In article , cowboy_bob99
@hotmail.com, Robert Barker says...

Cessna 172SP. Mfg/Cert after 1998. As you know, there is no MEL for this
aircraft. VFR day flight. Nav/position lights. Say the bulb is out on the
starboard position light.

91.206 says nav/position lights are not mandatory for VFR day flight.

91.213(d) comes into play since there is no official MEL for this aircraft.

Can I fly this aircraft in VFR day flight? Do I need to placard the burned
out bulb?

It's questions like this that kept me out of the better schools... ;-)

I'm sure someone more knowledgable may know for sure, but the MEL
doesn't, AFAIK, cover things like basic nav lights.

To me, yes, you definately need working nav lights - and if you're
flying in a dense traffic area, turn on *all* your lights - landing
lights etc - if you're carring a Christmas tree, turn those lights on
too

--
Duncan.