Operators Hand book

[waltermrich]

It has been mentioned that the FAA will be doing ramp checks in our area here, I want to be prepared but I know Im missing an official Taylorcraft Operators Hand Book, I have the Univair published Taylorcraft manual, but I do not know if the FAA would buy that. What do others carry with them as a permissable substitute , I think Taylorcraft never actually made a operators hand book as is required today, perhaps regs were different in the 40's. I know if I get checked I will need my pilots licence, and medical cert on my possesion , and my Taylorcraft will need The Airworthiness cert, registration, weight and balance and an operators handbook

[M Towsley]

Re: Operators Hand book

Walter,

I think this has been discussed before. The instrument panel markings and the limitation card that should be in the airplane is what you fly with, no pilot operators handbook was available. You can't produce what wasn't made. I also use the POH that Univair, or someone else, produced. That's the best they are going to get.

Here is an older post I just found regarding this: http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread...t=pilot+manual

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Operators Hand book

Marty is right, there never was a POH for the old Taylorcrafts (I have no experience with the post 40s planes so someone with an F-19 or later please chime in here). Some of us in the Tribe have been working on one but it is a long way from being ready for daylight. I have had an FAA guy look at my plane and if whoever looks is at all familliar with old planes he will understand that a lot of them did NOT have a POH.
That said you WILL need to have all of the normal paperwork for flight and ALL OF THE KNOBS AND SWITCHES HAVE TO BE LABELED. All Taylorcrafts are also required to have the placard by the passenger wheel that says to remove the universal if the wheel is removed, the baggage limitation and all of the instruments are supposed to be labeled or marked with operations limits.
Your plane SHOULD have had all of those already. If not, DO NOT indicate you have any intent to fly with an FAA official around. That's just asking for a violation.
I wouldn't worry too much unless your plane is totally out of compliance. I have rarely had an FAA rep that was a jerk. Most of them are actually interested in our old planes since they rarely see one and YOU are probably the expert on them. When you hear about one of these "sweeps" is is probably a manager trying to get his people away from their desks and out in the field for a while. It is a great opportunity to have someone new look at your plane to see if there are any hazards showing. I personally LIKE that! Anyone who sees something wrong with my plane is doing me a favor. Just tell them it will be fixed before it is flown again. Look at it as a chance to improve your relations with the people charged with keeping you safe, and tell them so.
Hank

[waltermrich]

Re: Operators Hand book

Thanks for your imput, especially from Mr Towsley, I had not seen that post from 2006, that was before my time, one thing that seems to be agreed is that all the placards should be in place , Im missing most, I can look up the V speeds , but I whish someone on the forum could pass along that info, I did not see one definitve thing mentioned that would be accebtable to the FAA as a Operators hand book but only having the operating limitations , which I have and placards would be helpfull, Its just best to be prepared, and you all know how some can be when working with athority.

[M Towsley]

Re: Operators Hand book

Walter,

As to air speeds, I believe the only thing you have to mark is vne, which for my '46 is just a red line at 140mph. Anything else is just airspeed indicator bling on your airspeed indicator.

[astjp2]

Re: Operators Hand book

What is interesting is my aircaft has a placard that says 135 and the type cert. said 140, so which one would you use?

Walter,

As to air speeds, I believe the only thing you have to mark is vne, which for my '46 is just a red line at 140mph. Anything else is just airspeed indicator bling on your airspeed indicator.

[M Towsley]

Re: Operators Hand book

I've seen redlines of 138 and 140, but never 135. However, I am sure there are more knowledgeable folks here. I would go by the aircraft limitations card that is in the airplane???

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Operators Hand book

You need to use the one on the TC for your year and model. What are you flying?
Hank

Yes, I know it is a Taylorcraft. ;-)

[astjp2]

Re: Operators Hand book

AHHH Hank, so have you gotten those 6 ply tires approved yet? Tim

You need to use the one on the TC for your year and model. What are you flying?
Hank

Yes, I know it is a Taylorcraft. ;-)

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Operators Hand book

I avoided the problem, I got a new set of 600x6 4 ply tires.
Hank