"Your other big problem is that there is a lot of A&P that do not want the liability."
Hello Net As an AP/IA, a builder and flying member of the KR family since 1984, I'll make a comment/reaction about A&P's. As there are other members that hold the same license, I don't claim to speak for them. Over the years I have looked at a lot of KR's. Most of the time it has simply been free advise. As a professional I must ultimately accept that there are liability issues each time I get involved with any aircraft, be it experimental or Piper. Some A&P's with jobs, have clauses in their hire contracts that prevent them from touching aircraft outside the work environment, again the boss does not want the liability issue. Although an owner will promise that he would never sue, his anguished relatives may not feel the same, and will name everyone if they decide to seek compensation for a real or perceived error. So some are reluctant to put their name to paper. Not all of us have a fear of working with experimentals. My closest associates in aviation are the builders and owners of experimentals of all types. For years I have performed several Condition Inspections per year. I only have two problems that impact on what I am willing to do. First of all because owners want to minimize the cost of working with a professional and insist on doing all the work that they can, I insist that they do the work using acceptable practices and techniques as per the FAA guidelines. This some times presents a problem because some individuals want to put in everything including the kitchen sink (or at least parts from it). If I have to inspect or work on that area or part as part of what I am asked to do, I them pick up liability for the workmanship, by virtue of the fact that I was the last one there, and that as a professional I should have seen or known that something was not correct. The second thing that I have a problem with is that Aircraft Maintenance shop rates are now averaging over $60 per hour. And as an example I was asked by a local builder to look at and evaluate some rivets that were poorly installed. I told the owner that they should bucked more or removed. He asked me to help, which I did and would have done for free. At the end of it all, probably an hour and a half later, he offered me a twenty for my help. He felt that my time was worth something. I would pay the neighbors kid twenty to rake the yard. My problem is this, as a professional, I need and expect to get paid on a professional scale. As one of my mechanic associates put it, Liability insurance is over $8000.00 per year for an independent mechanic, and maintaining tools and equipment is not cheap either. In closing I will say this, I have always worked out a fair price with owners, and they were happy. If you take a Piper to the shop for an annual, you can expect to pay $600. just for the inspection and on top of that parts and labor for repairs. If because you don't have the repairman's cert you need an annual Condition Inspection, find a mechanic, get to know him, seek his advise often so that he gets to know you and your aircraft and you will find that he will be willing to work you and not have any fear of signing for your annual. Orma L. Robbiins AP/IA (dba Aviation Mechanics LLC) Southfield, MI N110LR celebrating 20 years Flying, flying and more flying http://www.kr-2.aviation-mechanics.com/
