82 FR 30798 - Special Conditions: Game Composites Ltd, GB1 Airplane; Acrobatic Category Aerodynamic Stability

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 126 (July 3, 2017)

This action proposes special conditions for the Game Composites Ltd. GB1 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with static stability. This airplane can perform at the highest level of aerobatic competition. To be competitive, the airplane is designed with its lateral and directional axes being decoupled from each other; providing more precise maneuvering. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30798-30800]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13991]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 23

[Docket No.FAA-2017-0651; Notice No. 23-17-02-SC]


Special Conditions: Game Composites Ltd, GB1 Airplane; Acrobatic 
Category Aerodynamic Stability

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Game 
Composites Ltd. GB1 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or 
unusual design feature(s) associated with static stability. This 
airplane can perform at the highest level of aerobatic competition. To 
be competitive, the airplane is designed with its lateral and 
directional axes being decoupled from each other; providing more 
precise maneuvering. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not 
contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design 
feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional 
safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a 
level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing 
airworthiness standards.

DATES: Send your comments on or before August 2, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-0651 
using any of the following methods:
    [square] Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    [square] 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.
    [square] 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 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    [square] 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 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: Mr. Ross Schaller, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 901 Locust; Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 329-
4162; facsimile (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 ask 
that you send us two copies of written comments.
    We will consider all comments we receive on or before 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

    On March 10, 2014, Game Composite Ltd. applied for a type 
certificate for their new GB1 airplane. The GB1 is a

[[Page 30799]]

single-engine airplane with a two-place tandem canopy cockpit. It 
features conventional landing gear, conventional low-wing planform, and 
is mostly constructed of carbon composite materials. The engine is a 
Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A, fitted with a model MTV-14-B-C/C190-130 4-blade 
MT-propeller. The airplane will be approved for Day-VFR operations 
(non-icing). The maximum takeoff weight is 2,200 pounds in acrobatic 
category with a maximum operating altitude of 15,000 feet. The never 
exceed speed (VNE) is 230 knots, the design cruise speed 
(VC) is 200 knots, and the design maneuvering speed 
(VA) is 175 knots.
    Acrobatic airplanes previously type certified by the FAA did comply 
with the stability provisions of part 23, subpart B. However, airplanes 
like the GB1 are considered as ``unlimited'' acrobatic airplanes 
because these airplanes can perform all the maneuvers listed in the 
Aresti Catalog. Generally, the evolution of the ``unlimited'' types of 
acrobatic airplanes, with very low mass, exceptional roll rates, and 
very high G capabilities--in addition to power to mass ratios--are 
unique to this type of airplane and have led to airplanes that cannot 
comply with the stability provisions of the regulations. These 
airplanes can be type certified in the acrobatic category only with an 
appropriate set of special conditions and associated limitations.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Game Composites Ltd. must 
show the GB 1 meets the applicable provisions of part 23, as amended by 
amendments 23-1 through 23-62 thereto.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 23) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the GB1 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 or similar 
novel or unusual design feature, the FAA would apply these special 
conditions to the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the GB1 must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission 
requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements 
of 14 CFR part 36 and the FAA must issue a finding of regulatory 
adequacy under Sec.  611 of Public Law 92-574, the ``Noise Control Act 
of 1972.''.
    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 GB1 airplane will incorporate the following novel or unusual 
design features:
    For acrobatic category airplanes with unlimited acrobatic 
capability:
    Relaxed longitudinal and decoupled lateral static stability 
characteristics

Discussion

    Sections 23.173 and 23.177 provide static stability criteria for 
longitudinal, lateral, and directional axes requirements for an 
airplane. However, these requirements are not adequate to address the 
specific issues raised in the flight characteristics of an unlimited 
aerobatic airplane. Therefore, the FAA has determined special 
conditions are needed--after a flight-test evaluation--to address the 
static stability characteristics of the GB1. Accordingly, these special 
conditions are for the Game Composites Ltd. GB1 airplane's static 
stability characteristics.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
GB1. Should Game Composites Ltd. apply at a later date for a change to 
the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same 
novel or unusual design feature the FAA would apply these special 
conditions to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 23

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Signs and symbols.

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

The Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special condition as part of the type certification basis for 
Game Composites GB1 airplanes.

0
1. Acrobatic Only Category Static Stability Requirements.
0
a. In place of 14 CFR 23.173, ``Static longitudinal stability,'' comply 
with the following:

SC23.173 Static Longitudinal Stability

    Under the conditions in 14 CFR 23.175 and with the airplane trimmed 
as indicated, the characteristics of the elevator control forces and 
the friction within the control system must be as follows:
    (a) A pull must be required to obtain and maintain speeds below the 
specified trim speed and a push required to obtain and maintain speeds 
above the specified trim speed. This must be shown at any speed that 
can be obtained, except that speeds requiring a control force in excess 
of 40 pounds or speeds above the maximum allowable speed or below the 
minimum speed for steady unstalled flight need not be considered.
    (b) The stick force or position must vary with speed so any 
substantial speed change results in a stick force or position clearly 
perceptible to the pilot.
0
b. In place of 14 CFR 23.177, ``Static directional and lateral 
stability,'' comply with the following:

SC23.177 Static Directional and Lateral Stability

    (a) The static directional stability, as shown by the tendency to 
recover from a wings level sideslip with the rudder free, must be 
positive for any landing gear and flap position appropriate to the 
takeoff, climb, cruise, approach, and landing configurations. This must 
be shown with symmetrical power up to maximum continuous power and at 
speeds from 1.2 VS1 to VO (maximum operating 
maneuvering speed); the rudder pedal force must not reverse.
    (b) In straight, steady slips at 1.2 VS1 for any landing 
gear and flap positions and for any symmetrical power conditions up to 
50 percent of maximum continuous power, the rudder control movements 
and forces must increase steadily--but not necessarily in constant 
proportion--as the angle of sideslip is increased is increased up to 
the maximum appropriate for the type of airplane. The aileron control 
movements and forces may increase steadily, but not necessarily in 
constant proportion, as the angle of sideslip is increased up to the 
maximum appropriate for the type of airplane. At larger slip angles, up 
to the angle at which full rudder or aileron control is used or a 
control force limit contained in 14 CFR 23.143 is reached, the aileron 
and rudder control movements and forces must not reverse as the angle 
of sideslip is increased. Rapid entry into--and recovery from--a 
maximum

[[Page 30800]]

sideslip considered appropriate for the airplane must not result in 
uncontrollable flight characteristics.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 26, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13991 Filed 6-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P