"Major Portion" or "51 Percent Rule" Compliance

As of March 31 2010, the Sonex, Waiex and Xenos are the first amateur-built kits to be accepted by the FAA under Advisory Circular AC 20-27G, FAA Order 8130.2F, and FAA Order 8130.35 via FAA National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET) evaluation. Sonex Aircraft recommends that all builders thoroughly read and understand these rules. All Sonex Aircraft kits can be found on the FAA's Revised Listing of Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits.

NKET evaluation not only bolsters the pre-existing, grandfathered evaluations of Sonex Aircraft kits, but it also updates the acceptance to include the latest Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spar and Machined Angle Component kit upgrades offered by Sonex Aircraft, LLC, showing that all Sonex Aircraft kits with all available options can be built within the rules. Additionally, Sonex Aircraft customers can use NKET checklists to determine exactly how much commercial assistance may be used in the construction of their projects without violating the “major portion” requirement of 14 CFR section 21.191(g) for experimental/amateur-built aircraft, commonly referred to as the “51 Percent Rule.”

Sonex Aircraft builders should download the appropriate selection among the following Amateur-Built Aircraft Fabrication and Assembly Checklist (2009) forms for Sonex, Waiex and Xenos aircraft for use as kit compliance documents. Insructions for using these checklists can be found in FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-27G.

• Sonex_Kit_All_Checklist_031710.pdf (checklist for use with Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spar and/or Machined Angle Component Kit upgrades) [1.3mb PDF file]
   
• Sonex_Kit_Checklist_031710.pdf (checklist for use without Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spar and/or Machined Angle Component Kit upgrades) [1.3mb PDF file]
   
• Waiex_Kit_All_Checklist_031710.pdf (checklist for use with Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spar and/or Machined Angle Component Kit upgrades) [1.3mb PDF file]
   
• Waiex_Kit_Checklist_031710.pdf (checklist for use without Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spar and/or Machined Angle Component Kit upgrades) [1.3mb PDF file]
   
• Xenos_Kit_All_Checklist_031710.pdf (checklist for use with Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spar and/or Machined Angle Component Kit upgrades) [1.3mb PDF file]
   
• Xenos_Kit_Checklist_031710.pdf (checklist for use without Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spar and/or Machined Angle Component Kit upgrades) [1.3mb PDF file]
   

Amateur-Built Aircraft Fabrication and Assembly Checklist (2009) form FAQ's:

Q: What is so significant about these new checklists?
A: The Sonex, Waiex, and Xenos are the first Amateur-Built Kits to be accepted by the FAA under Advisory Circular AC 20-27G, FAA Order 8130.2F, and FAA Order 8130.35. Sonex encourages everyone involved with Experimental-Amateur Built Aircraft to thoroughly read and understand these rules.

Q: I'm building a Sonex (or Waiex, or Xenos), how do I use this new checklist?
A: These new checklists are the starting point for you if you purchase a Sonex Kit or a Sonex Kit with Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spars and/or Machined Angle Component kit upgrades. You should use these checklists to prove that you are building the majority of the aircraft. You can also use these new lists to legally obtain commercial assistance on your project. The column on the right-hand side contains a place for the FAA (or FAA Designated) Inspector to review what you've had done for you for compliance as part of your aircraft registration process.

Q: How do I get a copy of the new checklists?
A: Download them right from our web site (above)! We have established this new web page dedicated to materials needed for registration. Eventually, the FAA plans to release an "interactive" version of these checklists that you'll be able to fill out online and calculate percentages.

Q: I have a lot of questions on how to register my homebuilt aircraft. What should I do?
A: Order the comprehensive Amateur-Built Aircraft Certification Kit (below) from EAA. This should answer all of your questions by providing a step-by-step guide through the registration process.

For More Information: See our official Press Release at: http://www.sonexaircraft.com/press/releases/pr_040910.html

Still Have Questions?: You can email your questions to us at: info@sonexaircraft.com

Registration and Airworthiness Certification

Sonex Aircraft, LLC highly recommends that all builders use the EAA Amateur-Built Aircraft Certification Kit, which is available for purchase online.

The kit includes everything you need to register and certificate a new experimental amateur-built aircraft. The 15-page, step-by-step Certification Guide walks you through the entire process-from getting an N number to the aircraft inspection-and provides samples of how to complete each required form. The certification kit also includes all FAA forms, Experimental sticker (in black), dataplate, and a convenient placard decal sheet.

Xenos Motorglider Certification Tips

We asked Joe Norris at EAA, one of the foremost experts on Experimental Aircraft Registration, and he responded with the following. While there is no formal FAA procedure for this, we highly recommend that you follow these steps to ensure your Xenos is registered as a glider:

First, when registering the aircraft make sure to indicate that it is a "glider". This would be done by indicating "glider" where it asks for "class" on the Affidavit of Ownership (FAA Form 8050-88).

Once the aircraft is registered as a "glider", the next step would be to point out to the person doing the airworthiness inspection that you wish to have the aircraft certificated as a "glider". Since there is no way to indicate this on the airworthiness application paperwork, it would be important to indicate this both verbally when talking to the inspector, and also by including a note in your application package indicating that you wish to have "glider" indicated on the airworthiness certificate. This should trigger the inspector to look at FAA Order 8130.2 regarding the listing of "glider" on the experimental airworthiness certificate. This guidance is currently found in Chapter 4, Section 7, paragraph 131d, found on page 128 of Order 8130.2F change 3. The applicant may need to actually point the inspector toward that section, as this may be something the inspector has never been involved with before.

All other application paperwork is filled out the same whether the aircraft is a glider or not. This being the case, it will be up to the applicant to make it clear to the inspector that the aircraft is a glider and should be certificated as such.

Sonex Aircraft, LLC also recommends that you fill out your 8050-88 form to read Model: Xenos Motorglider.