Definition
An FAA aircraft certification category for aircraft in which the major portion (more than 50 percent) of the fabrication and assembly was performed by an individual or group for their own education or recreation, rather than for sale. Aircraft certificated in this category are issued a special airworthiness certificate marked Experimental and carry operating limitations that restrict where and how they may be flown.
Plain English
A homebuilt airplane the FAA has approved to fly. The owner (not a factory) built most of it, and because of that the FAA places special rules on how it can be used.
Context Anchor
Seen when comparing light-sport aircraft types, reviewing an aircraft’s paperwork, or checking whether a specific airplane fits the privileges of the pilot who wants to fly it.
Derivation
Experimental signals that the aircraft does not meet standard production certification, so the FAA treats it as a one-off case with its own rules. Amateur-Built means the builder is not a manufacturer and built it for personal reasons, not for profit.
Why Pilots Care
This category sets strict operating limits, including prohibitions on carrying passengers for hire and requirements for phase-one flight testing before passengers are allowed.
Intuition Check
Do not read Experimental Amateur-Built as “unsafe” or “unfinished.” In FAA use, it is a certification category for an aircraft mainly built by private individuals for education or recreation.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot reviewed the operating limitations for his Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft before offering a friend a ride.
Example Sentence 2
The buyer reviewed the builder's logbook to confirm the aircraft met Experimental Amateur-Built standards before completing the purchase.