But he also stated that he would retain the airworthiness certificate and data plate.
The aircraft my only be rebuilt using the original airworthiness certificate and data plate. Once the aircraft is certificated, the "builder" cannot be changed.
I may not have been clear in my questions. I see 3 scenarios:
1. Some form of "deregistration" paperwork was filed with the FAA (a/c destroyed, sold overseas, etc., per the forms I found). I suppose, I guess, that the A/W cert would have to be surrendered or cancelled or something.
2. Some sort of deregistration filed with the FAA, but the A/W is *not* cancelled. Dunno how that would happen, but maybe Mel knows.
3. Registration simply expires after 3 years under the new rule, due to inaction by the owner. Does this automatically revoke the A/W certificate after some period of time?
It's the last one that might concern some owners...e.g., build a plane, register it and get the A/W, then after some period of time, it sits idle for years and the owner neglects to renew the registration. After n years, is it forever banished from being reregistered and allowed to fly again?
I read the OP's post as the plane is in pieces (maybe wings and tail removed or something), and might need some additional work to repair or replace parts that have aged out, but might not be considered "rebuilding" (not sure there is a definition of what "rebuilding" actually means). If that's the case, and he simply let the registration lapse, is he SOL now?