Builders log

[Tomkat]

Hi guys,
 I have a new subject and what I think is a very important one.
What is the minimum requirements for a builders log. I have taken a lot of pictures and saved and filed recipts. do I need to keep a log of hours?
I would like not to log hours because I am three years into my project and I work a hour here and there or when I get even a extra 15 minutes.
please let me know what has been done in the past .
Thanks again
Tom

[Waiter]

There is no requirement for a log. HOWEVER, If you wish to submit for a repairman's certificate, you must show evidence that you manufactured 51% of the aircraft.

Now, this is how it really works.

Builder logs are nice (lot of photos) for documenting things, especially weird things. I use my original builder photos to review how I did something, or figure out where a pipe or wire is routed, etc. I kept a spiral bound notebook, and tried to make an entry whenever I worked on something, the date and time.

With the advent of the Internet, my web site also doubles duty as my builders log. (retrofitting / overhaul)

If you look at my web site, www.iflyez.com, there is an area at the top called Watch Waiter Work, with a thumbnail and a couple sentences of text.  If you click on the thumb, it connects you to the network camera located in my shop. The Text is a couple sentences describing what I'm currently working on.

Now, the neat part. Whenever I start something new or different, I enter the enter my comments into a program I wrote called NETWEB. This program runs 24/7 on my shop computer. This program uploads a current Thumb AND the text to my web site.  It also records the text, along with a full size photo taken from my Network Camera, on my shop computer.
PRESTO, real time builders log.

Take a lot of photos, A 2 megapixel camera can be had for under $100, and do an extraordinary job of good quality photos.

Good Luck

Waiter

[Dan Patch]

Well, as usual, Waiter pretty much nailed it.  Photos are the way to go, especially with the wonderful e-cameras that make documentation a snap and essentially free.  Trust me, some day in the future you will be able to go back and look at stuff to rediscover something that you really need to know but don't remember anymore.  Also, e-photos have date/time stamp built in to the file (at least in iPhoto) so that with the date, your plane, your handsome mug, and your tidy garage in the shot, proving who did the work is a done deal.      In my case, the FAA had very little interest in even looking at the builders log since it was dead obvious who built it and that 51% wasn't remotely an issue with one guy and an early VariEze.

Here is a suggestion that I haven't seen anywhere else (probably because it's common knowledge, I suppose), but something that worked very well for me.  EVERY sentence in my plans got a little check mark behind it when it was COMPLETELY DONE RIGHT, and a date in the margin for the sentence(s) done that day.  The bottom page number was dated and initialled ONLY after EVERY sentence on that page had a check mark.  I did this almost entirely for my own benefit, not the FAAs (photos and purchase receipts should be more than enough for them).  There are lots of places/times in the plans when it is more convenient to do things out of sequence (e.g., parts on backorder, etc.) so keeping track of what hasn't been done is very important, and being able to glance at page numbers is much quicker and more reliable than trying to figure out/remember what and where (or if) you skipped something.  When I signed off the last page I had a lot of confidence that every layup was done right, and that there weren't blunders and missing parts to spoil my day.  (But be sure to get another set of sharp eyes to take a look too, regardless.)  

For the first six months of construction I logging my time and progress, but found that to be an ugly chore that burned time and didn't get done at times (forgot, too tired, too lazy...).  The sentence check idea accomplished almost the same thing with essentially no effort.  Obviously, you also really need to keep lots of notes on tricky installs, wiring runs, etc., etc., as Waiter noted.  Keep this stuff organized in notebooks or 3-ring binders, or whatever works for you.  

Happy Building!

[Harry A]

Look on the web and you should be able to find a downloadable copy of AC20-27. This advisory circular has an appendix 10 that has a good checklist of items during construction FAA form 8000-38.

BTW I do not have a paragraph ref. but somewhere in AC20 or AC21 It read that the above form could be used by the inspector to final inspect the plane for certification. And that it would be used to determine elegibility for the 51% rule.

Dan had a good idea about checking off each page. Don't forget to add in ALL the drawing changes that have come out over the years, Add them right onto the relevent page.

[Dan Patch]

Don't forget to add in ALL the drawing changes that have come out over the years, Add them right onto the relevent page....

Definitely an important task!  When I was building my VariEze in the late '70 the changes and improvements were coming at a goodly clip.  I xeroxed the CP's and snipped out all the "good stuff".  Then I taped the changes to the back (blank) side of the relevant page in the plans.  Eliminated losing/searching for updates and matching them up to the right place in the plans.  Also more sentences to check off - Oh Joy!    :?