Changing a Certified Factory built aircraft to Experimental

[Nanart]

Has anyone gone through the process of converting a factory built aircraft to experimental (in Canada)? if so what was involved and how did you go about this. If you were to import a factory built aircraft from the states such as a Pitts but it has some after market parts such as a performance engine, as far as I know transport will not issue a C of A unless it is brought back to factory specs, now if the aircraft was experimental there wouldn't be this issue. Does anyone know if this can be done?

[RenegadeAV8R]

Has anyone gone through the process of converting a factory built aircraft to experimental (in Canada)?

By "experimental" do you mean "amateur built"? In United States, all the homebuilt aicraft are in the experimental category. But in Canada, a homebuilt aircraft is under the "amateur-built" special certificate of airworthiness.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/r ... 9-1733.htm

An "experimental flight permit" is issued for any aircraft which is manufactured for, or engaged in, aeronautical research and development, or for showing compliance with airworthiness standards.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/r ... tm#507s_04

Maybe the "Owner-Maintenance" could be applicable to your case.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/r ... h-1837.htm

[Inverted2]

Don't forget that the "Owner Maintenance" category devalues the price of the aircraft quite a bit if you ever decide to resell...

[tyndall]

TC has put the kibosh on converting certified to experimental. Too many people were rebuilding old cubs and such and calling them their own design. The states seems to be even more anal about converting, but their rules are a little more lax and some mods can be done under field approvals which aren't recognized in Canada. If the mods were done under a STC you may be good to go. Otherwise, the only way I can see being possible would be to import it directly into the owner-maintenance category. It would have to be on the list http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/r ... h-1837.htm and meet the age requirements. You would also get the wonderful restriction of canada only and reduced value.

If you want an experimental, buy an experimental. Trying to get around the rules will cost you money, downtime and your sanity.