Mark Steitle wrote:
I've forwarded a post from the Velocity REFLECTOR site concerning
insuring non-certified a/c. I know this has been discussed before, but since
the insurance situation is ever-changing, I would appreciate hearing from
those that have completed construction and are actually flying
rotary-powered planes. Velocity is telling people that auto-conversions are
uninsurable. Is this the case with the rotary? Bottom line... if I put a
rotary in my plane will I have to "go bare" on insurance?
Thanks,
Mark
REFLECTOR: Engine
Just the other day I had a conversation with Dyane At Velocity about
Insurance and he told me that he didn't know of any insurance company that
would insure an auto conversion velocity. To top that off I have not heard
from Pam since our last conversation about insurance . The last time I
talked to her she said that if she was able to talk to the right person
maybe I could get insurance . This not encouraging to here that after
spending the money and time in to put in a very capable conversion that I
may not get insurance thus not even being able to Fly my plane . So with
a said heart I have decided to start looking for an aircraft engine (IO
540 ). Does any one have a line on one or have one they would like to
separate from . Any condition will be consider Please Let Me Know Thanks
Ron N34CV roncathy3@home.com(mailto:roncathy3@home.com)
Roncathy3,
Are you sure you want insurance on it that bad? I can understand the
liability fear in case you crash in the middle of a public school, but
beyond that you're going to have to do any repairs from a fenderbender
yourself. Even if you did fall in the schoolyard, the policy protection you
would get wouldn't begin to touch the judgements brought against you anyway,
so you would still end up in bankruptcy court for your own protection. --
It's a sobering thought, but a spade is a spade...
I'm also reminded of a conversation with an EAA Tech Advisor a few
days ago. We were standing in his garage admiring a new IO360 he was going
to put in one of his airplanes when I asked him how many hours he flew his
engines per year. Upon hearing his reply I did some quick math and
mentioned that he would get many years of use out of the new Lycoming. --
His response jolted me... He said in all his years and years in aviation he
had rarely seen a certified piston engine make it to it's TBO, and most
never got close!
I sincerely hope you can find suitable insurance if that's what you
really want, but before you buy it thinking you're completely protected,
take a copy of the policy to your attorney and give him a hundred dollars to
look it over and tell you what he thinks. It might turn out to be the best
spent money in your entire project.
Wishing you the best,
Robin
Ed Anderson has AVEMCO as I recall.
Paul Lamar
Ed Anderson wrote:
I can't directly answer your question. But, AVEMCO insured my Rotary
Powered RV-6A for both hull and liability. Later when I hear over the
grapevine that the were no longer insuring auto conversions, I called the
company and make certain they knew (I had declared it on the application
form) I had an Auto powered aircraft.
They basically said that I was insured and my coverage would remain,
however, they were having problems with a number of Subaru powered accidents
and were no longer insuring any Subaru powered aircraft as a general rule,
but there was one well know conversion that they would continue to insure.
This was back around 1 year ago.
Could be I got in under some wire, could be the RV accident rate is
different, could be there is more exposure insuring a velocity. Who knows?
Ed Anderson
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