying long enough to pursue it, I will find out the issue. My ? is this. Is it mandatory that the nav lights be functioning for the condition inspection since they are installed? I know some have no lights at all and I am a sport pilot so I cannot fly at night anyway. Not looking for guesses but someone either an A&p or knowledgeable with the regs to say yay or nay and what if any regs require it.
Thanks
Mark
only owned the plane since April and slowly working through minor squawks (preferences mostly)

I have the same issue on my Sonex. No, it is not required that you have them repaired. Since you do not fly at night, it is not an issue. My problem is finding the right replacement light that will fit the customized mount location. I also too did not build mine. My lights are combination nav & strobe. Fortunately the strobes work fine.

You may not be likely to find an answer from an A&P. Most (not all, so please, no hate mail) do not know much if anything about EAB aircraft. What you can and can't do with EAB aircraft is spelled out in that individual aircraft's Operating Limitations document, so you would need to check yours, but from a typical EAB Operating Limitations document:

"Aircraft instruments and equipment installed and used under FAR 91.205 must be inspected and maintained in accordance with the requirements of FAR 91. Any maintenance or inspection of this equipment must be recorded in the aircraft logbook and maintenance records."

For FAR 91.205 see:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.205
Per the list there:

(b)Visual-flight rules (day). For VFR flight during the day, the following instruments and equipment are required:

(1) Airspeed indicator.
(2) Altimeter.
(3) Magnetic direction indicator.
(4) Tachometer for each engine.
(5) Oil pressure gauge for each engine using pressure system.
(6) Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine.
(7) Oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine.
(8) Manifold pressure gauge for each altitude engine.
(9) Fuel gauge indicating the quantity of fuel in each tank.
(10) Landing gear position indicator, if the aircraft has a retractable landing gear.
(11) For small civil airplanes certificated after March 11, 1996, in accordance with part 23 of this chapter, an approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light system, operation of the aircraft may continue to a location where repairs or replacement can be made.

Since #11 is for "certificated" aircraft under Part 23, and Part 23 is "Part 23, Airworthiness Standards: Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Airplanes," then it would appear not to apply to EAB aircraft.

"As part of the condition inspection, cockpit instruments must be appropriately marked and needed placards installed in accordance with FAR 91.9."
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.9

Mark,

This question comes up a lot - "Does inoperative equipment need to be repaired/replaced at the annual/condition inspection?" The simple answer is that no set time-frame is specified in the regs as to when the equipment must be repaired, replaced or removed. Some A&P's will simply placard the equipment in-op, double check that it is not required for flight by either the airplane's type certificate or operating limitations, and not think anything more until next year. Other A&P's will insist that the equipment is repaired or removed at the annual. The rub is that no real consensus exists as to the right way to do this.

Mike Bush and AOPA Legal Services both published articles recently about this subject, and you might find them helpful. Just remember, when going from the guidance in these articles to E-A/B planes, E-A/B's have no type certificate to comply with, and do not have to comply with the list of mandatory Day-VFR equipment that standard category planes have to meet (aka 91.205).

https://www.savvyaviation.com/wp-conten ... to-fly.pdf

https://pilot-protection-services.aopa. ... -equipment

https://pilot-protection-services.aopa. ... ion-lights

My advice is to placard it in-op now, then at the next annual condition inspection remove or deactivate the damaged lights. Tell your mechanic conducting the inspection that the equipment is not required by any FAR or operating limitation, and ask him to make a determination if the plane is safe to fly with the equipment in-op. Assuming he concurs that it is indeed safe to fly, that should be all you need and he can sign off the inspection. You can then replace the lights at a time of your choosing.

Jeff

Mike;
I think you missed a critical sentence in 91-205. The entire FAR applies to aircraft with a "standard category U.S. airworthiness certificate". An experimental aircraft operates under a special airworthiness certificate, experimental, amateur built. 91-205 does not apply. Only night and IFR operations require any instrumentation butis found in a different FAR. Day VFR does not require any flight instruments, engine gauges nor compass. I got into a disagreement with a flight instructor on a bi-annual and checked with EAA 's website and found what I stated above. My operating limitations do not contain any language about instrumentation or 91-205. The question as to whether something has to work once it was installed I cant answer. If any one knows please chime in.