Light-sport repairmen and amateur-built condition inspections; Lycoming and Rotax ADs

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Hangar Debrief

Issue 1 · October 22, 2026

Light-sport repairmen may now do condition inspections on amateur-built aircraft

A light-sport repairman can now do the annual condition inspection on an amateur-built airplane, and an owner can earn the rating for it in a 16-hour course. Most operating limitations were written before the rule changed and don't allow it. The FAA has published two ways to get them amended.

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Avionics & Electrical

AC 43.13-1B, chapter 11: the four requirements for sizing an electrical wire

The FAA's AC 43.13-1B sets four tests for a wire: mechanical strength, voltage drop, protection by a circuit breaker or fuse, and current. On a 14-volt system it allows a drop of 0.5 volt from bus to equipment in continuous operation. Hangar Flying's wire size calculator works the sum for one circuit, and the article shows how its rule compares with the circular's.

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AC 43.13-1B, paragraphs 11-174 to 11-179: crimped terminals, studs and the crimp tool

The FAA's AC 43.13-1B prefers pre-insulated, crimp-type ring terminals, installed with a ratchet-type crimp tool whose crimp depth suits the wire size. No more than four terminals, or three and a bus bar, go on one stud, with the largest hole at the bottom and nothing between the tongues.

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Also in avionics: Garmin's AXIS integrated flight displays and Dynon's preview of IFR GPS navigation for SkyView HDX, not yet certified.

Test & Fly

14 CFR 61.316: the aircraft a sport pilot may fly

Since October 22, 2025, a sport pilot may fly an airplane with up to four seats and a flaps-up stalling speed of no more than 59 knots CAS, with no weight limit. The one-passenger limit remains. A private pilot flying on a driver's license instead of a medical certificate may fly the same aircraft under the same limits.

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Directives & Bulletins

AD 2026-04-11: Lycoming connecting-rod bushing inspection

AD 2026-04-11 widens the connecting-rod bushing directive to engines assembled from January 2009 through September 2021, including the O-320, O-360, IO-390 and IO-540 families. As written, it reaches only engines in type-certificated aircraft. The first required step is an oil-filter inspection for bronze particles at each oil change. The FAA cites connecting-rod failures that led to in-flight shutdowns.

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AD 2026-16-11: propeller gearbox inspection on Rotax 912 and 914 engines

AD 2026-16-11 orders a gearbox inspection on certified Rotax 912 and 914 engines after one left the factory without its oil spray nozzle and bearing screws. Engines under 25 hours are inspected before the next flight. The 912 iS Sport in the RV-12iS isn't in the FAA's directive, but it is in Rotax's alert bulletin, and Van's has posted it.

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Van's SB-00079: emergency egress hammer recommended for all RV aircraft

Service Bulletin SB-00079, issued March 20, 2026, applies to all RV aircraft and recommends carrying an emergency egress hammer.

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Van's SB-00128, Revision 1: RV-14 and RV-14A canopy latch pins

Service Bulletin SB-00128 covers RV-14 and RV-14A aircraft whose finish kits shipped before March 20, 2026. Revision 1 was published September 2, 2026, and a retrofit kit is listed in the Van's store.

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From Hangar Flying

The Panel Designer at Hangar Flying

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Featured design: a Van's Aircraft RV-14 instrument panel with two Garmin flight displays, a center touchscreen navigator and a standby flight instrument.

Hangar Flying's Panel Designer lets a builder or owner arrange a panel with the instruments they mean to install. More than 28,000 panel designs have been started there.

See the featured panel designs

For information only. Not approved data. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and the regulations.

Hangar Debrief is published by Whiskey Victor LLC, 790 E Kiowa Ave #314, Elizabeth, CO 80107.

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