Well, my operating limitations allow substituting "manufacturer's inspection procedures" in place of "Part 43 Appendix D." The questions then become who is the manufacturer and what are his/her procedures? The FAA says I am the manufacturer, but perhaps it's the kit manufacturer?? I don't think so; we builders are listed as the manufacturers of our airplanes.
Interestingly, an article in Kitplanes (
https://www.kitplanes.com/yearly-condition-inspection-part-i/) uses terms like "good information" and "guidance" regarding Part 43, Appendix D, and talks about how Appendix D "can help you":
An Experimental must be found to be in a “condition for safe operation.” There is no prescribed standard for making that determination other than Part 43, appendix D of the FARs. That means that you, as the holder of a Repairman Certificate or your A&P mechanic, must make that call. This places an extra responsibility on aircraft owners to determine what is safe, but the FAA has not left you without guidance [emphasis added]. There is a lot of good information [emphasis added] in Part 43, Appendix D. Let’s take a look at how that can help you perform a good condition inspection.
This doesn't sound like the author of the article views Part 43, Appendix D as a requirement but rather as a source of helpful guidance. And as has been noted, Part 43 explicitly states that it (which presumably means all that it subsumes, including appendices) does not apply to experimentals.
I'll drop this now, but the plain language of my operating limitations -- which reference three alternatives for the scope and detail of the inspection -- does note require following Part 43, Appendix D. I pretty much do, anyway (where else would I get industry standards) but the operating limitations, as stated, do not require this.