GoPro mounting

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daydreamer

Well-Known Member
Is it against the FAR to mount a GoPro or any sort of camera in the cowling of the airplane?


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All jokes aside
I want to try this with my camera
 
Here is what I dug up.

http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/FAA-camera-memo.php

http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Camera-Mount-Common-Sense-222739-1.html


Basically, the memo says camera mounts aren't major alterations since they don't appreciably change flight characteristics, performance, weight and balance or basic airworthiness. They also don't represent changes to the aircraft's basic type certification, so no STC is necessary. The memo suggests reviewing them on a "case-by-case" basis. In the reality of the modern regulatory world, that means one FSDO inspector might have no problem with a temporary camera mount installed using no tools, while another may clearly see a violation of some FAR he would have to cite. Which inspector you get is the luck of the draw, but I think the FAA's memo gets it right: case by case and use common sense.

The memo further says the FAA doesn't support such attachments and should one come loose, the ever-present FAR 91.13 cudgel—careless or reckless operation—is available for use. And that's as it should be. The act of mounting the camera is not, of itself, careless or reckless; losing it because you didn't do it right might be. Again, case by case.

Without looking too hard, you can find language in the regulations that might define one of these mounts as illegal on a certified airplane. - By Paul Bertorelli| September 9, 2014
 
I had someone from the ACO tell me they didn't care, and they needed footage for a safety video they were doing.
 
Story I heard at a GoPro seminar, Aviation Summit in Palm Springs last year.

A guy in a Barron attached a GoPro to his wing with a suction cup. He also attached a safety cable to the camera in case the suction cup came loose. The suction cup did come loose but the safety wire held on. The camera flopping in the slip stream beating against the top of the wing caused $12k in damage.

I took this about 3 years ago in the Viking turning final at Chino (no safety cable).
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As Mike wise pointed out it is not an issue with the FAA unless you do something else during the installation that requires a 337.

Please consider placement and behavior during operation. Don't install it in a manner that will cause damage or jeopardize flight controls. I've seen one mounted to a flap bracket on a Piper not sure how they thought that always a good idea. People seem to engage in activities that they otherwise wouldn't once they are being filmed. Don't do anything dumb, like buzz a house or roll a C172.

I'm a fan of zip ties, they've worked well up to 200mph and +6g. I've used the suction cup and it has worked well to 180mph and +8g.

Also if you're a renter check the policy on cameras. My local school and the other school in the area have policies regarding GoPros.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Best one I've ever seen (the one from the Feds) was a simple modification to a standard Cessna access panel.

Scratch that, best one was a handlebar mount on the pilots side step behind the wing of the Navajo.
 
Roger Roger said:
Best one I've ever seen (the one from the Feds) was a simple modification to a standard Cessna access panel.

Scratch that, best one was a handlebar mount on the pilots side step behind the wing of the Navajo.
Click to expand...
As long as it's not permanently mounted. Do what you want.
 
CFI A&P said:
I'm a fan of zip ties, they've worked well up to 200mph and +6g. I've used the suction cup and it has worked well to 180mph and +8g.
Click to expand...

You mean those tie wraps them plastic thinguies you bundle cables with?? I'll give that a try. I'm not brave enough to stick those suction cups outside in the wind
 
CFI A&P said:
As Mike wise pointed out it is not an issue with the FAA unless you do something else during the installation that requires a 337.

Please consider placement and behavior during operation. Don't install it in a manner that will cause damage or jeopardize flight controls. I've seen one mounted to a flap bracket on a Piper not sure how they thought that always a good idea. People seem to engage in activities that they otherwise wouldn't once they are being filmed. Don't do anything dumb, like buzz a house or roll a C172.

I'm a fan of zip ties, they've worked well up to 200mph and +6g. I've used the suction cup and it has worked well to 180mph and +8g.

Also if you're a renter check the policy on cameras. My local school and the other school in the area have policies regarding GoPros.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 10.56.03 AM.png
 
I think I will just stay with mounting it inside or the side bars. Avoid any future problems.
Also, anyone using GoPro , how does your battery hold up?

I try to use the lowest setting and resolution and seems like I am only getting about 55min-1hr10min out of it

It's annoying if you have the GoPro mounted on the side bar or the strut and the battery gets drained.

Thinking about selling GoPro and getting a another action camera or a dash cam for the cars that have dual camera system such as looking inside and outside.
 
I think I will just stay with mounting it inside or the side bars. Avoid any future problems.
Also, anyone using GoPro , how does your battery hold up?

I try to use the lowest setting and resolution and seems like I am only getting about 55min-1hr10min out of it

It's annoying if you have the GoPro mounted on the side bar or the strut and the battery gets drained.

Thinking about selling GoPro and getting a another action camera or a dash cam for the cars that have dual camera system such as looking inside and outside.
 
yea my gopro 3+ silver lasts no longer than 1h, maybe 1h10 tops. It says it will last for hours, but it barely gets to 1...
 
The sticky mounts are pretty legit...I don't like the suction cup because it's easy to mess up, although it can stay on if you get it right.

I use an extended capacity battery back that I got from Amazon which triples the life.
 
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