U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
Advisory
Circular
1
Initiated by: AFS-340
DATE: 5/24/95
AC NO: 90-89A
AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT AND ULTRALIGHT
FLIGHT TESTING HANDBOOK
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
Advisory
Circular
i
Subject: AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT Date: 5/24/95 AC No: 90-89A
& ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT Initiated by: AFS-340 Change:
TESTING HANDBOOK
1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular (AC) sets
forth suggestions and safety related recommendations
to assist amateur and ultralight builders in
developing individualized aircraft flight test plans.
2. CANCELLATION. AC 90-89, Amateur-
Built Aircraft Flight Testing Handbook, dated
September 18, 1989, is cancelled.
3. RELATED READING MATERIAL. A list
of selected reading material on amateur-built/
ultralight flight testing and first flight experience
may be found in appendix 3.
4. BACKGROUND.
a. The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), the Experimental Aircraft Association
(EAA), and the United States Ultralight Association
(USUA) are concerned and committed to improving
the safety record of amateur-built and ultralight aircraft.
b. The FAA Administrator, T. Allen McArtor,
and EAA President, Paul H. Poberezny, signed a
Memorandum of Agreement on August 1, 1988,
which addressed the need for educational and safety
programs to assist amateur-builders in test flying
their aircraft. In accordance with that agreement, this
AC provides guidelines for flight testing amateurbuilt
aircraft.
c. As part of the FAA’s continuing efforts to
improve the safety record of all types of general aviation
aircraft, this AC has been revised to include
flight testing recommendations for canard-type and
ultralight aircraft.
5. DEFINITIONS. The following terms are
defined for use in this AC.
a. Amateur-built aircraft means an aircraft
issued an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate
under the provisions of Federal Aviation Regulations
(FAR) § 21.191 (g).
b. The term ultralight means a vehicle that
meets the requirements of FAR § 103.1.
c. The term ultralight in this AC also means
a two-place training vehicle of 496 pounds or less,
operating under an EAA or USUA exemption to
FAR Part 103.
d. For the purpose of this AC, both an amateur-
built aircraft and a ultralight vehicle will be
referred to as an ‘‘aircraft.’’
6. DISCUSSION.
a. This AC’s purpose is the following:
(1) To make amateur-built/ultralight aircraft
pilots aware that test flying an aircraft is a critical
undertaking, which should be approached with
thorough planning, skill, and common sense.
(2) To provide recommendations and
suggestions that can be combined with other sources
on test flying (e.g., the aircraft plan/kit manufacturer’s
flight testing instructions, other flight testing
data). This will assist the amateur/ultralight owner
to develop a detailed flight test plan, tailored for their
aircraft and resources.
ii
AC 90-89A 5/24/95
b. The flight test plan is the heart of all professional
flight testing. The plan should account for
every hour spent in the flight test phase and should
be adhered to with the same respect for the unknown
that all successful test pilots share. The time allotted
for each phase of a personalized flight test plan may
vary, and each phase may have more events or
checks than suggested in this AC. The goals, however,
should be the same.
c. The two goals for an amateur builder/
ultralight owner should be as follows:
(1) At the end of the aircraft’s flight test
phase, the aircraft will have been adequately tested
and found airworthy and safe to operate within its
established operational envelope.
(2) Incorporation of the flight test operational
and performance data into the aircraft’s flight
manual so the pilot can reference the data prior to
each flight.
7. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
a. This AC is designed as a reference document
to assist in preparing a flight test plan for an
amateur-built or ultralight aircraft.
(1) The suggestions and recommendations
in chapters 1 through 6 are for conventionallydesigned
aircraft with an air-cooled, 4-cycle, reciprocating
engine that develops less than 200 horsepower
with a fixed pitch propeller.
(2) Chapter 7 deals with flight testing recommendations
for canard aircraft.
(3) Chapters 8 through 10 address flight
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