Narrative:

On 10/92, I was PIC of an large transport which departed marana, az, (pinal air park) on a ferry flight to phoenix skyharbor airport. The purpose of the flight was to complete a post- storage functional check flight for the manufacturing company, and deliver the airplane to phoenix for modification. A special flight permit was issued and displayed for this flight, in accordance with far 21.197, far 21.199 and far 91.203. This permit was issued by the phoenix office of the FAA (FSDO), signed by FAA inspector, aviation safety inspector. (See attached copies of the special airworthiness certificate and accompanying operating limits letter). The operating limitations letter specified that the flight was to be conducted in 'day-VFR' conditions, which I incorrectly interpreted to mean IFR flight in day visual meteorological conditions (VMC). After initial airborne airworthiness determination, I subsequently flew a high altitude/low altitude functional flight check profile in VMC conditions in accordance with our company's FAA approved flight test document (production flight test procedures for lft series aircraft model document number dated 4/81) to satisfy the notation entered in the remarks section of the flight log. The flight was conducted clear of clouds, but, after reflection, may not meet the intent of the special flight permit. The manufacturing company and I will communicate with the FAA to clarify needs and requirements for future special flight permits.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN LFT ACFT 'FERRY' FLT UNKNOWINGLY FILED AND OPERATED UNDER 'IFR' IN VFR CONDITIONS WHICH WAS NOT INDICATED ON THE SPECIAL FLT PERMIT OPERATING LIMITATIONS.

Narrative: ON 10/92, I WAS PIC OF AN LGT WHICH DEPARTED MARANA, AZ, (PINAL AIR PARK) ON A FERRY FLT TO PHOENIX SKYHARBOR ARPT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO COMPLETE A POST- STORAGE FUNCTIONAL CHK FLT FOR THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, AND DELIVER THE AIRPLANE TO PHOENIX FOR MODIFICATION. A SPECIAL FLT PERMIT WAS ISSUED AND DISPLAYED FOR THIS FLT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 21.197, FAR 21.199 AND FAR 91.203. THIS PERMIT WAS ISSUED BY THE PHOENIX OFFICE OF THE FAA (FSDO), SIGNED BY FAA INSPECTOR, AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR. (SEE ATTACHED COPIES OF THE SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE AND ACCOMPANYING OPERATING LIMITS LETTER). THE OPERATING LIMITATIONS LETTER SPECIFIED THAT THE FLT WAS TO BE CONDUCTED IN 'DAY-VFR' CONDITIONS, WHICH I INCORRECTLY INTERPRETED TO MEAN IFR FLT IN DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC). AFTER INITIAL AIRBORNE AIRWORTHINESS DETERMINATION, I SUBSEQUENTLY FLEW A HIGH ALT/LOW ALT FUNCTIONAL FLT CHK PROFILE IN VMC CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR COMPANY'S FAA APPROVED FLT TEST DOCUMENT (PRODUCTION FLT TEST PROCS FOR LFT SERIES ACFT MODEL DOCUMENT NUMBER DATED 4/81) TO SATISFY THE NOTATION ENTERED IN THE REMARKS SECTION OF THE FLT LOG. THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED CLR OF CLOUDS, BUT, AFTER REFLECTION, MAY NOT MEET THE INTENT OF THE SPECIAL FLT PERMIT. THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY AND I WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THE FAA TO CLARIFY NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE SPECIAL FLT PERMITS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.