Is an experimental aircraft any more likely to be involved in an accident than a certified aircraft?

Question

Is an experimental aircraft any more likely to be involved in an accident than a certified aircraft?

Answer 1

Definately yes.

I am not sure if you are refering to kit aircraft (which are experimental as far as insurance is concerned) or with aircraft still in design development and/or awaiting certification. Statistically speaking, both are at a higher risk. The aircraft in development should have the highest risk.

In real life applications, there are many other factors that may contribute, not the least of which is pilot skill level.

Answer 2

Yes. Just ask John Denver's widow.

Answer 3

I been personally flying for nearly 25 years and grew up around airport and airplane before that with my father.  I have not seen any support to the statement Experimental Aircraft are less safe than Factory production aircraft.

The experimental aircraft I have seen built are not slapped together in a weekend.  They are built very careful taking several years to build, the owners take pride in them like a guy who has restored a classic car to show room conidtion.  They are inspected during all phase of the construction, they have to be go through a long flight test procedure before they are finally given their airworthy ceritificate.

So no I do not feel they are more likely to be unsafe over a production aircraft.

Sounds like you live in the Vegas area - which the recent Velocity crash.

Answer 4

No. I've been flying airplanes for over 35 years and it's been my experience that overall the amateur built stuff is of better quality than the factory stuff. Your amateur builders know that they're gonna be flying what they build, so they tend to be pretty careful (and in many cases overbuild the structure.)  

The homebuilt still has to inspected by the FAA and issued an airworthiness certificate before it's allowed to fly. The calls for restrictions of experimental aircraft in the North Las Vegas area due to the recent crash there, are made by the ignorant and uninformed.

Answer 5

Ask the Expiramental Aircraft Association at www.eaa.org

Answer 6

yes, that is why it is called experimental aircraft :)

in the air force, they only let the most experience pilots to fly experimental aircraft because they need to compensate the defect in that aircraft by a highly skill individual, while in civilians they tend to be either fool enough or simply crazy individuals to fly an aircraft that full of defect. so the result, many accident and sadly death.  

Answer 7

No...my father owns a "Breezy" that was built in 1973 by a friend of his and is still flying.  Most airplanes are only as safe as the pilot flying them.