FAR 91.327 — Light-Sport Operating Limitations

§ 91.327 Aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category: Operating limitations. (a) No person may operate an aircraft that has a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category for compensation or hire except— (1) To tow a glider or an unpowered ultralight vehicle in accordance with § 91.309 of this chapter; or (2) To conduct flight training, checking, and testing. (b) No person may operate an aircraft that has a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category unless— (1) The aircraft is maintained by a certificated repairman (light-sport) with a maintenance rating, an appropriately rated mechanic, or an appropriately rated repair station in accordance with the applicable provisions of part 43 of this chapter and maintenance and inspection procedures developed by the aircraft manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA; (2) A condition inspection is performed once every 12 calendar months by a certificated repairman (light-sport) with a maintenance rating, an appropriately rated mechanic, or an appropriately rated repair station in accordance with inspection procedures developed by the aircraft manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA; (3) The owner or operator complies with all applicable airworthiness directives; (4) Each repair or alteration to an aircraft meets the applicable and current FAA-accepted or approved consensus standards specified in the statement of compliance submitted to the FAA for the aircraft. (5) Each major repair or major alteration to an aircraft product produced under a consensus standard is authorized by the manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA, and is performed and inspected in accordance with maintenance and inspection procedures developed by the manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA; and (6) The owner or operator complies with the requirements for the recording of major repairs and major alterations performed on type-certificated products in accordance with § 43.9(d) of this chapter, and with the retention requirements in § 91.417. (c) No person may operate an aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category to tow a glider or unpowered ultralight vehicle for compensation or hire or conduct flight training for compensation or hire in an aircraft which that person provides unless within the preceding 100 hours of time in service the aircraft has— (1) Been inspected by a certificated repairman (light-sport) with a maintenance rating, an appropriately rated mechanic, or an appropriately rated repair station in accordance with inspection procedures developed by the aircraft manufacturer or maintenance and inspection procedures acceptable to the FAA and been approved for return to service in accordance with part 43 of this chapter; or (2) Received an inspection for the issuance of an airworthiness certificate in accordance with part 21 of this chapter. (d) Each person operating an aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category must operate the aircraft in accordance with the aircraft's operating instructions, including any provisions for necessary operating equipment specified in the aircraft's equipment list. (e) Each person operating an aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category must advise each person carried of the special nature of the aircraft and that the aircraft does not meet the airworthiness requirements for an aircraft issued a standard airworthiness certificate. (f) The FAA may prescribe additional limitations that it considers necessary. [Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44881, July 27, 2004, as amended by Docket FAA-2023-1351; Amdt. 91-378, 89 FR 80342, Oct. 2, 2024; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 91-381, 90 FR 35220, July 24, 2025] Link to an amendment published at 90 FR 35221, July 24, 2025.