On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 23:21:45 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

Imagine my surprise when I learned today that Embraer, the Brazilian
aircraft manufacturer, built a licensed version of the Piper Cherokee
Pathfinder, just like ours, until 1979!

snip

Supposedly they are identical to the "real" deal, part for part. I wonder
what the legalities of installing Embraer-made parts on our Pathfinder would
be?

From the Type Certificate:

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/1c44fbdf0993df4686256f3c0044632a/$FILE/2A13.pdf

Manufacturer's Serial Nos. 28-10001 through 28-11378, and 28-7110001
through 28-7210023. The manufacturer is authorized to issue
airworthiness certificates for airplane serial numbers 28-11063,
28-11064, 28-11070, 28-11072 through 28-11378, and 28-7110001 through
28-7210023 under
the delegation option provisions of FAR 21. See NOTE 17 and 20.

NOTE 17 The following serial numbered aircraft are not eligible for
import certification to the U.S.:

NOTE 20 The following model and serial number aircraft are not
eligible for import certification to the U.S.:

My understanding is that unless your serial number is in the range
listed under the 235 category, it is not an FAA Type Certificated
aircraft.

If your serial number is listed under either note 17, or 20, it
definitely ain't.

With regard to parts, the majority of the replacement parts are only
"legal" because Piper (the US version) certified them. This of course
does not include standard hardware, PMA/STC'd replacements, etc.

The Embraer parts probably are for the most part identical, but lack
the OEM certification.

You're a sharp guy, I think you probably can come up with the "legal"
answer.

Regards;

TC