REFLECTOR: torx head flat machine screws

[Douglas Holub via Reflector]

I would suggest that using torx head screws is at the heart of experimental aviation, being able to use hardware improvements that haven’t made it to certified aircraft yet.

From: Hiroo Umeno via Reflector 
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 3:19 PM
To: Scott Baker ; Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list 
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: torx head flat machine screws

Well, it wasn’t that he insisted that everything in the plane had to be AN.  I do have a smattering of Home Depot, AutoZone, McMaster parts in my plane.  I used my own guideline that anything structural or critical to safety of flight were AN and the rest were “whatever got the job done”.

 

When I got the plane inspected in 2005, the DAR did poke around, point to a few of those non-AN hardware and quizzed me on reasons why I used what I used.  Perhaps he was probing me to see if I really built the plane.

 

From: Scott Baker [mailto:scottb33333 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 11:58 AM
To: Hiroo Umeno; Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: torx head flat machine screws

 

On 7/28/2014 2:41 PM, Hiroo Umeno via Reflector wrote:

  Perhaps this is a moot point for flying aircraft but…  Would this pass the DAR “sniff-test”?  When I got my aircraft inspected by a DAR, one of the things he scrutinized was the use of AN hardware throughout the plane.  I suspect he would have called me out if I used one of these.

   

   

Hiroo,
Interesting that you mention your DAR being focused on hardware used in the construction of an experimental aircraft.  I thought the Pacific NW FSDO was notorious for "anything goes".
That said, my experiences with DAR's in the Orlando region have been that they have not commented on hardware specifications used in building homebuilt aircraft.
I think that it is good that your DAR prefers the use of AN hardware, however I don't think there are any FAA rules or regulatory guidelines that speak to the required use of aerospace hardware in home-built aircraft.
The standing joke amongst many homebuilt aircraft builders is that they purchased much of their non-kit hardware in the "aircraft" department at Lowes.
As homebuilt aircraft builders we want our aircraft to be safe - and hopefully make the right judgements when it comes to hardware selection.  For the most part, shopping non-AN hardware for non-structural applications does the job and saves a good deal of money.
Scott B.






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