Serial number plate (?) info wanted

Kyle Wolfe · Post by **Kyle Wolfe** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:31 pm

What's the plate called that's located near the tail of the aircraft?

What info is listed on this plate?

Anyone have a picture of an original plate that they could post?

Can these be easily obtained?

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:49 pm

Originally, I don't believe there was a data plate there. The only original date plate was the one on the door frame. However, the regs have changed so people now display one near the tail as required in FAR 45:

45.11 General.
(a) Aircraft and aircraft engines. Aircraft covered under Â§21.182 of this chapter must be identified, and each person who manufacturers an aircraft engine under a type or production certificate shall identify that engine, by means of a fireproof plate that has the information specified in Â§45.13 of this part marked on it by etching, stamping, engraving, or other approved method of fireproof marking. The identification plate for aircraft must be secured in such a manner that it will not likely be defaced or removed during normal service, or lost or destroyed in an accident. Except as provided in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section, the aircraft identification plate must be secured to the aircraft fuselage exterior so that it is legible to a person on the ground, and must be either adjacent to and aft of the rear-most entrance door or on the fuselage surface near the tail surfaces. For aircraft engines, the identification plate must be affixed to the engine at an accessible location in such a manner that it will not likely be defaced or removed during normal service, or lost or destroyed in an accident.

(d) On aircraft manufactured before March 7, 1988, the identification plate required by paragraph (a) of this section may be secured at an accessible exterior or interior location near an entrance, if the model designation and builder's serial number are also displayed on the aircraft fuselage exterior. The model designation and builder's serial number must be legible to a person on the ground and must be located either adjacent to and aft of the rear-most entrance door or on the fuselage near the tail surfaces. The model designation and builder's serial number must be displayed in such a manner that they are not likely to be defaced or removed during normal service.

Soooo.. I believe you can create your own as long as it meets the minimums of FAR 45.11(d), but as for an "original" for that location, there isn't one.

N2865C · Post by **N2865C** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:33 pm

That aircraft identification plate has only been required since sometime in the later half of the last century.

You can make your own, a trophy shop should be able to make you a nice one of your design for under $20, or Spruce sells a blank one for under 3 bucks that you can fill in.
http://aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/acid.php

n2582d · Post by **n2582d** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:46 pm

According to the EAA, "An 'Aircraft Identification Data Plate' is the plate that the FAA and US Drug Enforcement Agency mandated back in the mid 1980s that duplicates some of an aircraftâ€™s data plate information on the outside of the aircraft, allowing DEA agents to quickly identify aircraft. ... Note that this external identification is not required to be on a fireproof plate. (The manufacturer data plate takes care of that requirement.) It only needs to be legible to a person on the ground and must be located as specified. Also, this identification should not be on an access door or cover, or anywhere where it would be removed or defaced during normal service. This external ID can be painted on, put on with a decal, or in any manner that is legible."

Post by **GAHorn** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:20 pm

A nice way to comply with this on an original/classic airplane is to simply stencil/paint it on the left fuselage beneath the left horizontal stabilizer. Since the mfr (Cessna) already placed the datatag/I.D. plate at the pilot's door (aft sill), then all one needs do is paint/stencil "170X - SN99999" on the side in small letters/numerals (using your own model/serial, of course.)

Kyle Wolfe · Post by **Kyle Wolfe** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:44 pm

Thanks guys for the prompt replies.

We had a small tag that was stenciled using one of those electric vibrating pens. Just awful and I hated it every time I looked at it. Just one of those little things that I wanted to make nice!

As always, you guys come through......

n3833v · Post by **n3833v** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:50 am

When my plane was redone, they installed a decal with the info at the spring bracket on the bottom. I almost couldn't see it without laying on my back underneath.

John

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:51 am

Kyle Wolfe wrote:Thanks guys for the prompt replies.

We had a small tag that was stenciled using one of those electric vibrating pens. Just awful and I hated it every time I looked at it. Just one of those little things that I wanted to make nice!

As always, you guys come through......

I had the same thing. when I had '82A painted the shop made up a nice sticker that they put on over the plate. If I'd been thinking ahead I would have had them make a new, nicer looking plate, but the sticker came out fine.

Dward · Post by **Dward** » Wed May 23, 2007 2:42 pm

I had the sticker type also but over the years the back ground color had polished away so it was no longer legible. I ordered a new one from Aero Graphics and installed it. It is shiny silver mylar with black lettering. This one is probbably not Rolite proof either

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