[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60854-60856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27774]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 33

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1110; Special Conditions No. 33-021-SC]


Special Conditions: Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company 
(LHTEC), CTS800-4AT; 30-Minute All Engines Operating 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 Light Helicopter 
Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC), CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine model. 
This engine model will have a novel or unusual design feature 
associated with a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO) power rating. 
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 January 10, 
2018. We must receive your comments by January 25, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-1110 
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 or 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 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    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 W12-140 
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: Christopher Richards, AIR-6A2, Engine 
and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification Service, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803-5213; telephone (847) 
361-0837; facsimile (781) 238-7199; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and 
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is 
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay 
issuance of the Type Certificate approval and thus, delivery of the 
affected engines.
    In addition, the substance of these special conditions has been 
subjected to the notice and comment period in 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 engine, 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.

Comments Invited

    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 
may change these special conditions based on the comments we receive.

Background

    On April 14, 2017, LHTEC applied for an amendment to Type 
Certificate No. TE2CH to include the new CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine 
model. The CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine model is a derivative model in 
the CTS800 turboshaft engine series. The CTS800-4AT

[[Page 60855]]

is a free-turbine turboshaft engine and will incorporate a novel or 
unusual design feature, which is a 30-minute AEO power rating. LHTEC 
has requested this rating to support helicopter search and rescue 
missions that require hover operations at high power.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) Sec.  21.101, LHTEC must show that the CTS800-4AT turboshaft 
engine model meets the applicable provisions of the regulations 
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. TE2CH or the 
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the 
change, except for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA. 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 TE2CH are as follows: 14 CFR 
part 33 dated June 3, 1964, as amended by Amendments 33-1 through 33-18 
inclusive.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for 
the LHTEC, CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine model because of a novel or 
unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the 
provisions of Sec.  21.16.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the engine model(s) 
for which they are issued. Should the type certificate for that engine 
model be amended later to include any other engine model(s) that 
incorporates the same novel or unusual design feature, or should any 
other engine model(s) 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 engine model(s) under 
Sec.  21.101.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type 
certification basis under Sec.  21.17 or Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine model will incorporate a novel or 
unusual design feature, which is a 30-minute AEO power rating. This 
rating will be used to support helicopter search and rescue missions 
that require hover operations at high power.

Discussion

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17(a)(1) and 21.101(a), LHTEC 
must show that the CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine meets the provisions of 
the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application, unless 
otherwise specified by the FAA. The type certification basis for the 
derivative model CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine is 14 CFR part 33, 
Amendments 33-1 through 33-18 effective August 19, 1996, which does not 
contain adequate safety standards concerning a 30-minute AEO power 
rating. Therefore, these special conditions will add requirements to 
the rating definition, instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), 
engine ratings and operating limitations, instrument connection, and 
endurance testing.
    The 30-minute time limit applies to each instance the rating is 
used. In addition, there is no limit to the number of times the rating 
can be used during any one flight, and there is no cumulative time 
limitation. The ICA requirement is intended to address the unknown 
nature of the actual rating usage and associated engine deterioration. 
LHTEC will assess the expected usage and publish ICAs with 
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) limits in accordance with those 
assumptions, such that engine deterioration is not excessive. Because 
the CTS800-4AT engine has a continuous one engine inoperative (OEI) 
rating and limits equal to or higher than the 30-minute AEO power 
rating, the test time performed at the continuous OEI rating may be 
credited toward the 25-hour requirement. However, test time spent at 
other rating elements of the test, such as takeoff or other OEI ratings 
(that may be equal to or higher), may not be counted toward the 25 
hours of required running. Therefore, special conditions are issued 
under the provisions of 14 CFR 11.19, 21.16, and 21.17(a)(2).

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine model. Should LHTEC apply at a later date 
for a change to the type certificate to include another model on the 
same type certificate 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 CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine. It is not a rule of general 
applicability and applies only to LHTEC, who requested FAA approval of 
this engine feature.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 33

    Aircraft, Engines, 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 LHTEC, CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine 
model.
    In addition to the requirements of Sec.  1.1, the following 
definition applies to this special condition: ``Rated 30-minute all 
engines operating (AEO) power means the approved brake horsepower 
developed under static conditions at the specified altitude and 
temperature, and within the operating limitations under part 33, and 
limited in use to periods not exceeding 30 minutes each.''
    In addition to the airworthiness standards in 14 CFR part 33, the 
following special conditions apply:
    (a) Sections 33.1, Applicability and 33.3, General. As applicable, 
all documentation, testing and analysis required to comply with the 
part 33 type certification basis must account for the 30-minute AEO 
power rating, limits, and usage.
    (b) Section 33.4, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness. In 
addition to the requirements of Sec.  33.4, the ICA must:
    (1) Include instructions to ensure that in-service engine 
deterioration due to the rated 30-minute AEO power usage will not 
exceed that assumed for establishing the engine maintenance program and 
all other approved ratings, including OEI, are available (within 
associated limits and assumed usage) for every flight.
    (2) Validate the adequacy of the maintenance actions required under 
paragraph (b)(1) of this special condition.
    (3) Include in the airworthiness limitations section any mandatory 
inspections and serviceability limits related to the use of the 30-
minute AEO power rating.
    (c) Section 33.7, Engine ratings and operating limitations. In 
addition to the ratings provided in Sec.  33.7(a) and (c), a rated 30-
minute AEO power and operating limitations are established relating to 
the following:
    (1) Horsepower, torque, shaft speed (r.p.m), and gas temperature.

[[Page 60856]]

    (2) The rated 30-minute AEO power and associated limitations must 
not exceed the rated takeoff power and associated limitations.
    (d) Section 33.29, Instrument connection. If dependence is placed 
on instrumentation needed to monitor the rating's use, the applicant 
must make provision for the installation of that instrumentation, 
specify the provisions for instrumentation in the engine installation 
instructions, and declare them mandatory in the engine approval 
documentation.
    (e) Section 33.87, Endurance test. In addition to the requirements 
of Sec.  33.87(a) and (d), the overall test run must include a minimum 
of 25 hours of operation at rated 30-minute AEO power and limits, 
divided into periods of not less than 30 minutes, but not more than 60 
minutes at rated 30-minute AEO power, and alternate periods at maximum 
continuous power or less.
    (1) Each Sec.  33.87(d) continuous OEI rating test period of 60 
minutes duration, run at power and limits equal to or higher than the 
30-minute AEO power rating, may be credited toward this requirement. 
Note that the test time required for the takeoff or other OEI ratings 
may not be counted toward the 25 hours of testing required at the 30-
minute AEO power rating.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 15, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27774 Filed 12-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P