Building an aircraft alone means you cannot see your own blind spots. The EAA Technical Counselor program exists to fix that: experienced builders volunteer to inspect your project and tell you what they see, at no charge. Most first-time builders underuse it. This article explains what a Technical Counselor does, when in the build to call one, and how to run a visit so you get real value instead of a friendly chat.
What a Technical Counselor Is and Is Not
A Technical Counselor is an EAA volunteer, usually someone who has built and flown aircraft, approved by EAA to review projects and offer guidance. They are a second set of expert eyes. They look at your workmanship, your systems, and your judgment, then tell you what concerns them.
They are not an FAA inspector and they do not sign off your airworthiness. They do not certify anything or take legal responsibility for your build; the builder remains responsible. That distinction is freeing: because the visit is advisory and confidential, you can show problems honestly without fear of a failed inspection. Use that honesty. Hiding your worst weld from the one person qualified to judge it defeats the purpose.
When to Call, and Why Timing Matters
The single biggest mistake is calling too late, when everything is closed up and buried. A counselor cannot inspect a fuel line sealed inside a finished wing. Plan visits around the moments things are still open.
The three high-value inspection points
- Early structure. After your first major assemblies, before you close anything. This catches systemic habits: rivet quality, bonding technique, weld penetration. Fixing a bad habit now saves it from repeating across the whole airframe.
- Systems installed, not yet covered. Fuel, controls, wiring, and fuel venting while you can still trace every line. This is where dangerous errors hide: crossed controls, chafing lines, unsupported wiring.
- Pre-cover or pre-close, and again pre-first-flight. A final look before fabric or panels go on, and a walkaround before you fly.
Three well-timed visits beat one visit at the end. Build the relationship early so the counselor understands your project’s history.
How to Run the Visit
Prepare like it matters, because it does. Clean the shop so parts are visible. Have your plans open. List your own worries in advance and ask about them directly. A good counselor will find things you did not ask about, but leading with your concerns makes the time productive.
A real scenario
A builder installs an aluminum fuel system and is quietly proud of it. During a systems-stage visit, the counselor gently flexes a fuel line near the firewall and shows how it contacts an engine mount tube under vibration. Left alone, that chafe point could have worn through in flight months later. The fix is a fifteen-minute adjustment and a cushioned clamp. The builder would never have caught it because he had stopped seeing that corner of the airplane weeks earlier. That single observation is worth more than the entire cost of EAA membership.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
- Calling only at the end. Schedule the first visit early, while structure is open. Book the systems visit before you close panels or cover.
- Treating it as social. Coffee is fine, but ask hard technical questions. Write down every finding.
- Getting defensive. The counselor pointing at your weld is the point. Thank them and fix it.
- Expecting a sign-off. They advise; they do not certify. Do not ask them to take responsibility for airworthiness.
- Ignoring findings you disagree with. If you disagree, research it, ask a second counselor, or check the manufacturer’s guidance before dismissing the concern.
Action Steps
- Join EAA and find your local chapter’s Technical Counselors through EAA’s directory.
- Contact a counselor early, before your first major assembly is closed.
- Schedule at least three visits: early structure, installed systems, and pre-first-flight.
- Prepare a written list of your own concerns before each visit.
- Clean and open the project so components are visible and traceable.
- Log every finding and track it to resolution.
- Re-verify major fixes with the counselor when practical.
Conclusion and Next Step
A Technical Counselor is the cheapest safety upgrade in homebuilding: it is free, and it catches what you cannot see. Your next step is simple. Before you close your next assembly, look up the Technical Counselor listings through EAA or your local chapter and book a visit while the work is still open. Do it before the aluminum or fabric hides the evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Technical Counselor cost money?
The counseling itself is a volunteer service; there is no fee for the visit. You do need to be part of the EAA community to access the program, and courtesy suggests covering the volunteer’s travel or offering lunch.
Will the visit go on any official record?
The program is designed to be confidential and advisory. It is not an FAA inspection, so it is not a pass-or-fail event. Many builders do log that a counselor visited, which can support your case with an insurer or DAR.
Can a Technical Counselor sign my aircraft off to fly?
No. Airworthiness certification is handled by an FAA inspector or a Designated Airworthiness Representative. The counselor advises the builder, who remains responsible for the aircraft.
What if my area has no local counselor?
Ask your EAA chapter, since counselors sometimes travel between chapters. Some builders also arrange remote guidance for specific questions, though nothing replaces hands-on inspection.
How many visits should I plan?
At least three across the build is a reasonable target, timed to open structure, installed systems, and pre-first-flight. Complex projects benefit from more.
References
- Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Technical Counselor Program.
- Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Flight Advisor Program.
- FAA Advisory Circular 20-27, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft.