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+--- Thread: registration. (/thread-97.html)
registration. - Lyle Swallows - 03-31-2026
just curious what everyones general experience is with registering these helicopters?
let me know your experience
1. were you the original builder?
2. how early did you register it before completion/air worthiness certificate?
3. what influenced your tail number?
4. if purchased how seamless/painful was your bill of sale experience?
i am currently working to register my machine obtained from an estate sale, had prior registration, but no bill of sale from previous registered owner... i had dont an affidavit of ownership with a statement of the history of ownership notarized.
however the FAA responded the previous owner had a letter exclaiming the ship was incompelete and they've interperted that as scrapped/destroyed/unairworthy.
my machine has never hovered.
easily enough they just want proof of its condition with a picture of the completed ship front, side, back. and picture of the S/N "dataplate"
RE: registration. - Orv Neisingh - 05-25-2026
I have built around 7 Rotorways from the frame up and have assisted numerous builders in completing their builds. My wife convinced me to purchase our first Rotorway kit in 1989. I built it that winter and then had Darrold Crawford travel to my location to go over everything and do the test hover.
I next attended the Rotorway factory flight school and learned to hover the Exec 152. A short time later I attended phase II flight training at the Rotorway factory and earned my solo endorsement for altitude as well as my maintenance training for maintaining my Exec.
After several months of solo flight I attended phase III at the factory for my prep and private pilot check ride with Stretch Wolter. I passed and now had my Rotorcraft/Helicopter add on to my private pilot license.
We joined the Sierra Rotorcraft Club in California and became friends with many other Rotorway owners. Many of them did not know how to fly their helicopters so we came up with a plan. Len Chrysler was a R/H CFI but could not fly with students due to having his legs crushed in a dozer accident. He had me fly with the students and stayed on the radio giving us instructions as to what he wanted the student to do, I was there to demonstrate and be the safety pilot. We were able to get most of the club members soled with this method.
Jeff Dunham was a member of the Sierra Rotorcraft Club and it was at one event that I met Homer Bell who was there with Jeff.
I have lot's of stories but will see if folks are interested in reading them before taking the time to write them down.
RE: registration. - Lyle Swallows - 08-10-2026
finally got an email correspondence from the FAA.
i initially sent paperwork in january with all the required documentation and supporting documents showing the transfer of ownership and how it got into my possession. they responded in April, 3 months later saying their records showed it as scrapped/destroyed/not complete. i then responded with pictures and original serial numbers matching the kit bill of sale from rotorway showing this machine was never completed and infact has never flown. 4 months later to now i still havnt received any update from the FAA.
thats when i finally realized they have an Email for the registration branch which they got back to me in 2 days with an update of my process.
just sharing my experience with everyone. i have a worst case scenario where the previous owners passed away and there is no proper bill of sale path from the previous registered owner. and the previous registered owner isnt even listed as the builder! despite the machine never being finished!
anyone else out there in this headache. have patience...
RE: registration. - Meira Adams - 08-19-2026
Thanks for sharing your experience with the FAA, Lyle. It's the classic administrative nightmare on second-hand kits with incomplete paper trails, but it's great to know they respond much faster through the dedicated OKC email address.
For anyone stuck with a missing bill of sale or an aircraft flagged as "scrap/incomplete" by a previous owner, filing an Affidavit of Ownership (Form 8050-88) paired with dated photos and the airframe serial plate is indeed the best way out.
Good luck with the rest of the registration process!
RE: registration. - Lyle Swallows - 08-20-2026
yup, i submitted a written affidavit of ownership, and a written statement as to the previous ownership chain and how it came into my possesion with dates and unofficial bills of sale. i didnt think to send pictures with my first letter but did include them on my second letter to them.
hopefully it wont take another 3 months... that'll be a proud day i can officially say i own my helicopter... now to finish building it!
RE: registration. - Meira Adams - 08-21-2026
Don't worry, you'll be just fine
