[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54889-54890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21794]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 178 / Monday, September 15, 2014 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 54889]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 29

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0697; Special Conditions No. 29-034-SC]


Special Conditions: AgustaWestland, AW189; Use of 30-Minute All 
Engines Operating (AEO) 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 AgustaWestland 
Model AW189 helicopter. This model helicopter will have the novel or 
unusual design feature of a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO) 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 September 4, 
2014. We must receive your comments by October 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2014-0697 
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 
helicopter. Since the public comment process would significantly delay 
delivery of the AgustaWestland Model AW189 helicopter, 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 January 31, 2012 AgustaWestland applied for a Type Certificate 
for the new model AW189. The AW189 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 
both single and dual pilot instrument flight rules, powered by two 
General Electric CT7-2E1 engines with a dual channel Full Authority 
Digital Engine Control system, have five main rotor blades, a maximum 
gross weight of 18,300 pounds, and a velocity not to exceed 169 knots. 
The AW189 model will have an integrated modular avionics suite with 
four 8x10 inch multi-function displays that are night vision goggle 
compatible, along with a 4-axis automatic flight control system. This 
helicopter will be capable of carrying a maximum of 19 passengers and 2 
crew members. Its initial customer base will be offshore oil and Search 
and Rescue operations.
    AgustaWestland proposes that the AW189 model use a novel and 
unusual design feature, which is a 30-minute AEO power rating. 14 CFR 
1.1 defines ``rated takeoff power'' as limited in use to no more than 5 
minutes for takeoff operation. 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 AEO rating and its 
effects on the rotorcraft. The use of this power will be limited to 30 
minutes. These special conditions will add requirements to the existing 
airworthiness standards in 14 CFR

[[Page 54890]]

29.1049 (Hovering cooling test procedures), Sec.  29.1305 (Powerplant 
instruments), and Sec.  29.1521 (Powerplant limitations).
    For the AW189 model helicopter, the European Aviation Safety Agency 
has issued Certification Review Item E-07, which documents the special 
conditions.
    The following is a summary of the final special conditions:
    (a) In addition to the requirements of Sec.  29.1049, the aircraft 
cooling effects due to use of the 30-minute AEO power rating versus the 
Takeoff (5-minute) rating must be accounted for in the testing.
    (b) In addition to the requirements of Sec.  29.1305, since this 
new 30-minute AEO power rating has a time limit associated with its 
use, the pilot must have the means to identify:
    (1) When the rated engine power level is achieved,
    (2) when the event begins,
    (3) when the time interval expires, and
    (4) when the cumulative time in one flight is reached.
    (c) In addition to the requirements of Sec.  29.1521, this new 30 
minute AEO power rating must be limited to not more than 30 minutes per 
use. This new rating will allow use of power above maximum continuous 
power (MCP) for 30 minutes.
    (d) Furthermore, the model AW189 rotorcraft flight manual must 
include limitations on use of the 30-minute AEO power rating, which 
state that continuous use above MCP take-off power is limited to 30 
minutes.

Type Certification Basis

    Under 14 CFR 21.17, AgustaWestland must show that the AW189 model 
helicopter meets the applicable provisions of part 29, as amended by 
Amendment 29-1 through 29-52, dated April 5, 2010. The model AW189 
certification basis date is the May 12, 2011, date of application to 
EASA.
    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 AgustaWestland model AW189 
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 AgustaWestland model AW189 helicopter 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 AgustaWestland AW189 model helicopter will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design feature:
     A 30-minute AEO power rating.

Applicability

    These special conditions are applicable to the AgustaWestland model 
AW189 helicopter. Should AgustaWestland 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 one model of helicopters. 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 the AgustaWestland model AW189 
helicopter. Unless stated otherwise, all requirements in Sec. Sec.  
29.1049, 29.1305, and 29.1521 remain unchanged.
    Section 29.1049, Hovering cooling test procedures. In addition to 
the requirements of this section, for rotorcraft with a 30-minute AEO 
power rating, the hovering cooling provisions at the 30-minute AEO 
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 until the continuous time limit of the 30-
minute AEO 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 until the continuous 
time limit of the 30-minute AEO power rating if the highest temperature 
recorded is not stabilized before.
    Section 29.1305 Powerplant instruments, at Amendment 29-40. In 
addition to the requirements of this section, for rotorcraft with a 30-
minute AEO 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.
    Section 29.1521 Powerplant limitations, at Amendment 29-41. In 
addition to the requirements of this section, use of the 30-minute AEO 
power must be limited to not more than 30 minutes per use. 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 (1) through (4) above; and
    (6) The maximum allowable engine and transmission oil temperatures, 
if the time limit established in paragraph (5) above exceeds 2 minutes.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 4, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-21794 Filed 9-12-14; 8:45 am]
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