fter it is completed. If the manufacturer of the airplane kit has a defect in the product then the manufacturer is liable for that. If the homebuilder puts the plane together negligently then the builder is held liable. The kit manufacturer has continued product liability for the plans and parts beyond the fist purchaser of the kit. This liability comes from possible defects in the design of the aircraft or the instructions accompanying the design. Liability can also come from a lack of adequate warnings, which should have come with the designs. In addition, misrepresentation made about the finished product including performance characteristics is a liability paid by the manufacturer. If the kit manufacturer selected sub-standard materials for any of the parts or components sold as part of the Barnett, 3kit the manufacturer can be exposed to liability. Kit manufacturers being a commercial seller of a massed produced product are held to a higher standard than a homebuilder. (Kolczynski, 5) Liability for homebuilders depends on certain things. A homebuilder buys plans, components, and raw materials from a kit manufacturer. The builder follows the design and uses all part in the kit without modification. After the proper inspection, the homebuilder is issued the temporary airworthiness certificate. If a crash occurs because of a product defect, which can be traced, to the original design or kit components, the kit manufacturer will be held liable. If the homebuilder does not follow the design and kit assembly instructions, or modifies a portion of the design or components, he can be held liable if the plane crashes. The kit seller will have to show that the finished product is not in conformity with his design or that his components have been significantly altered. Kit manufacturers have a few things on their side: Modification of the original design and sometimes-pilot error. Even with modification of homebuilt, man...
