Abandoned Aircraft

[WhiskeyWhiskey]

A few questions if you will:

At what point (if ever) is an aircraft considered abandoned?
If an aircraft is left abandoned on your property; Can you sell it?

If one were to purchase an aircraft as above with zero paperwork, Can it be legally airworthy again?
and if so what would be the process to buy a zero paperwork plane and make it airworthy again?

[xchox]

Thanks Whisk!

[iflyforpie]

I know of many aircraft that were seized for unpaid bills (parking, landing, fuel, etc) by the property owner or lessor. Not sure where it went from there as far as airworthiness and log books, etc, but typically most planes that are abandoned are in no condition to be economically brought back to airworthiness. Scrap metal and parts, or off to a broker for a pittance.

[fleet16b]

Thru the Legal system you can seize an aircraft for unpaid fees etc
However in order to re-register the aircraft you must have title to it (documented ownership)
In the event of seizure, ownership/ title would have to awarded by thru the Court System.

I have calls all the time from people with an airframe that has no paperwork and no data plate and ask me if I can help.
In that case the aircraft is pretty much toast here in Canada TC requires logs and or a data plate to establish provenance.

[Heliian]

I think the inn keepers act may cover some seizure rights but as far as zero documents, it will vary by type. You can build pretty much anything around a data plate if you've got the money.

[Taiser]

Yep, I remember working on the old Beaver's and Cessna's... Some had crashed, some were rotting so bad that all that was usable was the data plate and that's all we wanted. With the Cessna jigs you could rebuild the whole airplane around that one plate!!! Strange rules on airplanes... LOL

[co-joe]

Yep, I remember working on the old Beaver's and Cessna's... Some had crashed, some were rotting so bad that all that was usable was the data plate and that's all we wanted. With the Cessna jigs you could rebuild the whole airplane around that one plate!!! Strange rules on airplanes... LOL

Didn't Borek basically build the worlds largest fleet of two headed float roadents around that exact principle?

[l_reason]

If you find a Luscombe I may just have an extra data plate and a full set of books...

We should start a trading post for such rebuildable "airframes"

[oldtimer]

I think if you aquire the airplane legally, such as a bankruptcy sale, you could overhaul or replace every component that has any time or life limit and get an AME to certify that what is left as airworthy and spend more money than the airplane is worth, you could fly it.
Through enough money at it and almost any problem will go away.
Just remember the golden rule when dealing with TC. When the weight of the paper meets or exceeds the weight of the airplane, you can apply for a ferry or flight test permit.

[goldeneagle]

Just remember the golden rule when dealing with TC. When the weight of the paper meets or exceeds the weight of the airplane, you can apply for a ferry or flight test permit.

Technology has made that old saying somewhat obsolete. I can now do all the paperwork required, and make it fit on just a small handful of usb jumpsticks, and the flash memory folks are working hard at getting to a point where all the documentation could fit on just a single little usb stick, easily carried by the airplane.