What is indicated if the ELT was not certified within the last year?

If the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) has not been certified within the last year, it indicates that the aircraft is potentially unairworthy. Certification of the ELT is a regulatory requirement to ensure that the device is functional and ready to operate in the event of an emergency. An untested or unverified ELT may not transmit properly, which could compromise safety in the event of an emergency situation. Therefore, for an aircraft to be considered airworthy, all required safety equipment, including the ELT, must be properly certified and operational.

While the aircraft itself may still be operational in other respects, the lack of certification for the ELT directly impacts the aircraft's compliance with safety regulations, leading to the conclusion that it is potentially unairworthy until the certification is brought up to date.