[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6492-6493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1670]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 23

[Docket No. CE164; Notice No. 23-01-01-SC]


Special Conditions: Ayres Corporation, Model LM 200, 
``Loadmaster'' Cargo and Baggage Compartment Fire Protection

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Ayres 
Corporation, Model LM 200 ``Loadmaster'' airplane. This airplane will 
have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with all-cargo and 
combination cargo/passenger (COMBI) interior configurations. The 
applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for these design features. These proposed 
special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the 
Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety 
equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 21, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposal may be mailed in duplicate to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Regional Counsel, ACE-7, Attention: 
Rules Docket, Docket No. CE164, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106, or delivered in duplicate to the Regional Counsel at 
the above address. Comments must be marked: CE164. Comments may be 
inspected in the Rules Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, 
between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Les Taylor, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, Small Airplane 
Directorate, ACE-111, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri, 816-
329-4134, fax 816-329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of 
these proposed special conditions by submitting such written data, 
views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify 
the regulatory docket or notice number and be submitted in duplicate to 
the address specified above. All communications received on or before 
the closing date for comments will be considered by the Administrator. 
The proposals described in this notice may be changed in light of the 
comments received. All comments received 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 rulemaking will be filed in 
the docket. Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their 
comments submitted in response to this notice must include with those 
comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following 
statement is made: ``Comments to CE164.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

Background

    On April 16, 1996, Ayres Corporation, P.O. Box 3090, Albany, 
Georgia 31708-3090, applied for a commuter category, all-cargo type 
certificate for their new Model LM 200. In May 1997, they reapplied for 
passenger and COMBI interior configurations. The Model LM 200 airplane 
is a nine-passenger, twin-engine airplane. The LM 200 will have all-
cargo and COMBI versions.
    The Model LM 200 all-cargo and COMBI airplanes are considered a 
novel design and were not considered when those airworthiness standards 
were promulgated. The FAA has determined that the existing regulations 
do not provide adequate or appropriate safety standards for cargo and 
baggage compartment fire protection in these versions of the LM 200. In 
order to provide a level of safety that is equivalent to that afforded 
to occupants of the passenger version, additional airworthiness 
standards, in the form of additional special conditions, are necessary.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR Sec. 21.17, Ayres Corporation must 
show that the Model LM 200 meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR 
part 23 as amended by Amendments 23-1 through 23-53, effective April 
30, 1998, and any exemptions, equivalent level of safety findings and 
special conditions.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., part 23) do not contain adequate or appropriate 
safety standards for the Ayres Corporation Model LM 200 because of a 
novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed 
under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Model LM 200 must comply with the part 23 fuel vent and 
exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, the noise 
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36, and the FAA must issue a 
finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to Section 611 of Public Law 
92-574, the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
    Special conditions, as appropriate, as defined in Sec. 11.19, are 
issued in accordance with Sec. 11.38, and become part of the type 
certification basis in accordance with Sec. 21.17(a)(2).
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they

[[Page 6493]]

are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended later 
to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or unusual 
design feature, or should any other model already included on the same 
type certificate be modified to incorporate the same novel or unusual 
design feature, the special conditions would also apply to the other 
model under the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Model LM 200 will incorporate the following novel or unusual 
design features: an all-cargo and a COMBI interior configuration.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Ayres Corporation, Model LM 200. Should Ayres Corporation apply at a 
later date for a change to the type certificate to include another 
model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, the 
special conditions would apply to that model as well under the 
provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).

Conclusion

    It is FAA's understanding that Ayres Corporation accepts the 
special conditions in the FAA position as noted in Ayres letter dated 
February 9, 1999. Compliance will be shown through design, test and 
analyses by Ayres Corporation.
    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability, 
and it affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval 
of these features on the airplane.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 23

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Signs and symbols.

Citation

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113 and 44701; 14 CFR 21.16 and 
21.17; and 14 CFR 11.28 and 11.49.

The Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis 
for the Ayres Corporation Model LM 200 airplane applicable to the all-
cargo and COMBI interior configurations.
    In addition to the Part 23 regulations required by the 
certification basis of the airplane, the following are also required 
for cargo or baggage compartments:
    (a) Flight tests must demonstrate means to exclude hazardous 
quantities of smoke, flames, or extinguishing agent from any 
compartment occupied by crew or passengers.
    (b) Cargo compartments shall have either fire or smoke detection 
provisions, or both, unless the compartment location is such that a 
fire can be easily detected by the pilots while seated at their duty 
stations. The cargo and baggage fire protection must be in accordance 
with Sec. 23.855 as well as the following:
    1. The detection system must provide a visual indication to the 
flight crew within one minute after the start of a fire.
    2. The system must be capable of detecting a fire at a temperature 
significantly below that at which the structural integrity of the 
airplane is substantially decreased.
    3. There must be means to allow the crew to check the functioning 
of each fire detector circuit while in flight.
    4. The detection system effectiveness must be shown for all 
approved operating configurations and conditions.
    (c) The flight crew must have means to shut off the ventilating 
airflow to or within the compartment, from the pilot's station, on an 
all-cargo configuration.
    (d) Passenger and COMBI configurations where the cargo or baggage 
compartment are not accessible to the flightcrew, must have an 
approved, built-in fire extinguishing system. The built-in fire 
extinguishing system shall be controllable from the pilot's station. 
There must be means to control ventilation and drafts within an 
inaccessible cargo or baggage compartment so the extinguishing agent 
can control any fire that may start in the compartment. The built-in 
fire extinguishing system must be installed so that no extinguishing 
agent likely to enter the personnel compartments will be hazardous to 
the occupants. The discharge of the fire extinguishing system must not 
cause structural damage. The capacity of the extinguishing system must 
be adequate for any fire likely to occur in the compartment where used. 
Consideration must be given to the volume of the compartment and the 
ventilation rate.
    (e) In addition to the fire extinguishers required by Sec. 23.851, 
a hand fire extinguisher must be readily accessible for use in each 
cargo and baggage compartment that is accessible to crewmembers in 
flight. Hazardous quantities of smoke, flames or extinguishing agent 
must not enter any compartment occupied by crew or passengers, when the 
access to that compartment is used.
    (f) Protective breathing equipment must be installed for 
crewmembers in each crewmember compartment. Protective breathing 
equipment must:
    1. Be designed to protect the flightcrew from smoke, carbon dioxide 
and other harmful gases at the pilot's station and while combating 
fires in cargo or baggage compartments.
    2. Have masks that cover the eyes, nose and mouth; or masks that 
cover the nose and mouth plus accessory equipment to cover the eyes.
    3. Allow the flightcrew to use the radio equipment and to 
communicate with each other while at their assigned stations.
    4. Not cause any appreciable adverse effect on vision and must 
allow corrective glasses to be worn.
    5. Supply protective oxygen of 15 minutes duration per crewmember 
at a pressure altitude of 8,000 feet with a respiratory minute volume 
of 30 liters per minute BTPD (BTPD refers to body temperature 
conditions (that is 37  deg.C at ambient pressure, dry)). If a demand 
oxygen system is used, a supply of 300 liters of free oxygen at 70 
deg.F and 760 mm. Hg. pressure is considered to be adequate to meet the 
15-minute-duration requirement at the prescribed altitude and minute 
volume. If a continuous flow protective breathing system is used 
(including a mask with a standard rebreather bag), a flow rate of 60 
liters per minute at 8,000 feet (45 liters per minute at sea level) and 
a supply of 600 liters of free oxygen at 70  deg.F and 760 mm. Hg. 
pressure is considered to be adequate to meet the 15-minute-duration 
requirement at the prescribed altitude and minute volume.
    6. Be free from hazards in itself, in its method of operation, and 
in its effect upon other components.
    7. Have a means to allow the crew to readily determine, during 
flight, the quantity of oxygen available in each source of supply.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 5, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-1670 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P