[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 164 (Monday, August 24, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52041-52043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18614]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 33

[Docket No FAA-2020-0816; Special Conditions No. 33-20-01-SC]


Special Conditions: Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Arrano 1A 
Turboshaft Engine Model; 30-Minute All Engines Operating Power Rating

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Safran Helicopter 
Engines, S.A. (Safran Helicopter Engines), Arrano 1A turboshaft engine 
model. This engine model will have a novel or unusual design feature 
when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the 
airworthiness standards for aircraft engines. This design feature is 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: This action is effective on Safran Helicopter Engines on August 
24, 2020. Send comments on or before October 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2020-0816 
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://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 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: Tara Fitzgerald, FAA, AIR-6A2, Engine 
and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification Service, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts, 01803-5213; telephone (781) 
238-7130; facsimile (781) 238-7199; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined, in accordance with 5 
U.S. Code 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3), that notice and opportunity for 
prior public comment are unnecessary because substantially identical 
special conditions have been previously subject to the public comment 
process in several prior instances such that the FAA is satisfied that 
new comments are unlikely. For the same reason, the FAA finds that good 
cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon issuance. The 
FAA is requesting comments to allow interested persons to submit views 
that may not have been submitted in response to the prior opportunities 
for comment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Special  conditions  number               Company and model
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 33-021-SC \1\.....................  Light Helicopter Turbine Engine
                                         Company CTS800-4AT Turboshaft
                                         Engine.
No. 33-010-SC \2\.....................  Pratt and Whitney Canada, Inc.
                                         PT6C-67E Turboshaft Engine.
No. 33-009-SC \3\.....................  Pratt and Whitney Canada Corp.
                                         PW210S Turboshaft Engine.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 82 FR 60854, December 26, 2017.
\2\ 76 FR 56097, September 12, 2011.
\3\ 76 FR 40594, July 11, 2011.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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.
    The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date for 
comments. The FAA may change these special conditions based on the 
comments received.

Background

    On August 30, 2019, Safran Helicopter Engines applied for a type 
certificate for the Arrano 1A turboshaft engine model. The Arrano 1A 
turboshaft engine model has an annular inlet integrating inlet guide 
vanes, a two-stage centrifugal compressor driven by a single-stage high 
pressure turbine, a reverse flow combustion chamber and a single-stage 
low pressure turbine (power turbine) driving a reduction gearbox 
located at the front of the engine and an exhaust pipe. The Arrano 1A 
turboshaft engine model will incorporate a novel or unusual design 
feature, which is a 30-minute AEO power rating. Regulations pertaining 
to a 30-minute AEO power rating have not been incorporated into part 
33. These special conditions provide the requirements for the 30-minute 
AEO power rating for the Arrano 1A turboshaft engine model. Safran 
Helicopter Engines has requested this 30-minute AEO power rating to 
support helicopter search and rescue missions that require hover 
operations at high power. The use of the 30-minute AEO power rating 
will require special conditions to address the use of this 30-minute 
AEO power rating and its effects on the Arrano 1A engine model.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.17, Safran Helicopter Engines must show that the Arrano 1A 
turboshaft engine model meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 
33, dated February 1,

[[Page 52042]]

1965, as amended by amendments 33-1 through 33-34.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (e.g., 14 CFR part 33) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Safran Helicopter Engines, Arrano 
1A 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 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.
    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 Arrano 1A 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

    The type certification basis for the Arrano 1A turboshaft engine 
model does not contain adequate airworthiness standards for a 30-minute 
AEO power rating. Therefore, special conditions are necessary to 
provide additional safety standards for rating definition, instructions 
for continued airworthiness (ICA), and endurance testing.
    The 30-minute AEO power rating is generally intended to be used for 
hovering at increased power for search and rescue missions at power 
levels higher than the maximum continuous rating, up to rated takeoff 
power. These special conditions address the effects on the engine 
during the use of the 30-minute AEO power for up to 30 minutes. The 30-
minute AEO power rating time limitation applies to each instance the 
30-minute AEO power rating is used. There is no limit to the number of 
times the 30-minute AEO power rating can be used during any one flight 
and there is no cumulative time limitation.
    In accordance with Sec.  33.4, the applicant must prepare ICAs. 
Those ICAs must include instructions to address the unknown usage of 
the 30-minute AEO power rating and its effect on engine deterioration 
for the Arrano 1A turboshaft engine model. Safran Helicopter Engines 
must assess the usage and publish ICAs with airworthiness limitations 
section limits in accordance with the usage to prevent excessive engine 
deterioration. Because the Arrano 1A turboshaft engine model has a 
continuous one engine inoperative (OEI) rating and associated 
limitations equal to or higher than the 30-minute AEO rating, the test 
time performed at the continuous OEI rating may be credited toward the 
25 hours of operation endurance test requirement set forth in these 
SCs. However, test times spent at other rating elements of the Sec.  
33.87 endurance test, such as takeoff or other OEI ratings (that may be 
equal to or higher), may not be counted toward the required 25 hours 
endurance test set forth in these SCs. Therefore, special conditions 
are issued under the provisions of 14 CFR 11.19, 21.16, and 21.17. 
Safran Helicopter Engines must demonstrate compliance to the safety 
standards specified in the special conditions.
    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 
Safran Helicopter Engines, Arrano 1A turboshaft engine model. Should 
Safran Helicopter Engines 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 the Arrano 1A turboshaft engine model. It is not a rule of general 
applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 33

    Aircraft, Engines, Aviation Safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority Citation

    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 Safran Helicopter Engines, Arrano 
1A turboshaft engine model.
    In addition to the general definitions in Sec.  1.1, the following 
definition applies to these special conditions: ``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.
    In addition to the airworthiness standards in 14 CFR part 33, the 
following special conditions apply:
    (a) Section 33.1, Applicability, and Section 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 rating, limits, and usage.
    (b) Section 33.4, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness. In 
addition to the requirements of Sec.  33.4, the instructions for 
continued airworthiness 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 one engine inoperative (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 these special conditions.
    (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 and operating limitations required to be 
established by Sec.  33.7(a) and (c), a rated 30-minute AEO power and 
operating limitations must be established relating to the following:
    (1) Horsepower, torque, shaft speed (r.p.m.) and gas temperature.
    (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.

[[Page 52043]]

    (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 August 20, 2020.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-18614 Filed 8-20-20; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P