To make a long story short, the answer is YES! AD's ALWAYS have to be complied with no matter what type of airworthiness certificate the aircraft is flying with at the time.
If an AD specifically excludes Experimental Aircraft, the AD will state it in the body of the information. Otherwise, the AD applies. An AD is issued when the FAA finds an UNSAFE CONDITION, which is likely to exists on other aircraft, engines, propellers, or applicances.
While it is true that the FAA has never issued an AD against an Amateur-Built aircraft airframe, it HAS issued AD's on equipment found in many home-built and experimental aircraft. Some typical examples of AD's that have an effect on many experimental aircraft are AD's applying to Transponders, to Magnetos, to Engines, or to Props. A great deal more is explained in the FAA Advisory Circular AC 39-7c, which can be found in my Publications Page.
Now, some have aske "Can I simply remove the data plate on the engine, (or mag, or whatever) and not comply with the AD? "
The answer to that is NO. You must comply with the AD if you operate the aircraft.
In addition, removing the dataplate could be found to be a FAR violation !
Technically, if you remove the engine data plate, you have violated FAR 45.13(b), which states, in part, " Except as provided in (d)(1), of this section, no person may remove, change, or place identification information required by paragraph (a) ofthis section, on any aircraft, ... engine, propeller, propeller blade, or propeller hub, without the approval of the Adminstrator."
and FAR 45.13(c) says: "Except...(for maintenance).., no person may remove or install any identification plate required by (FAR) 45.11 without the Approval of the Adminstrator."
The reason the FAA issues Airworthiness Directives is to protect the flying public from known unsafe conditions. Whether it is an oil impeller pump, or a transponder, if the FAA has determined that there is a problem, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH THE FIX.
Also, when you fill out an FAA Form 8130-6, Application for Airworthiness Certificate, you must state in Block III(B) that all airworthiness directives have been complied with, and the current series of AD's that have been examined. Example: All through 98-14, means you have researched the AD's on the aircraft and its components, and all have been compliaced with through the issue date of the 14th week of 1998.
As an owner of an aircraft, you are required, Experimental Airworthiness Certificate or not, to comply with all Airworthiness Directives which are applicable to your aircraft and all of its installed equipment.
You can download a copy of AC 39-7c from my Publications Page
Some common Ad's which might apply to your amatuer-built aircraft include:
or
Download a Word 6.0 version of this AD.
or
Download a Word 6.0 version of this AD.