SonexBuilders.net

Would like to purchase a Sonex up here in N.H. but my local airport A+P isn't interested in doing my required annual condition report.

Any body have any leads as to who would be willing to do this for people like me that are buying their Sonex?

It's to bad there isn't a course to take to cover this problem.

Thanks, John

Find a near by chapter of the EAA, https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-chapters ... aa-chapter . Go to a meeting and someone should be able to recommend a local A&P that will inspect EAB planes.

once you complete the kit you can apply for a repairmans certificate from the faa for the plane and do your condition inspection, there's even an application for it the eaa's certification for experimental planes kit, its also on the ffa website, you can also call your dar and fsdo office to find out about the rule

sonex1649 wrote:once you complete the kit you can apply for a repairmans certificate from the faa for the plane and do your condition inspection, there's even an application for it the eaa's certification for experimental planes kit, its also on the ffa website, you can also call your dar and fsdo office to find out about the rule

I think he means he wants to buy a completed aircraft, in which case he cannot get a repairman's certificate for it.

Mike Smith

John, there is a course you can take to do your own condition inpections. Check with your local F.F.A. I believe it's 16 hours or so. Of course this is not an A&P ticket , it only applys to your plane and others like it

The 16 hour course is only applicable if the airplane is registered as an ELSA. The most common example currently is probably the Vans RV-12. I have heard that a few Sonexes were registered as ELSA's, but the vast majority are registered as experimental aircraft or EAB's. In that case anyone is capable of performing maintenance but the only people that can perform the condition inspections are A&P's, or the original builder that applied for and received their repairman's certificate. Most Sonex owners who have airplanes they did not build simply find a local A&P who is willing to sign off the yearly Condition Inspection.

The repairman's certificate can only be obtained by the person who built the majority of the aircraft.

John, my advice would be to call local airports to find an A&P who would be willing to work on Homebuilt's and sign off the condition inspection. You may have to search around a little bit but I bet there is someone who would be willing to help. Since there are no manuals for the airplane's repairs most large shops will not help with homebuilts. Personally I would start by calling local county airports. That is pretty much your only option unless the original builder who obtained their repairman's certificate is still willing to sign off the condition inspections.

Good luck!

Mike

John,
I second the idea of checking with your local EAA chapter and seeing if there's an A&P members use to do their annual condition inspection. And, like Mike suggests, check around at other local airports. Finally, the Sonex site has a builder directory you can use to find Sonex/Waiex owners near you, contact those folks. Some of them may not have built the aircraft they own and are already using an A&P to do their inspections, others will know of a good A&P nearby who isn't allergic to Sonexes.

Your best bet is to get active in a local EAA chapter. Make friends with an A&P or better. You have a year if you get a fresh condition inspection with sale.

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll be working on it.

John