[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15945-15946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07655]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 72 / Friday, April 13, 2018 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 15945]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 27

[Docket No.FAA-2017-1130; Notice No. 27-043-SC]


Special Conditions: Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 
Helicopters; Installation of Garmin International, Inc., Autopilot 
System

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Airbus Helicopters 
Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopters. These helicopters as modified by 
Garmin International, Inc., (Garmin) will have a novel or unusual 
design feature associated with the Garmin Flight Control (GFC) 600H 
autopilot with stability and control augmentation system (AP/SCAS). 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 April 13, 
2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Harrum, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, Policy and Innovations Division, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-4087; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 10, 2016, Garmin applied for a supplemental type 
certificate (STC) to install a GFC 600H AP/SCAS in Airbus Helicopters 
Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopters. The Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 
helicopters are 14 CFR part 27 normal category, single turbine engine, 
conventional helicopters designed for civil operation. These helicopter 
models are capable of carrying up to five passengers with one pilot and 
have a maximum gross weight of up to 5,220 pounds, depending on the 
model configuration. The major design features include a 3-blade, fully 
articulated main rotor, an anti-torque tail rotor system, a skid 
landing gear, and a visual flight rule basic avionics configuration.
    Garmin proposes to modify these model helicopters by installing a 
SCAS with autopilot functions in 2 or 3 axes, depending on the number 
of servos installed. The possible failure conditions for this system, 
and their effect on the continued safe flight and landing of the 
helicopter, are more severe than those envisioned by the present rules. 
The present 14 CFR 27.1309(b) and (c) regulations do not adequately 
address the safety requirements for systems whose failures could result 
in ``catastrophic'' or ``hazardous/severe-major'' failure conditions, 
or for complex systems whose failures could result in ``major'' failure 
conditions. When these rules were promulgated, it was not envisioned 
that a normal category rotorcraft would use systems that are complex or 
whose failure could result in ``catastrophic'' or ``hazardous/severe-
major'' effects on the rotorcraft. This is particularly true with the 
application of new technology, new application of standard technology, 
or other applications not envisioned by the rule that affect safety. 
The Garmin AP/SCAS controls rotorcraft flight control surfaces. 
Possible failure modes exhibited by this system could result in a 
catastrophic event.

Type Certification Basis

    Under 14 CFR 21.101 and 21.115, Garmin must show that the Airbus 
Helicopters Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopters, as changed, continue 
to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by 
reference in Type Certificate No. H9EU 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 Type Certificate No. H9EU are as follows:
    14 CFR 21.29 and part 27 effective February 1, 1965, plus 
Amendments 27-1 through 27-10.
    For aircraft incorporating mod. OP3369 (2370 kg/5225 lb mass 
extension), the following 14 CFR part 27 Amendments 27-1 through 27-40 
are replacing the same requirement from the certification basis above: 
Sec. Sec.  27.1; 27.21; 27.25; 27.27; 27.33; 27.45; 27.51; 27.65; 
27.71; 27.73; 27.75; 27.79; 27.141; 27.143; 27.173; 27.175; 27.177; 
27.241; 27.301; 27.303; 27.305; 27.307; 27.309; 27.321; 27.337; 27.339; 
27.341; 27.351; 27.471; 27.473; 27.501; 27.505; 27.521; 27.547; 27.549; 
27.563(b); 27.571; 27.602; 27.661; 27.663; 27.695; 27.723; 27.725; 
27.727; 27.737; 27.751; 27.753; 27.801(b)(d); 27.927(c); 27.1041; 
27.1043; 27.1045; 27.1301; 27.1501; 27.1519; 27.1529; 27.1581; 27.1583; 
27.1585; 27.1587; 27.1589.
    For AS350B3 aircraft incorporating mod. OP-4605 (installation of a 
fuel system improving crashworthiness), 14 CFR 27.561(c) at Amendment 
27-32 replaces the same requirement from the certification basis above 
for the following elements of the fuel tank lower structure affected by 
this modification: cradles, longitudinal beams, X-stops and rods.
    Additionally, Garmin must comply with the equivalent level of 
safety findings, exemptions, and special conditions prescribed by the 
Administrator as part of the certification basis.
    The Administrator has determined the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (that is, 14 CFR part 27), as they pertain to this STC, do 
not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Airbus 
Helicopters Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopters because of a novel or 
unusual design feature. Therefore, we propose to prescribe these 
special conditions under Sec.  21.16.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the applicant apply for an STC to change any 
other model included on the same type certificate to incorporate the 
same or similar novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions 
would also apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, Garmin must show that the

[[Page 15946]]

Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopters, as changed, 
comply with the noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
    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.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopter 
incorporates the following novel or unusual design features: A GFC 600H 
AP/SCAS. This GFC 600H AP/SCAS performs non-critical control functions. 
The GFC 600H AP/SCAS is a two or three axis system with the following 
novel functions: Limit cueing, level mode, and hover assist.

Discussion

    These special conditions clarify the requirement to perform a 
proper failure analysis and also recognizes that the severity of 
failures can vary. Current industry standards and practices recognize 
five failure condition categories: Catastrophic, Hazardous, Major, 
Minor, and No-Safety Effect. These special conditions address the 
safety requirement for systems whose failures could result in 
catastrophic or hazardous/severe-major failure conditions and for 
complex systems whose failures could result in major failure 
conditions.
    To comply with the provisions of the special conditions, we require 
that Garmin provide the FAA with a systems safety assessment (SSA) for 
the final GFC 600H AP/SCAS installation configuration that adequately 
address the safety objectives established by a functional hazard 
assessment (FHA) and a preliminary system safety assessment (PSSA), 
including the fault tree analysis (FTA). This ensures that all failure 
conditions and their resulting effects are adequately addressed for the 
installed GFC 600H AP/SCAS. The SSA process, FHA, PSSA, and FTA are all 
parts of the overall safety assessment process discussed in FAA 
Advisory Circular 27-1B, Certification of Normal Category Rotorcraft, 
and Society of Automotive Engineers document Aerospace Recommended 
Practice 4761, Guidelines and Methods for Conducting the Safety 
Assessment Process on Civil Airborne Systems and Equipment.
    These special conditions require that the GFC 600H AP/SCAS 
installed on Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2 and Model AS350B3 
helicopters meet the requirements to adequately address the failure 
effects identified by the FHA, and subsequently verified by the SSA, 
within the defined design integrity requirements.

Comments

    No comments were received in response to the Notice of proposed 
special conditions No. 27-043-SC (82 FR 57685, December 7, 2017). The 
closing date for comments was January 22, 2018. Accordingly, the 
special conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to 
Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopters. Should Garmin 
apply at a later date for an STC to modify any other model included on 
Type Certificate Number H9EU to incorporate the same novel or unusual 
design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as 
well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on two model helicopters. It is not a rule of general applicability and 
affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of these 
features.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 27

    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 Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2 and 
AS350B3 helicopters modified by Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin).
    Instead of the requirements of 14 CFR 27.1309(b) and (c), the 
following must be met for certification of the Garmin Flight Control 
600H autopilot with stability and control augmentation system:
    (a) The equipment and systems must be designed and installed so 
that any equipment and system does not adversely affect the safety of 
the rotorcraft or its occupants.
    (b) The rotorcraft systems and associated components considered 
separately and in relation to other systems, must be designed and 
installed so that:
    (1) The occurrence of any catastrophic failure condition is 
extremely improbable;
    (2) The occurrence of any hazardous failure condition is extremely 
remote; and
    (3) The occurrence of any major failure condition is remote.
    (c) Information concerning an unsafe system operating condition 
must be provided in a timely manner to the crew to enable them to take 
appropriate corrective action. An appropriate alert must be provided if 
immediate pilot awareness and immediate or subsequent corrective action 
is required. Systems and controls, including indications and 
annunciations, must be designed to minimize crew errors which could 
create additional hazards.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 30, 2018.
Jorge Castillo,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07655 Filed 4-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P