[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 12, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35108-35110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13800]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 29

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0502; Special Conditions No. 29-030-SC]


Special Conditions: Eurocopter France, EC175B; Use of 30-Minute 
Power Rating

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 Eurocopter France 
Model EC175B helicopter. This model helicopter will have the novel or 
unusual design feature of a 30-minute power rating, generally intended 
to be used for hovering at increased power for search and rescue 
missions. 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 June 3, 2013. 
We must receive your comments by July 29, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2013-0502 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC, 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery of Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m., and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information 
the commenter provides. Using the search function of the docket Web 
site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all comments 
received into any FAA docket, including the name of the individual 
sending the comment (or signing the comment for an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement can 
be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room @12-140 
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Haight, Rotorcraft Standards 
Staff, ASW-111, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5204; 
facsimile (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Reason for No Prior Notice and Comment before Adoption

    The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for public 
comment are impractical because we do not expect substantive comments, 
and because this special condition only affects this one manufacturer. 
We also considered that these procedures would significantly delay the 
issuance of the design approval, and thus, the delivery of the affected 
aircraft. As certification for the Eurocopter France model EC175B is 
imminent, the FAA finds that good cause exists for making these special 
conditions effective upon issuance.

Comments Invited

    While we did not precede this with a notice of proposed special 
conditions, we invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking 
by sending written comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments 
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.
    We will consider all comments we receive by 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.

Background and Discussion

    On March 10, 2008, Eurocopter France applied for a Type Certificate 
for the new model EC175B. The EC175B is a Transport Category, 14 CFR 
part 29, twin engine conventional helicopter designed for civil 
operations. This model will be certificated with Category A performance 
and under dual pilot instrument flight rules, powered by two Pratt & 
Whitney PT6C-67E engines with a dual channel Full Authority Digital 
Engine Control system, have five main rotor blades, a maximum gross 
weight of 15,400 pounds, and a velocity not to exceed 175 knots. The 
EC175B model will have an integrated modular avionics suite with four 
6x8 inch multi-function displays termed the Common Integrated Global 
Avionics for Light Helicopters. This rotorcraft will be capable of 
carrying 16 passengers and 2 crew members. Its initial customer base 
will be offshore oil and Search and Rescue operations.
    Eurocopter France proposes that the EC175B model use a novel and 
unusual design feature, which is a 30-minute power rating, identified 
in the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E engine type certificate data 
sheet (TCDS) [FAA TCDS No. E00068EN]. 14 CFR 1.1 defines ``rated 
takeoff power'' as limited in use to no more than 5 minutes for takeoff 
operation. Thus, the use of takeoff power for 30 minutes will require 
special airworthiness standards, known as special conditions, to 
address the use of this 30-minute power rating and its effects on the 
rotorcraft. The use of this power will be limited to 50 minutes per 
flight based on engine durability considerations. These special 
conditions will add requirements to the existing airworthiness 
standards in 14 CFR 29.1049 (Hovering cooling test procedures), Sec.  
29.1305 (Powerplant instruments), and Sec.  29.1521 (Powerplant 
limitations).
    For the EC175B, the European Aviation Safety Agency has issued CRI 
E-01, which documents the special conditions.

[[Page 35109]]

    The following is a summary of the final special conditions:
    In addition to the requirements of Sec.  29.1049, the aircraft 
cooling effects due to use of the 30-minute power rating must be 
accounted for in the testing.
    In addition to the requirements of Sec.  29.1305, since this new 
30-minute power rating has a time limit associated with its use, the 
pilot must have the means to identify:
     When the rated engine power level is achieved,
     When the event begins,
     When the time interval expires, and
     When the cumulative time in one flight is reached.
    In addition to the requirements of Sec.  29.1521, Powerplant 
Limitations, the use of takeoff power for 30 minutes must be limited to 
not more than 30 minutes per use and no more than 50 minutes per 
flight. This is based upon the definition of ``rated takeoff power'' in 
14 CFR 1.1, which limits the use of rated takeoff power to periods of 
not over 5 minutes for takeoff operation.
    Furthermore, the Model EC175B rotorcraft flight manual must include 
limitations on use of the 30-minute power rating to state:
     Continuous use above maximum continuous power (MCP) is 
limited to 30 minutes, and
     Cumulative use above MCP is limited to 50 minutes per 
flight.

Type Certification Basis

    Under 14 CFR 21.17, Eurocopter France must show that the EC175B 
model helicopter meets the applicable provisions of part 29, as amended 
by Amendment 29-1 through 29-52, dated April 5, 2010. In addition, the 
certification basis includes certain later amended sections of part 29 
that are not relevant to these special conditions.
    The Administrator has determined that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (that is, 14 CFR part 29) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the EC175B model helicopter because of 
a novel or unusual design feature. Therefore, special conditions are 
prescribed under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the EC175B must comply with the noise certification 
requirements of 14 CFR part 36; and the FAA must issue a finding of 
regulatory adequacy under section 611 of Public Law 92-574, the ``Noise 
Control Act of 1972.''
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in Sec.  11.19, in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type 
certification basis under Sec.  21.17(a)(2).
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they 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, the special conditions would also apply to the 
other model.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The EC175B model helicopter will incorporate a novel or unusual 
design feature, which is:
     A 30-minute power rating.

Applicability

    These special conditions are applicable to the Eurocopter France 
model EC175B helicopter. Should Eurocopter France apply at a later date 
for an amendment 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.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Eurocopter France model EC175B helicopter. It is not a rule of 
general applicability, and it affects only the applicant who applied to 
the FAA for approval of this feature.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 29

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44704.

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 Eurocopter France model EC175B 
helicopter. Unless stated otherwise, all requirements in Sec. Sec.  
29.1049, 29.1305, and 29.1521 remain unchanged.
    (a) Section 29.1049 Hovering cooling test procedures, Final Rule. 
Docket No. 5084; issued October 13, 1964. In addition to the 
requirements of this section, the special condition states:
    ``The hovering cooling provisions at the 30-minute power rating 
must be shown--
    (a) At maximum weight or at the greatest weight at which the 
rotorcraft can hover (if less), at sea level, with the power required 
to hover but not more than the 30-minute power, in the ground effect in 
still air, until:
     At least 5 minutes after the occurrence of the highest 
temperature recorded; or
     the continuous time limit of the 30-minute power rating if 
the highest temperature recorded is not stabilized before.
    (b) At maximum weight, and at the altitude resulting in zero rate 
of climb for this configuration, until:
     At least 5 minutes after the occurrence of the highest 
temperature recorded; or
     the continuous time limit of the 30-minute power rating if 
the highest temperature recorded is not stabilized before.''
    (b) Section 29.1305 Powerplant instruments, at Amendment 29-40. In 
addition to the requirements of this section, the special condition is 
similar to Sec.  29.1305(a)(25) for the 30-minute power rating and 
states:
    ``For rotorcraft with a 30-minute power rating, a means must be 
provided to alert the pilot when the engine is at the 30-minute power 
level, when the event begins, when the time interval expires, and when 
the cumulative time in one flight is reached.''
    (c) Section 29.1521 Powerplant limitations, at Amendment 29-41. In 
addition to the requirements of this section, the special condition is 
similar to Sec.  29.1521(b) and states:
    ``Use of the 30-minute power must be limited to no more than 30 
minutes per use, and no more than 50 minutes per flight. The use of the 
30-minute power must also be limited by:
    (1) The maximum rotational speed, which may not be greater than--
    (i) The maximum value determined by the rotor design; or
    (ii) The maximum value demonstrated during the type tests;
    (2) The maximum allowable turbine inlet or turbine outlet gas 
temperature (for turbine engines);
    (3) The maximum allowable power or torque for each engine, 
considering the power input limitations of the transmission with all 
engines operating;
    (4) The maximum allowable power or torque for each engine 
considering the power input limitations of the transmission with one 
engine inoperative;
    (5) The time limit for the use of the power corresponding to the 
limitations established in paragraphs (b)(1) through (5) of this 
section; and
    (6) If the time limit established in paragraph (b)(6) of this 
paragraph exceeds 2 minutes--
    (i) The maximum allowable engine and transmission oil 
temperatures.''


[[Page 35110]]


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas on June 3, 2013.
Kimberly K. Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13800 Filed 6-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P