Sets Standard Methodology For Evaluation, Describes Selection And Orientation Of Team Members

The FAA has published an order revising the Amateur-Built Aircraft National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET), defining policy and procedures and establishes a standard methodology to evaluate amateur-built aircraft kits. It also describes the selection and orientation of team members, the process for requesting an aircraft kit evaluation, the conduct of evaluations, and reporting and records maintenance requirements.

The FAA says the goal of the NKET is to ensure that amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations are performed in accordance with national policy. The purpose of the kit evaluation is to determine if an aircraft kit allows an amateur builder to meet the major portion requirement of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Parts, 21.191(g).

The order describes the use of the NKET when evaluating an amateur-built aircraft kit at the kit manufacturer's facility or place of distribution for the following purposes:

• The evaluation of newly developed kits.
• The reevaluation of previously evaluated kits with design changes (derivative kits) that may affect the fabrication and/or assembly percentage totals of the amateur builder.
• The reevaluation of previously evaluated kits that the FAA determined(s) may not meet the major portion requirement of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Parts, 21.191(g).

The revision makes minor content changes to the order to transfer responsibility for managing the NKET program to the FAA's Small Airplane Directorate (ACE-100).

ACE-100 is responsible for the overall management and conduct of the NKET. The Aircraft Certification Service' Production and Airworthiness Division (AIR-200) is responsible for updating the FAA Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits web page including the Revised Listing of Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits, the Amateur-Built Kits Checklists and Eligibility Letters, and the Amateur-Built Fabrication and Assembly Checklists for use by the NKET and the flying public.

Manufacturers may submit a request for an aircraft kit evaluation for many reasons, including those found in chapter 1, paragraph 1 of this order. A request for reevaluation is not required for new owners of companies that produce a kit(s) previously evaluated and currently posted to the Revised Listing of Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits located on the FAA website. The NKET will consider requests for a kit evaluation only from manufacturers of amateur-built aircraft kits. Requests from kit distributors or dealers are not accepted.

FMI: Read the Order