Narrative:

During the summer of 1989 I modified a helio in accordance with the attached service descriptions. I contacted my local FSDO (01 fairbanks) prior to beginning the project and advised them throughout as to the progress. Upon completion, I approached them for approval, and the problems began. After discussion with them and anchorage airworthiness and certification, I began to research the matter myself. After careful study of the far's I came to the conclusion that a major alteration had not occurred. I returned the aircraft to service as provided in far 43. During this period 6 FSDO's were contacted, and 6 distinctly different answers received. 'Standardization' was anything but standard, and there was an almost universal misunderstanding of the far's, and a total misunderstanding of the 'intent' of the far's. Due to the 'opinions' I received from FAA standardization I feel that it is a distinct possibility that I will be violated in this matter, however, I remain convinced that I have fully complied with the far's.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMPLAINT ABOUT CERTIFICATION PROC AT VARIOUS FSDO FACS.

Narrative: DURING THE SUMMER OF 1989 I MODIFIED A HELIO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED SERVICE DESCRIPTIONS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FSDO (01 FAIRBANKS) PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE PROJECT AND ADVISED THEM THROUGHOUT AS TO THE PROGRESS. UPON COMPLETION, I APCHED THEM FOR APPROVAL, AND THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THEM AND ANCHORAGE AIRWORTHINESS AND CERTIFICATION, I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE MATTER MYSELF. AFTER CAREFUL STUDY OF THE FAR'S I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT A MAJOR ALTERATION HAD NOT OCCURRED. I RETURNED THE ACFT TO SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN FAR 43. DURING THIS PERIOD 6 FSDO'S WERE CONTACTED, AND 6 DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT ANSWERS RECEIVED. 'STANDARDIZATION' WAS ANYTHING BUT STANDARD, AND THERE WAS AN ALMOST UNIVERSAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE FAR'S, AND A TOTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE 'INTENT' OF THE FAR'S. DUE TO THE 'OPINIONS' I RECEIVED FROM FAA STANDARDIZATION I FEEL THAT IT IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT I WILL BE VIOLATED IN THIS MATTER, HOWEVER, I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT I HAVE FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE FAR'S.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.