82 FR 32614 - Special Conditions: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., PC-24; Pressure Defuel System

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 135 (July 17, 2017)

These special conditions are issued for the Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. model PC-24 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with installation of a pressure fueling system with defuel capability. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These 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 135 (Monday, July 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32614-32616]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14937]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 23

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0704; Special Conditions No. 23-284-SC]


Special Conditions: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., PC-24; Pressure Defuel 
System

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 Pilatus Aircraft 
Ltd. model PC-24 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual 
design feature associated with installation of a pressure fueling 
system with defuel capability. The applicable airworthiness regulations 
do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design 
feature. These 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: These special conditions are effective July 17, 2017, and are 
applicable July 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-0704 
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.
    [squ] 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.
    [squ] 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.
    [squ] 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

[[Page 32615]]

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: Jeff Pretz, ACE-111, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 901 Locust Street, Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone (816) 329-
3239; facsimile (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined, in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3), that notice and opportunity for 
prior public comment hereon are unnecessary because the substance of 
these special conditions has been subject to the public comment process 
in several prior instances with no substantive comments received. The 
FAA therefore finds that good cause exists for making these special 
conditions effective upon issuance.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Special condition number \2\            Company/airplane model
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23-98-03-SC...........................  Raytheon Aircraft Company/Model
                                         3000.
23-110-SC.............................  Ayers Corporation/Model LM200.
23-234-SC.............................  Cessna Aircraft Company/Model
                                         525C.
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Comments Invited
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    \2\ See http://rgl.faa.gov/ to review the listed special 
conditions.
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    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 July 9, 2012, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. applied for a type 
certificate for their new PC-24 airplane. The PC-24 is an aluminum 
pressurized low-wing business jet with a T-tail configuration and 
retractable undercarriage designed to meet the commuter category 
requirements of part 23. Two Williams International FJ44-4A Turbofan 
engines rated at 3,400 pounds (lbs.) of take-off thrust, situated in 
nacelles on each side of the rear fuselage power the PC-24. The PC-24 
will have a Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of 17,200 pounds (7,802 
kilograms). It has a maximum seating capacity of up to ten passengers 
and one pilot or two pilots. The airplane will be certificated for day 
and night Visual Flight Rules, Instrument Flight Rules, and flight into 
known icing.
    The PC-24 is equipped with a pressure refuel/defuel system. The 
applicable regulations do not include requirements for the pressure-
defueling portion of the system.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. must 
show that the PC-24 meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR 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 PC-24 because of a novel or 
unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the 
provisions of Sec.  21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the PC-24 must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust 
emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, the noise certification 
requirements of 14 CFR part 36, and the FAA must issue a finding of 
regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611 of Public Law 92-574, the 
``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in Sec.  11.19, under 
Sec.  11.38 and they become part of the type certification basis under 
Sec.  21.17(a)(2).
    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, the FAA would apply these special conditions to 
the other models under Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The PC-24 will incorporate the following novel or unusual design 
features:

Pressure Fueling System with Defuel Capability

Discussion

    As discussed in the ``Background'' section, the PC-24 will 
incorporate a pressure refuel/defuel system. The defueling capability 
is considered a novel design for this type of airplane. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for this design feature. Mandating additional requirements by 
adopting 14 CFR 25.979(e)--which is the part 25 pressure defuel 
requirement--mitigates the concern associated with installation of a 
pressure defueling system.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
PC-24. Should Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 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 
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 airplanes. It is not a rule of general applicability 
and it affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval 
of these features on the airplane.
    The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the 
notice and comments period in several prior instances--identified 
above--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, notice and opportunity for prior public comments hereon are 
unnecessary and the FAA finds good cause, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3), making these special conditions effective 
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 described above.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 23

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Signs and symbols.

Citation

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113 and 44701; 14 CFR 
21.16; and 14 CFR 11.38 and 11.19.

[[Page 32616]]

The Special Conditions

0
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 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-24 airplanes.
1. Pressure Fueling System
    For pressure fueling systems, in addition to Sec.  23.979, the 
following applies:
    The airplane defueling system--not including fuel tanks and fuel 
tank vents--must withstand an ultimate load that is 2.0 times the load 
arising from the maximum permissible defueling pressure--positive or 
negative--at the airplane fueling connection.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 6, 2017.
Kelly Broadway,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-14937 Filed 7-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P