On Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:02:05 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

Tim Wescott fired this volley in
news
But it's not the NTSC that brings liability suits. It's the relatives
of the deceased, and the ambulance-chasers who find them.

True enough, but it's already a precedent that anyone who (yes,
illegally, Clare) modifies a certified plane or builds an experimental is
entirely responsible for any ill that befalls him/her in that aircraft.
The courts have taken the stance over and over that if you jump off that
roof, I'm not responsible just because I built the roof you decided to
commit suicide from.

And Clare... if you modify a certified aircraft, you aren't illegal if
you pull its certification and have it re-inspected as an experimental
(or have the modifications subsequently certified). Had a friend who
used to modify DC-3s and C-47s for a ten foot cargo door in the side.
(which was a MAJOR chop-job to the airframe) Since he was selling them to
Columbians (for _cargo_... now, what were you thinking!), he just had
them re-listed as privately-owned experimentals, and let the Columbian
aviation officials worry about certification matters.

LLoyd

Cannot be done any more LLoyd. Can't even rebuild a certified doing
51% and get it passed as experimental any more - in Canada due to
interference by the US FAA who won't let such a plane fly in US
airspace.

Even the V6 STOL, which was a modified TriPacer with a Ford (Javelin)
V6 is a stretch under current regulations as an experimental.

An STC (Supplimental Type Certiificate) is required for any such mods
- and THOSE do not come cheap.

Selling into Columbia is definitely a different situation.