Well, I'm new to this group so I jump in at my own peril. I just bought my first plane, a 1946 Ercoupe, N2601H. I think it was No. 3536 in a production run that year of about 4900. I am sure someone will know for sure. Anyway, as to liability etc. As a retired journalist I know all to well the perils of lawyers and lawsuits. But on the other hand if we cannot be open with each other in a forum like this, well, then -- the lawyers win and we lose. I think the best parallel is the open source software world.. where programmers put their open source software out on the open market for anyone to work on, improve and redistribute. It's a powerful way to push any subject forward faster than it gets done in modern corporations where everyone is covering their backside and lawyers are worried someone is going to steal a company secret.
I love this forum. It's already helped me out with several problems.. like my perennially leaking carburetor ;-) So, there. I've tested the waters. Steve Pizzo On Sep 6, 2010, at 9:24 AM, Donald wrote: > > > Good heavens, is this the same USA I spent 20 years in uniform defending our > freedoms? > Heck, now I am not sure I can even READ the bulletins or have a copy in my > possession, might be in trouble for that even, I did stack them in numerical > order, probably an offense too. Good grief! > Is this something that has actually happened somewhere, or just a case of > dreaming up a frivolous lawsuit? > > --- In [email protected], Ronin Sensei <ronin_sen...@...> wrote: > > > > > > Risky indeed! Too true. > > > > > > By all means, I'd seriously consider the great legal risks involved with > > sharing such information and be most circumspect about publishing or > > releasing it. The potential criminal copyright penalties alone are enough > > to make one have second thoughts. Infringement, fraudulent registration, > > fraudulent claims, or misuse of copyright are also serious issues. Claiming > > copyright on something that somebody else already owns is a big deal. This > > seems a particularly sensitive risk, since copyrights no longer need be > > registered to be effective. Whatever is created is automatically under > > copyright by the FIRST creator. It is hard to tell where one might be in > > violation by claiming rights on somebody else's property. > > > > > > And then of course, there is the potential for negligence liability, no > > matter what disclaimers are attempted. You never know who will file suit or > > criminal charges, especially among Ercoupers. It looks like expensive > > litigation just waiting to happen. > > > > > > So, selling, or even buying BUYING or otherwise trafficking in such > > possible contraband could be very risky, I should think. Anybody who > > touches it might be considered complicit. > > > > > > > > I suppose you might be safe giving it away, but only on the sly. > > > > > > It appears that the only absolutely secure option is to keep this document > > to yourself. The potential risks of doing otherwise are too terrible to > > imagine. In fact, you might find it safest not to admit that it even exists. > > > > > > Dave Winters > > > > > > To: [email protected] > > From: ercou...@... > > Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:32:34 +0000 > > Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] Re: mechanical research [was re: fuel pump bolt > > tor que] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Bill, > > You might seriously consider publishing it as a fiction novel and clearly > > state it is not for use on airplanes. I am not being factious. I would > > appreciate having such a publications. > > Lee > > > > years ago. Titles of ADs, > > > Service Bullletins, etc. often are not indicative of other pertinent > > > information, such as torque values or tightening sequences, rigging > > > or other information of specific routine maintenance or repair > > > importance. I recognized the need to be able to look up specific > > > information in more than one way. Specifically, one can look up the > > > subject of an AD by AD number, but also find the information therein > > > by subject or, if it contains a torque value, under "Torque". Nobody > > > can keep all this in their head, even mechanics who limit their > > > "practice" to Ercoupes, et. al; and I am confident that even our > > > "pros" will want to buy a copy once it is complete and current. > > > > > > Note that the second entry is one of many reasons that an Ercoupe > > > owner needs to have, as reference, the Forney Service Manual and > > > Service Bulletins issued by Forney and Alon that apply to earlier > > > Ercoupes. Today most of us have the McCauley metal prop and the > > > Cleveland Wheels and Brakes not covered in the original Ercoupe > > > Service Manual. Here's an example of the last page: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I'm in the process of updating it. "Sources" change (such as the > > > Type Certificates and ADs) or have additions over time. > > > > > > I also am undecided as to the wisdom (from a liability standpoint) of > > > including in my cross-reference information from a Chevelle Service > > > Manual, obviously NOT an "authoritative" aviation source, that > > > appears nonetheless pertinent and directly applicable to the proper > > > installation, maintenance and repair of our fuel transfer > > > pumps. ;<) Even with the most carefully worded disclaimer, an > > > author can still be dragged into court and suffer considerable legal > > > expenses in our society of today. > > > > > > WRB > > > > > > -- > > > > > > On Sep 1, 2010, at 10:49, Linda Abrams wrote: > > > > > > > Thank you, Paul (and the others who wrote off-list)! > > > > So is finding mechanical answers a matter of reading all of the ADs & > > > > all of the service manual & all SBs & SMs up front, and then "just" > > > > remembering whether/where a topic has been addressed? Or is there > > > > some sort of an index that directs you to all the cumulative written > > > > sources that apply to each task, or even each system? I know about > > > > the great photo essays that Hartmut has begun collecting on his > > > > website, but the number of those is still limited. Has any sort of > > > > comprehensive written index been created that says something like, > > > > e.g. "Fuel pump: see pp.___ of X reference, p. ___ of Y reference, > > > > A.D.s ##___, and SB # _____ ?" > > > > > > > > Linda > > > > > > > > Paul Anton wrote: > > > > > > > > Ad 81-07-06 Paragraph (3)e specifies both gaskets are to be > > > > replaced and > > > > torque of 30 +- 5 inch pounds > > > > Pizzo Stephen http://www.stephen.pizzo.com "Never do anything you don't want to have to explain to the paramedics."
