Tweet
Howdy: N43306 has welded steel stringers (4) above the cabin (the middle ones attached to 4 posts on the cross tubes) with a rear wooden cross former attached to the wood T-stringers (just like the application called for in the CLayton STC). After reviewing the Clayton STC drawings and observing the attachment fittings, three IAs passed on signing an 337 if I used the existing stringers to attach the skylight, and one seasoned IA (age 78) said he thought it would be OK and would sign it off when the T-craft was finished. Not being an actuary (or a betting man), I consulted a DER who agreed to give me a new drawing and an engineering letter that everyone should be happy with. This doubled the price of the STC, but it will finally work. Just to illustrate how the local FSDO works, a L2B on 1T8 had a generator replaced by an alternator on a Cont 0-200. When the installation was brought to the attention of the SAT FSDO, the O-200 installation was declared invalid and the engine was replaced by a Cont 85. This was a very expensive electrical upgrade and a very beautiful mini-warbird stayed under cover for 6 months. Doc