FAR 21.190 — Light-Sport Airworthiness Certificate

§ 21.190 Issue of a special airworthiness certificate for a light-sport category aircraft. (a)The FAA issues a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category to operate an aircraft, other than an unmanned aircraft, that meets the requirements of this section. (b)To be eligible for a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category, an aircraft must meet the applicable requirements of § 22.100 of this chapter. (c)Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, an applicant for a special airworthiness certificate under this section must provide the FAA with: (1) The manufacturer's statement of compliance as described in paragraph (d) of this section. (2) A pilot's operating handbook that includes: (i) Operating instructions and limitations to safely accommodate all environmental conditions and normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures likely to be encountered in the aircraft's intended operations. (ii) A flight training supplement to enable safe operation of the aircraft within the intended flight envelope under all likely conditions. (iii) A listing of any aerial work operations that may be safely conducted using the aircraft and any instructions and limitations that are necessary to safely conduct those operations. (iv) Any instructions or limitations necessary to safely conduct towing operations. (3) A maintenance and inspection program containing procedures necessary to ensure continued safe operation of the aircraft. (d)The manufacturer's statement of compliance specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section must— (1) Be signed by the manufacturer's authorized representative who is certified and trained on the requirements associated with the issuance of a statement of compliance by an organization that certifies and trains quality assurance staff in accordance with a consensus standard that has been accepted by the FAA; (2) Identify the aircraft by make, model, serial number, class, and date of manufacture; (3) Specify towing and any aerial work operations the manufacturer has determined may be safely conducted, and state that the aircraft has been ground and flight tested to ensure that it can be operated to safely conduct those operations in accordance with the instructions and limitations provided by the manufacturer; (4) State whether the aircraft meets the requirements of § 22.180 of this chapter for simplified flight controls; (5) Specify the consensus standards used to determine the aircraft's compliance with subpart B of part 22 of this chapter and state that the aircraft meets the eligibility, design, production, and airworthiness requirements of subpart B of part 22 in accordance with those consensus standards. The specified consensus standards must be accepted or approved by the FAA for the airworthiness certification of light-sport category aircraft; (6) State that the aircraft conforms to the manufacturer's design data, using the manufacturer's quality assurance system that meets the specified consensus standard; (7) State that the manufacturer will make available to any interested person the documents specified in paragraph (c) of this section; (8) State that the manufacturer will support the aircraft by implementing and maintaining a documented continued operational safety program that— (i) Addresses monitoring and resolving in-service safety of flight issues; (ii) Includes provisions for the issuance of safety directives; (iii) Includes a process for notifying the FAA and all owners of all safety of flight issues; and (iv) Includes a process for advance notice to the FAA and all owners of a continued operational safety program discontinuance or provider change; (9) State that the manufacturer will monitor and correct safety-of-flight issues through the issuance of safety directives and a continued operational safety program that meets the specified consensus standard; (10) State that at the request of the FAA, the manufacturer will provide unrestricted access to its facilities and to all data necessary to determine compliance with this section or other applicable requirements of this chapter; and (11) State that the manufacturer has established and maintains a quality assurance system that meets the requirements of § 22.185 of this chapter. (e)The owner of an aircraft issued a light-sport category airworthiness certificate before July 24, 2026, may submit an amended manufacturer's statement of compliance to the FAA listing those aerial work operations that may be conducted using the aircraft. The amended statement of compliance must— (1) Identify the aircraft by make, model, serial number, and date of manufacture. (2) Be made by the original manufacturer of the aircraft. (3) Reference and reaffirm the statements made in the original manufacturer's statement of compliance. (4) State that the design and construction of the aircraft provides sufficient structural integrity to enable safe operation of the aircraft during the performance of the specified aerial work operations and that the aircraft is able to withstand any likely flight and ground loads. (5) Specify the FAA-accepted consensus standard used to make the determination required by paragraph (e)(4) of this section. (6) Is accompanied by revisions to the aircraft's operating instructions to indicate those aerial work operations that may be conducted using the aircraft, and any applicable revisions to the aircraft's maintenance and inspection procedures, and flight training supplement. [Amdt. No. 21-109, 90 FR 35206, July 24, 2025]