Amateur-built and ultra-light aeroplane risk

Amateur-built aeroplane (TP 1102):

• Built by owner from plans or kit, not by certified manufacturer.
• Not put through rigorous certification flight testing.
• Original builder sets a limited performance envelope in first 25 hours of flight.

Risks from the testing gap:

• Safety features: certified-aircraft features may be absent.
• Stall behaviour: may never have been evaluated.
• Ultra-light climb margin: stall-to-climb speed gap may be very small. Engine failure in climb causes rapid deceleration.
• Aerobatic clearance: some authorized for aerobatics on owner's declaration, not experienced test pilot's flight test.

Trap: assuming amateur-built or ultra-light aeroplane has certified-aircraft stall and safety margins; it may have neither.

Practice