What is the factor of safety for the structure of an airplane certificated under 14 CFR Part 23?

The factor of safety for structures of airplanes certificated under 14 CFR Part 23 is defined as 1.5. This standard is established to ensure that the structural components of the aircraft have enough strength to withstand loads that exceed the maximum expected during operation. A factor of safety of 1.5 means that the strength of the structure is 1.5 times greater than the maximum load it is expected to encounter during normal use, providing a margin of safety to account for unexpected stressors or variations in load. This provides a crucial balance between safety, performance, and weight efficiency in light aircraft design.

In contrast, higher factors of safety, such as 2.3 or 4.0, are typically associated with more demanding applications or stricter certification requirements, such as those found in other parts of the regulations or in specialized applications, but not in the standard light aircraft category outlined by Part 23.