[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 77 (Monday, April 22, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16601-16602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07996]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 77 / Monday, April 22, 2019 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 16601]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0294; Special Conditions No. 25-743-SC]


Special Conditions: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200 
Airplane; Control Surface Position Awareness

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 Mitsubishi 
Aircraft Corporation (Mitsubishi) Model MRJ-200 airplane. This airplane 
will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state 
of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport 
category airplanes. This design feature is a fly-by-wire electronic 
flight control system and no direct coupling from cockpit controller to 
control surface. 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: This action is effective on Mitsubishi on April 22, 2019. Send 
comments on or before June 6, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2019-0294 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: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal 
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the 
docket website, 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).
    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 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: Joe Jacobsen, Airplane & Flight Crew 
Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and 
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3158; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions 
has been published in the Federal Register for public comment in 
several prior instances with no substantive comments received. 
Therefore, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment 
are unnecessary, and finds that, for the same reason, good cause exists 
for adopting these special conditions upon publication in the Federal 
Register.

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 August 19, 2009, Mitsubishi applied for a type certificate for 
their new Model MRJ-200 airplane. The Model MRJ-200 airplane is a low-
wing, conventional-tail design with two wing-mounted turbofan engines. 
The airplane is equipped with an electronic flight-control system, has 
seating for 92 passengers and a maximum takeoff weight of 98,767 lbs.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.17, Mitsubishi must show that the Model MRJ-200 airplane meets 
the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 
through 25-141; part 36, as amended by Amendments 36-1 through 36-30; 
and part 34, as amended by Amendments 34-1 through the amendment 
effective at the time of design approval.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Mitsubishi Model MRJ-200 airplane 
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 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, these special conditions would also apply to 
the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Mitsubishi Model MRJ-200 airplane must comply with the 
vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise 
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.

[[Page 16602]]

    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(a)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Mitsubishi Model MRJ-200 airplane will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design features:
    This design feature is a fly-by-wire electronic flight control 
system and no direct coupling from cockpit controller to control 
surface. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain 
adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature.

Discussion

    As a result of the electronic flight control system and lack of 
direct coupling from the cockpit controller to the control surface, the 
pilot is not aware of the actual control surface position. Some unusual 
flight conditions, arising from atmospheric conditions and/or airplane 
or engine failures, may result in full or nearly full surface 
deflection. Unless the flightcrew is made aware of excessive deflection 
or impending control surface limiting, piloted or auto-flight system 
control of the airplane might be inadvertently continued in such a 
manner to cause loss of control or other unsafe stability or 
performance characteristics.
    These special conditions for control surface awareness require 
suitable flight control position annunciation to be provided to the 
flightcrew when a flight condition exists in which nearly full surface 
authority (not crew-commanded) is being utilized. Suitability of such a 
display must take into account that some pilot-demanded maneuvers 
(e.g., rapid roll) are necessarily associated with intended full 
performance, which may saturate the surface. Therefore, simple alerting 
systems, which would function in both intended and unexpected control-
limiting situations, must be properly balanced between needed crew 
awareness and potential nuisance to the flightcrew. A monitoring system 
that compares airplane motion and surface deflection, and pilot side 
stick controller (SSC) demand could help reduce nuisance alerting.
    These special conditions also address flight control system mode 
annunciation. Suitable mode annunciation must be provided to the 
flightcrew for events that significantly change the operating mode of 
the system but do not merit the classic ``failure warning.''
    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.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Mitsubishi Model MRJ-200 airplane. Should Mitsubishi apply at a later 
date for a change to the type certificate to include another model 
incorporating 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 one model of airplanes. It is not a rule of general applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority Citation

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 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 Mitsubishi Model MRJ-200 airplanes.

Control Surface Position Awareness

    1. In addition to the requirements of Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) 25.143, 25.671, and 25.672, the following 
requirements apply:
    a. The system design must ensure that the flightcrew is made 
suitably aware whenever the primary control means nears the limit of 
control authority.
    Note: The term ``suitably aware'' indicates annunciations provided 
to the flightcrew are appropriately balanced between nuisance and that 
necessary for crew awareness.
    b. If the design of the flight control system has multiple modes of 
operation, a means must be provided to indicate to the crew any mode 
that significantly changes or degrades the normal handling or 
operational characteristics of the airplane.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on April 16, 2019.
Mary A. Schooley,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07996 Filed 4-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P