Link to an amendment published at 90 FR 35205, July 24, 2025.(a) Unless sooner surrendered, suspended, revoked, or a termination date is otherwise established by the FAA, airworthiness certificates are effective as long as the aircraft is registered in the United States and as follows:
(1) Standard airworthiness certificates and special airworthiness certificates issued for aircraft certificated in the primary, restricted, or limited category are effective as long as the maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations are performed in accordance with parts 43 and 91 of this chapter.
(2) A special flight permit is effective for the period of time specified in the permit.
(3) A special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category is effective as long as—
(i) The aircraft meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft;
(ii) The aircraft conforms to its original configuration, except for those alterations performed in accordance with an applicable consensus standard and authorized by the aircraft's manufacturer or a person acceptable to the FAA; and
(iii) The aircraft has no unsafe condition and is not likely to develop an unsafe condition.
(4) The duration of an experimental airworthiness certificate issued for research and development, showing compliance with regulations, crew training, or market survey is effective for 3 years from the date of issue or renewal unless the FAA prescribes a shorter period.
(5) The duration of an experimental airworthiness certificate issued for exhibition, air-racing, operating amateur-built aircraft, operating primary kit-built aircraft, operating light-sport aircraft, operating light-sport category kit-built aircraft, operating former light-sport category aircraft is unlimited, unless the FAA establishes a specific period for good cause.
(b) The owner, operator, or bailee of the aircraft must, upon request, make it available for inspection by the FAA.
(c) Upon suspension, revocation, or termination by order of the FAA of an airworthiness certificate, the owner, operator, or bailee of an aircraft must, upon request, surrender the certificate to the FAA.
[Amdt. 21-21, 33 FR 6858, May 7, 1968, as amended by Amdt. 21-49, 44 FR 46781, Aug. 9, 1979; Amdt. 21-70, 57 FR 41368, Sept. 9, 1992; Amdt. 21-85, 69 FR 44861, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 21-109, 90 FR 35205, July 24, 2025]
Notes of Decisions
Puckett v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 678 S.W.2d 936 (Tex. 1984).
· cites it 4× “14 C.F.R. § 21.181 (a)(1) (1981). Those requirements included an annual inspection.”
O'Connor v. Proprietors Ins. Co., 696 P.2d 282 (Colo. 1985).
· cites it 4× “14 C.F.R. § 21.181 (a)(1) (1984). Maintenance requirements include an annual inspection.”
Ranger Ins. Co. v. Phillips, 544 P.2d 250 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1976).
· cites it 2× “14 C.F.R. § 21.181 . None of these conditions occurred here.”
Sec. Mut. Cas. Co. v. O'Brien, 662 P.2d 639 (N.M. 1983).
“169 (1982); see also 14 C.F.R. §§ 21.181 , 91.165 (1982). The subject insurance policies clearly deny coverage when an aircraft is not validly and currently certificated.”
Daniel Henry Arney & Charles H. Baker v. United States of Am., 479 F.2d 653 (9th Cir. 1973).
“181(a) (14 C.F.R. 21.181(a) (1966)) states the duration of airworthiness certificates: “Unless sooner surrendered, suspended, revoked or a termination date is otherwise established by the Administrator, an airworthiness certificate is effective as long as the maintenance,…”
Mike's Contracting, LLC v. United States, 92 Fed. Cl. 302 (Fed. Cl. 2010).
“" 14 C.F.R. § 21.181 (a)(1) (2009). The FAA’s ability to suspend or revoke an airworthiness certificate is set forth in 49 U.”
Old Repub. Ins. Co. v. Robert Griffin, & Lois Jensen, 402 F.3d 876 (9th Cir. 2005).
“See 14 CFR § 21.181 (stating that “[sjtandard airworthiness certificates issued for restricted or limited category aircraft are effective as long as the maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations are performed in accordance with Parts 43 and 91 of this chapter and the…”
Ochs v. Avemco Ins., 636 P.2d 421 (Or. Ct. App. 1981).
“The pertinent regulations are: 14 CFR § 21.181 (1978) requires: "(a) Unless sooner surrendered, suspended, revoked, or a termination date is otherwise established by the administrator, airworthiness certificates are effective as follows: "(1) Standard airworthiness certificates…”
— 14 C.F.R. § 21.181(a) — 1 case
Daniel Henry Arney & Charles H. Baker v. United States of Am., 479 F.2d 653 (9th Cir. 1973).
“181(a) (14 C.F.R. 21.181(a) (1966)) states the duration of airworthiness certificates: “Unless sooner surrendered, suspended, revoked or a termination date is otherwise established by the Administrator, an airworthiness certificate is effective as long as the maintenance,…”
— 14 C.F.R. § 21.181(a)(1) — 2 cases
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