Tony Dean wrote:

Mr. Lamar,

I light of the recent insurance issues with auto conversion aircraft
engines I am discussing the possibility of starting an organization to
support that end of the Experimental Aircraft industry. I have been
talking to leaders in this arena and therefore would like to get your
viewpoint on this idea. This organization would be the voice for
bringing mainstream respectability to the auto conversion. We would
address safety and back it with real data. We would also work to gather
real knowledge that is locked in peoples heads about what works and what
does not to promote safety, awareness, reliability, and improve
insurability.

Best Regards
Tony Dean

I think it is a great idea. I think we should gather accident free hours flown data for the
various types of auto engines in use and use that data to estimate the premiums.

The more obvious and perhaps traditional approach is to use FAA registration data
and compare that with NTSB crash data. Unfortunately, as far as I can determine, the FAA does
not keep track of the type of engine in registered experimental aircraft. A second problem
is the NTSB does not always record the type of engine involved in a crash.
The EAA could help by using their influence to petition the EAA and the NTSB
to improve their record keeping.

Gathering our own data using the internet is perhaps a more reliable approach
at the present time.

A certain number of hours flown before insurance goes into effect policy could
be used to reduce the premiums. 

I also think an insurance corporation could be set up and stock sold to the
very people that have their airplanes insured and to those intending to build
an auto engine powered airplane. This in effect would allow people to self
insure so to speak.

BTW Preface your email messages with PRIVATE if you
have something you would like to keep between us.

Paul Lamar
 
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