[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4114-4116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1532]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 35

[Docket No. 94-ANE-60; Notice No. 35-ANE-02]


Special Conditions; Hamilton Standard Model 568F Propeller

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes special conditions for the Hamilton 
Standard Model 568F propeller with electronic propeller and pitch 
control system. The applicable regulations currently do not contain 
adequate or appropriate safety standards for constant speed propellers 
with electronic propeller and pitch control. This notice proposes the 
additional safety standards which the Administrator considers necessary 
to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the 
airworthiness standards of part 35 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 
(FAR).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 6, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposal may be submitted in triplicate to: 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), [[Page 4115]] New England 
Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 
No. 94-ANE-60, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
Massachusetts, 01803-5299. Comments must be marked: Docket No. 94-ANE-
60. Comments may be inspected at this location between 8:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Martin Buckman, Engine and Propeller Standards Staff, ANE-110, Engine 
and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA, New 
England Region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
Massachusetts, 01803-5229; telephone 238-7112; fax (617) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed special conditions by submitting such written data, views, or 
arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules 
Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified 
under ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing 
date for comments, specified under DATES, will be considered by the 
Administrator before taking action on the proposal. The proposal 
contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments 
received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed special 
conditions. All comments submitted will be available in the Rules 
Docket for examination by interested persons, both before and after the 
closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposal will be filed in 
the docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit with those comments a 
self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is 
made: ``Comments to Docket No. 94-ANE-60.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of Notice of Special Condition

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Special Condition by 
submitting a request to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-ANE-60, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts, 01803-5299.

Discussion

Background

    On January 26, 1994, Hamilton Standard applied for type 
certification for a new Model 568F propeller. This propeller uses a new 
electronic propeller and pitch control system in place of the primary 
governor control and synchrophaser unit.
    The existing propeller pitch control is normally monitored by a 
governor which senses propeller speed and adjusts the pitch to absorb 
the engine power and therefore maintains the propeller at the correct 
RPM. When the primary governor fails, the propeller pitch is controlled 
by an overspeed governor.
    This type of system is conventional and its airworthiness 
considerations are addressed by part 35 of the FAR's.
    The FAA has determined that special conditions was necessary to 
install a Hamilton Standard electronic propeller and pitch control in 
place of the primary governor control and synchrophaser unit for the 
Model 568F propeller. This control is designed to operate a mechanical 
and hydraulic interface for the engine and propeller. It commands speed 
governing, synchrophasing and provides beta scheduling.
    Electronic propeller and pitch controls introduce potential 
failures that can result in hazardous conditions. These types of 
failures are not addressed by the requirements of part 35. These 
failures can lead to the following possible hazardous conditions:
    (1) Loss of control of the propeller,
    (2) Instability of a critical function,
    (3) Unwanted change in propeller pitch causing improper thrust/
overspeed, and
    (4) Unwanted action of a critical control function resulting in 
propeller flat pitch or reverse.
    Certification issues that must be addressed are possible loss of 
aircraft-supplied electrical power, aircraft supplied data, failure 
modes, environmental effects including lightning strikes and high 
intensity radiated magnetic fields (HIRF) and software design.
    The FAA finds that under the provisions of section 21.16 of the 
FAR, additional safety standards must be applied to the Hamilton 
Standard electronic propeller control for Model 568F propellers to 
demonstrate that it is capable of acceptable operation.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of section 21.17 of the FAR, Hamilton Standard 
must show that the Model 568F propeller meets the requirements of the 
applicable regulations in effect on the date of the application. Those 
FAR's are section 12.21 and part 35, effective February 1, 1995, as 
amended.
    The Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations in part 35, as amended, do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Model 568F propeller. Therefore, 
the Administrator proposes special conditions under the provisions of 
section 21.16 to establish a level of safety equivalent to that 
established in the regulations.
    Special conditions, as appropriate, are issued in accordance with 
section 11.49 of the FAR's after public notice and opportunity for 
comment, as required by sections 11.28 and 11.29(b), and become part of 
the type certification basis in accordance with section 21.101(b)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    Because of the unusual design features of the Hamilton Standard 
568F propeller with electronic propeller and pitch control, the FAA 
proposes special conditions under section 21.16 of the FAR.

Conclusion

    This action affects only the Hamilton Standard Model 568F propeller 
with a new system of electronic propeller and pitch control. It is not 
a rule of general applicability and affects only the manufacturer who 
applied to the FAA for approval of these features on the propeller.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR part 35

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

    The authority citation for these special conditions continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421, 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); 
and 14 CFR 11.49 and 21.16.

The Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis 
for the Hamilton Standard 568F Model propeller with electronic 
propeller and pitch control system.
    (a) For purposes of these special conditions, a hazardous condition 
is considered to exist for each of the following conditions:
    (1) Loss of control of the propeller, [[Page 4116]] 
    (2) Instability of a critical function,
    (3) Unwanted change in propeller pitch causing improper thrust/
overspeed, and
    (4) Unwanted action a critical control function resulting in 
propeller flat pitch or reverse.
    (b) Considering the electronic propeller and pitch controls 
introduce potential failures that can result in hazardous conditions, 
the following special conditions are proposed:
    (1) Each propeller and pitch control system which relies on 
electrical and electronic means for normal operation must:
    (i) Be designed and constructed so that any failure or malfunction 
of aircraft-supplied power or data will not result in an unacceptable 
change in propeller pitch setting or prevent continued safe operation 
of the propeller.
    (ii) Be designed and constructed so that no single failure or 
malfunction, or probable combination of failures of electrical or 
electronic components, or mechanical and hydraulic interface of the 
propeller control system, result in a hazardous condition.
    (iii) Be tested to its environmental limits including transients 
(variations) caused by lightning and high intensity radiated fields 
(HIRF) and demonstrate no adverse effects on the control system 
operation and performance or resultant damage. These tests shall 
include, but not be limited to, the following:
    (A) Lightning strikes, such as multiple-stroke and multiple-burst
    (B) Pin-injected tests to appropriate wave forms and levels
    (C) HIRF susceptibility tests
    (iv) Be demonstrated by analysis/tests that associated software is 
designed and implemented to prevent errors that would result in an 
unacceptable change in propeller pitch or an hazardous condition.
    (v) Be designed and constructed so that a failure or malfunction of 
electrical or electronic components in the propeller control system 
could not prevent safe operation of any remaining propeller that is 
installed on the aircraft.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1995.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-1532 Filed 1-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M