Scott, my understanding is that LEGALY the owner of an SLSA can do anything in the way of maintenance except modifications and condition inspections. From a warranty standpoint the actions may be limited. Am I missing something?
Rich
One of the operating limitations issued with the S-LSA airworthiness certificate (yes, it gets a SPECIAL airworthiness cert, so it gets operating limitations just like experimentals) states...
(16) No person may operate this aircraft in the light-sport category unless it is
continuously maintained in compliance with 14 CFR § 91.327(b).
Copied from FAR 91.327...
(b) No person may operate an aircraft that has a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category unless—
(1) The aircraft is maintained by a certificated repairman with a light-sport aircraft maintenance rating, an appropriately rated mechanic, or an appropriately rated repair station in accordance with the applicable provisions of part 43 of this chapter and maintenance and inspection procedures developed by the aircraft manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA;
Also, The FAA designated that the manufacturer specify what level of certification is required for maint. or repair processes. That is why the RV-12 Maint. Manual has a level of certification required, listed for each process. The requirement for writing and supplying the M.M. was for S-LSA certification, and it applies to the S-LSA aircraft. These do not apply to E-LSA RV-12 owners.
It is generally accepted that the normal maint tasks allowed under FAR 43, appendix A, to be done by owners on certificated aircraft (oil change, tires, etc.) without any special certification, are also allowed for S-LSA as long as the specific certification requirement or training specified in the manufacturers M.M. are met.
In the case of doing oil changes, carb synchs, etc., on the Rotax, that would mean getting the Service Specialty training to comply with Rotax's specified requirements.
Any S-LSA owner could take the 120 hr training course to receive a LSRM (Light Sport Repairman Maintenance) certificate and they would then be qualified to do all maint. and the condition inspections on there S-LSA RV-12. Some people choose to re-certify their S-LSA aircraft as an E-LSA (there is a process for doing this) so that they gain the freedom to modify, they need no level of certification to do repairs or maint., and they can just take the 16 hr course and get the LSR Inspector rating that any other E-LSA RV-12 builder gets, and be able to do the yearly condition inspection. The down side is the aircraft can no longer be rented to others (requires 100 hr inspections if being used that way while an S-LSA).