Part 107, explained · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.
What does Part 107 say about exposed rotating parts on a drone flown over people?
Categories 1, 2 and 3 each require a small unmanned aircraft that does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being. The text appears in 107.110(a)(2), 107.120(a)(2) and 107.130(a)(2). AC 107-2A gives ducted fans and protective features such as propeller guards as ways to address it.
In Category 1 the remote pilot is responsible for confirming the weight limit and that no such exposed parts exist. In Categories 2 and 3 the maker shows compliance through an FAA-accepted means of compliance and declaration of compliance.
Sources: 14 CFR 107.110(a)(2) · 14 CFR 107.120(a)(2) · 14 CFR 107.130(a)(2)
What the regulation says
§ 107.110 Category 1 operations.
To conduct Category 1 operations—
(a) A remote pilot in command must use a small unmanned aircraft that— (1) Weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff and throughout the duration of each operation under Category 1, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft; and (2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being.
Read all of § 107.110
(b) No remote pilot in command may operate a small unmanned aircraft in sustained flight over open-air assemblies of human beings unless the operation meets the requirements of either § 89.110 or § 89.115(a) of this chapter.
[Amdt. 107-8, 86 FR 4382, Jan. 15, 2021, as amended by 86 FR 62473, Nov. 10, 2021]
§ 107.120 Category 2 operations: Eligibility of small unmanned aircraft and other applicant requirements.
(a) To be eligible for use in Category 2 operations, the small unmanned aircraft must be designed, produced, or modified such that it— (1) Will not cause injury to a human being that is equivalent to or greater than the severity of injury caused by a transfer of 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact from a rigid object; (2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being; and (3) Does not contain any safety defects.
(b) The applicant for a declaration of compliance for a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for use in Category 2 operations in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, must meet all of the following requirements for the applicant's unmanned aircraft to be used in Category 2 operations: (1) Display a label on the small unmanned aircraft indicating eligibility to conduct Category 2 operations. The label must be in English and be legible, prominent, and permanently affixed to the small unmanned aircraft. (2) Have remote pilot operating instructions that apply to the operation of the small unmanned aircraft system. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must make available these instructions upon sale or transfer of the aircraft or use of the aircraft by someone other than the applicant who submitted a declaration of compliance pursuant to § 107.160. Such instructions must address, at a minimum— (i) A system description that includes the required small unmanned aircraft system components, any system limitations, and the declared category or categories of operation; (ii) Modifications that will not change the ability of the small unmanned aircraft system to meet the requirements for the category or categories of operation the small unmanned aircraft system is eligible to conduct; and (iii) Instructions for how to verify and change the mode or configuration of the small unmanned aircraft system, if they are variable. (3) Maintain a product support and notification process. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must maintain product support and notification procedures to notify the public and the FAA of— (i) Any defect or condition that causes the small unmanned aircraft to no longer meet the requirements of this subpart; and (ii) Any identified safety defect that causes the small unmanned aircraft to exceed a low probability of casualty.
§ 107.130 Category 3 operations: Eligibility of small unmanned aircraft and other applicant requirements.
(a) To be eligible for use in Category 3 operations, the small unmanned aircraft must be designed, produced, or modified such that it— (1) Will not cause injury to a human being that is equivalent to or greater than the severity of the injury caused by a transfer of 25 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact from a rigid object; (2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being; and (3) Does not contain any safety defects.
(b) The applicant for a declaration of compliance for a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for use in Category 3 operations in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, must meet all of the following requirements for the applicant's small unmanned aircraft to be used in Category 3 operations: (1) Display a label on the small unmanned aircraft indicating eligibility to conduct Category 3 operations. The label must be in English and be legible, prominent, and permanently affixed to the small unmanned aircraft. (2) Have remote pilot operating instructions that apply to the operation of the small unmanned aircraft system. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must make available these instructions upon sale or transfer of the aircraft or use of the aircraft by someone other than the applicant who submitted a declaration of compliance pursuant to § 107.160. Such instructions must address, at a minimum— (i) A system description that includes the required small unmanned aircraft system components, any system limitations, and the declared category or categories of operation; (ii) Modifications that will not change the ability of the small unmanned aircraft system to meet the requirements for the category or categories of operation the small unmanned aircraft system is eligible to conduct; and (iii) Instructions for how to verify and change the mode or configuration of the small unmanned aircraft system, if they are variable. (3) Maintain a product support and notification process. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must maintain product support and notification procedures to notify the public and the FAA of— (i) Any defect or condition that causes the small unmanned aircraft to no longer meet the requirements of this subpart; and (ii) Any identified safety defect that causes the small unmanned aircraft to exceed a low probability of fatality.
AC 107-2A, 8.6.2 Exposed Rotating Parts
One means, but not the only means, of complying with the requirement would be to manufacture the small unmanned aircraft so that it does not contain any exposed rotating parts.
AC 107-2A, 8.7.3
If a small unmanned aircraft has rotating parts that are exposed without any protective safety features, it may be shown through testing and analysis that the rotating parts would not lacerate human skin upon impact.
Sources: 14 CFR 107.110 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 14 CFR 107.120 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 14 CFR 107.130 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · AC 107-2A, 8.6.2 Exposed Rotating Parts · AC 107-2A, 8.7.3
Exam traps
- The test in the rule is whether exposed rotating parts would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being.
- Category 1 also requires 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff and throughout each operation, including everything on board or attached.
- Category 2 and Category 3 add an injury limit (11 foot-pounds and 25 foot-pounds of kinetic energy) and a requirement for no safety defects.
- A Category 4 aircraft qualifies through an airworthiness certificate under part 21, not through the rotating-parts criterion.
Try it: practice questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions.
Practice question 1
Other than the UAS weighing 0.55 lbs or less on takeoff, what are the other requirements to conduct Category 1 operations?
- A It must not contain exposed rotating parts that can lacerate.
- B It must not contain exposed rotating parts that can lacerate and must not cause injury equivalent to 11 ft-lb of kinetic energy.
- C It must not have safety defects and must be labeled as Category 1.
Show the answer
Answer: A. It must not contain exposed rotating parts that can lacerate.(According to Part 107 Subpart D, to conduct Category 1 operations, the RPIC must use a small UA that: weighs 0.55 lbs or less on takeoff and throughout the duration of the flight does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skins upon impact.)
FAA source: 14 CFR 107.110(a)(2)
Practice question 2
To conduct Category 2 operations, the remote Pilot in Command must use a small Unmanned aircraft that
- A must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 11 ft-lb of kinetic energy.
- B must have an approved type certificate issued under Part 21.
- C must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 25 ft-lb of kinetic energy.
Show the answer
Answer: A. must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 11 ft-lb of kinetic energy.(To conduct Category 2 operations, the RPIC must use a small UA that: must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact, does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skins upon impact. does not contain safety defects, is labeled as Category 2, is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance)
FAA source: 14 CFR 107.120(a)(1)
Practice question 3
To be eligible for Category 3 operations over people, a small UA must not cause injury equal to or greater than that caused by a transfer of how much kinetic energy from a rigid object?
- A 11 foot-pounds.
- B 0.55 foot-pounds.
- C 25 foot-pounds.
Show the answer
Does a propeller guard automatically satisfy the rule?
Not automatically. AC 107-2A says a standard could require testing to show the protective features keep rotating parts from contacting a person during impact.
Source: AC 107-2A, 8.7.2
Who checks for exposed rotating parts in Category 1?
The remote pilot. AC 107-2A says the remote pilot must ensure the aircraft does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin.
Source: AC 107-2A, 8.3.4.1