[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44881-44884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18669]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 23

[Docket No CE309; Notice No. 23-249-SC]


Special Conditions: Garmin International G1000 and GFC700 System 
Installation in the Cessna Model 525 Citation Jet; Installation of Mid-
Continent MD835 Lithium Ion Battery

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Garmin 
International, model G1000, Multifunctional Display and GFC700 
Automatic Flight Control System installation with a Mid-Continent MD835 
Lithium Ion Battery in the Cessna model 525 Citation Jet. This airplane 
as modified by Garmin International will have a novel or unusual design 
feature(s) associated with installation of the Mid-Continent 
Instruments MD835 Lithium Ion (Li-ion) battery. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for this design feature. These 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: The effective date of these special conditions is July 14, 2010.
    We must receive your comments by August 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Mail two copies of your comments to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Regional Counsel, ACE-7, Attn: Rules Docket No CE309, 
901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may deliver two 
copies to the Small Airplane Directorate at the above address. Mark 
your comments: Docket No. CE309. You may inspect comments in the Rules 
Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Brady, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone (816) 329-4132; 
facsimile (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public 
comment hereon are impracticable because these procedures would 
significantly delay issuance of the approval design and thus delivery 
of the affected aircraft. In addition, the substance of these special 
conditions has been subject to the public comment process in several 
prior instances with no substantive comments received. The FAA, 
therefore, finds that good cause exists for making these special 
conditions effective upon issuance.

Comments Invited

    We invite interested persons to submit written data, views, or 
arguments as they desire. The most helpful comments reference a 
specific portion of the special conditions, explain the reason for any 
recommended change, and include supporting data. We ask that you send 
us two copies of written comments.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning these special conditions. You may inspect the docket before 
and after the comment closing date. If you wish to review the docket in 
person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble 
between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    We will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing 
date for comments. We will consider comments filed late if it is 
possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. We may change 
these special conditions based on the comments we receive.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, send us a pre-addressed, stamped postcard on which the docket 
number appears. We will stamp the date on the postcard and mail it back 
to you.

[[Page 44882]]

Background

    On September 18, 2009, Garmin International applied for a 
supplemental type certificate for installation of the Mid-Continent 
Instruments MD835 Lithium Ion battery in the G1000 & GFC700 equipped 
Cessna model 525 Citation Jet. The model 525 is a two-engine turbofan 
aircraft certified in the normal category under Title 14, part 23. The 
aircraft is certified for eight seats including the pilot, a maximum 
gross weight of 10,700 pounds, and maximum altitude of 41,000 feet mean 
sea level (MSL).
    The current regulatory requirements for part 23 airplanes do not 
contain adequate requirements for the application of Li-ion batteries 
in airborne applications. Garmin International proposes to replace an 
existing BF Goodrich PS-834A lead-acid emergency battery with a Mid-
Continent Instruments MD835 Lithium Ion battery on Cessna model 525 
Citation Jets. This type of battery possesses certain failure, 
operational, and maintenance characteristics that differ significantly 
from the nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) and lead-acid rechargeable batteries 
currently approved in other normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter 
category airplanes.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Sec.  21.101, Garmin International must 
show that the Cessna model 525 Citation Jet, as changed, continues to 
meet the applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by 
reference in the type certificate of the Cessna model 525 Citation Jet 
or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for 
the change. The regulations incorporated by reference in the type 
certificate are commonly referred to as the ``original type 
certification basis.'' The regulations incorporated by reference in the 
Cessna model 525 Citation Jet are as follows:
    For serial numbers 525-0001 through 525-0599
    Part 23 effective February 1, 1965, as amended by Amendments 23-1 
through 23-38, and 23-40;
    For serial numbers: 525-0600 and subsequent:
    Part 23 effective February 1, 1965, as amended by Amendments 23-1 
through 23-38, and 23-40; except the following paragraphs applicable 
for Engines and Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADECs):
    Sections 23.611, 23.777, 23.779, 23.781, 23.865, 23.867, 23.901, 
23.903, 23.939, 23.943, 23.951, 23.955, 23.961, 23.973, 23.1011, 
23.1013, 23.1019, 23.1021, 23.1041, 23.1043, 23.1045, 23.1091, 23.1093, 
23.1103, 23,1111, 23.1121, 23.1123, 23.1141, 23.1143, 23.1145, 23.1163, 
23.1181, 23.1182, 23.1183, 23.1189, 23.1191, 23.1193, 23.1195, 23.1203, 
23.1301, 23.1305, 23.1309, 23.1337, 23.1521, 23.1549, and 23.1583 as 
amended through Amendment 23-1 through 23-38, and 23-40 through 23-54.
    For serial numbers 525-0001 through 525-0599:
    14 CFR part 36 effective December 1, 1969, as amended by Amendments 
36-1 through 36-18;
    For serial numbers 525-0600 and subsequent:
    Part 36 December 1, 1969, as amended by Amendments 36-1 through 36-
25
    For serial numbers 525-0001 through 525-0599:
    14 CFR part 34 effective September 10, 1990;
    For serial numbers 525-0600 and subsequent:
    Part 34 effective September 10, 1990, Fuel Venting and Exhaust 
Emission Requirements for Turbine Engine Powered Airplanes, as amended 
by Amendments 34-1 through 34-3.
    Compliance with the Noise Control Act of 1972;
    Special Conditions as follows:
    23-ACE-55, additional requirements for:
    Smoke evacuation, protection of electronic systems from lightning 
and high intensity radiated electromagnetic fields (HIRF), electronic 
flight instrument displays, thrust attenuating systems (thrust 
attenuating systems are not applicable for serial numbers 525-0600 and 
subsequent), engine fire extinguishing system, performance, including 
takeoff, takeoff speeds, accelerate-stop, takeoff path, takeoff 
distance and takeoff run, takeoff flight path, climb one engine 
inoperative, landing, balked landing, climb, minimum control speed, 
trim, static longitudinal stability, demonstration of static 
longitudinal stability, static directional and lateral stability, wings 
level stall, turning flight and accelerated stalls, stall warning, 
vibration and buffeting, high speed characteristics, airspeed 
indicating system, static pressure system, maximum operating speed 
limit, minimum flight crew, operating limitations, operating 
procedures, performance information, airspeed indicator, effects of 
contamination on Natural Laminar Flow airfoils, definitions, and AFM 
approved information.
    Exemption as follows:
    Exemption No. 5759 granted to use a relaxed ``Dutch Roll'' damping 
criteria above 18,000 feet in lieu of damping criteria of Sec.  
23.181(b).
    Equivalent level of safety as follows (Applicable to airplanes S/N 
525-0360 and On equipped with Collins Proline 21 electronic displays of 
engine instruments):
     Number ACE-00-01: Sections 23.1305(c)(2), (c)(5), and 
23.1549(a) through (d), direct reading, digital only displays for the 
high-pressure turbine speed (N2), and fuel flow indications.
    Compliance with ice protection has been demonstrated in accordance 
with Sec. Sec.  23.1416 and 23.1419.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 23) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Cessna model 525 Citation Jet 
because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are 
prescribed under the provisions of Sec.  21.16. The FAA issues special 
conditions, as defined in Sec.  11.19, under Sec.  11.38 and they 
become part of the type certification basis under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the model 525 must comply with the part 23 fuel vent and 
exhaust emission requirements of part 34 and the part 23 noise 
certification requirements of part 36.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the applicant apply for a supplemental type 
certificate to modify any other model to incorporate the same type 
certificate to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, 
the special conditions would also apply to the other model.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Cessna model 525 Citation jet will incorporate the following 
novel or unusual design features:
    Garmin International proposes to replace an existing BF Goodrich 
PS-834A lead-acid emergency battery with a Mid-Continent Instruments 
MD835 lithium ion battery on Cessna model 525 Citation Jet. This type 
of battery possesses certain failure, operational characteristics, and 
maintenance requirements that differ significantly from the Ni-Cd and 
lead-acid rechargeable batteries currently approved in other normal, 
utility, acrobatic, and commuter category airplanes.

Discussion

    The applicable part 21 and part 23 airworthiness regulations 
governing the installation of batteries in general aviation airplanes, 
including Sec.  23.1353, were derived from Civil Air Regulations

[[Page 44883]]

(CAR 3) as part of the recodification that established 14 CFR part 23. 
The battery requirements, which were identified as Sec.  23.1353, were 
basically a rewording of the CAR requirements and did not add any 
substantive technical requirements. An increase in incidents involving 
battery fires and failures that accompanied the increased use of Ni-Cd 
batteries in airplanes resulted in rulemaking activities on the battery 
requirements for business jet and commuter category airplanes. These 
regulations were incorporated into Sec.  23.1353(f) and (g), which 
apply only to Ni-Cd battery installations.
    The proposed use of Li-ion batteries on the Cessna model 525 
Citation Jet has prompted the FAA to review the adequacy of the 
existing battery regulations with respect to that chemistry. As the 
result of this review, the FAA determines the existing regulations do 
not adequately address several failure, operational, and maintenance 
characteristics of Li-ion batteries that could affect safety of the 
battery installation and the reliability of the Cessna model 525 
Citation Jet electrical power supply.
    Li-ion batteries in general are significantly more susceptible to 
internal failures that can result in self-sustaining increases in 
temperature and pressure (i.e., thermal runaway) than their Ni-Cd and 
lead-acid counterparts. This is especially true for overcharging a Li-
ion battery, which will likely result in explosion, fire, or both. 
Certain types of Li-ion batteries pose a potential safety problem 
because of the instability and flammability of the organic electrolyte 
employed by the cells of those batteries. The severity of thermal 
runaway in large batteries increases due to the higher amount of 
electrolyte.
    If the discharge of the cells is below a typical voltage of 3.0 
volts on some versions of Li-ion batteries, they will no longer accept 
a charge. This loss of capacity may not be detected by the simple 
voltage measurements commonly available to flight crews as a means of 
checking battery status, a problem shared with Ni-Cd batteries.
    Unlike Ni-Cd and lead-acid cells, some types of Li-ion cells employ 
electrolytes that are known to be flammable. This material can serve as 
a source of fuel for an external fire in the event of a cell container 
breach.
    The intent of these special conditions is to establish appropriate 
airworthiness standards for Li-ion battery installations in the Cessna 
model 525 Citation Jet. Special conditions also ensure that these 
battery installations do not possess hazardous or unreliable design 
characteristics. These special conditions adopt the following 
requirements as a means of addressing these concerns:
    (1) Inclusion of those sections of Sec.  23.1353 that are 
applicable to batteries of any type.
    (2) Inclusion of the flammable fluid fire protection requirements 
of Sec.  23.863. In the past, this rule was not applied to the 
batteries of business jet or commuter category airplanes since the 
electrolytes utilized in lead-acid and Ni-Cd batteries are not 
considered to be flammable.
    (3) Addition of new requirements to address the potential hazards 
of overcharging and over discharging that are unique to Li-ion battery 
designs.
    (4) Addition of maintenance requirements to ensure that batteries 
used as spares are maintained in an appropriate state of charge (SOC).

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Cessna model 525 Citation Jet. Should Garmin International apply at a 
later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other 
model to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, the 
special conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Cessna model 525 Citation Jet. 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.
    The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the 
notice and comment period in several prior instances and has been 
derived without substantive change from those previously issued. It is 
unlikely that prior public comment would result in a significant change 
from the substance contained herein. Therefore, because a delay would 
significantly affect the certification of the airplane, which is 
imminent, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment 
are unnecessary and impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting 
these special conditions upon issuance. The FAA is requesting comments 
to allow interested persons to submit views that may not have been 
submitted in response to the prior opportunities for comment described 
above.

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 
21.101; and 14 CFR 11.38 and 11.19.

The Special Conditions

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of 
the type certification basis for Cessna model 525 Citation Jet 
airplanes modified by Garmin International.
    1. Cessna Model 525 G1000 and GFC700 Lithium Battery Installation. 
The Federal Aviation Administration issues the following Special 
Conditions (SC), which apply to all Cessna model 525 Citation Jets 
equipped with Mid-Continent-835 Lithium Ion batteries, in lieu of the 
requirements of Sec.  23.1353 (a)(b)(c)(d)(e), Amendment 23-49.
    Lithium-ion batteries and battery installations on Cessna model 525 
Citation Jet equipped with existing PS-834A batteries must be designed 
and installed as follows:
    (1) Safe cell temperatures and pressures must be maintained during 
any probable charging or discharging condition, or during any failure 
of the charging or battery monitoring system not shown to be extremely 
remote. The Li-ion battery installation must be designed to preclude 
explosion or fire in the event of those failures.
    (2) Li-ion batteries must be designed to preclude the occurrence of 
self-sustaining, uncontrolled increases in temperature or pressure.
    (3) No explosive or toxic gases emitted by any Li-ion battery in 
normal operation or as the result of any failure of the battery 
charging or monitoring system, or battery installation not shown to be 
extremely remote, may accumulate in hazardous quantities within the 
airplane.
    (4) Li-ion batteries that contain flammable fluids must comply with 
the flammable fluid fire protection requirements of Sec.  23.863(a) 
through (d).
    (5) No corrosive fluids or gases that may escape from any Li-ion 
battery may damage airplane structure or essential equipment.
    (6) Each Li-ion battery installation must have provisions to 
prevent any hazardous effect on structure or essential systems that may 
be caused by the maximum amount of heat the battery can generate during 
a short circuit of the battery or of its individual cells.
    (7) Li-ion battery installations must have--
    (i) a system to control the charging rate of the battery 
automatically so as to prevent battery overheating or overcharging, or

[[Page 44884]]

    (ii) a battery temperature sensing and over-temperature warning 
system with a means for automatically disconnecting the battery from 
its charging source in the event of an over-temperature condition, or
    (iii) a battery failure sensing and warning system with a means for 
automatically disconnecting the battery from its charging source in the 
event of battery failure.
    (8) Any Li-ion battery installation whose function is required for 
safe operation of the airplane must incorporate a monitoring and 
warning feature that will provide an indication to the appropriate 
flight crewmembers whenever the capacity and state of charge (SOC) of 
the batteries have fallen below levels considered acceptable for 
dispatch of the airplane.
    (9) The Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) must contain 
required manufacturer's maintenance and inspection requirements to 
ensure batteries, including single cells, meet a safety function level 
essential to the aircraft's continued airworthiness.
    (i) The ICA must contain operating instructions and equipment 
limitations in an installation maintenance manual.
    (ii) The ICA must contain installation procedures and limitations 
in a maintenance manual sufficient to ensure cells or batteries, when 
installed according to the installation procedures, still meet safety 
functional levels essential to the aircraft's continued airworthiness. 
The limitations must identify any unique aspects of the installation.
    (iii) The ICA must contain corrective maintenance procedures to 
functionally check battery capacity at the manufacturer's required 
inspection intervals.
    (iv) The ICA must contain scheduled servicing information to 
replace batteries at the manufacturer's required replacement time.
    (v) The ICA must contain maintenance and inspection requirements to 
visually check for a battery and/or charger degradation.
    (10) Batteries in a rotating stock (spares) that have experienced 
degraded charge retention capability or other damage due to prolonged 
storage must be functionally checked at manufacturers recommended 
inspection intervals.
    (11) If the Lithium Ion battery application contains software and/
or complex hardware in accordance with Advisory Circular (AC) 20-115B 
and AC 20-152, they should be developed to the standards of DO-178B for 
software and DO-254 for complex hardware.
    These special conditions are not intended to replace Sec.  23.1353 
in the certification basis of the Cessna model 525 Citation Jet. These 
special conditions apply only to Li-ion batteries and battery 
installations. The battery requirements of Sec.  23.1353 remain in 
effect for batteries and battery installations on Cessna model 525 
Citation Jets that do not use Lithium Ion batteries.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on July 14, 2010.

Kimberly K. Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-18669 Filed 7-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P