83 FR 62689 - Special Conditions: Textron Aviation Inc. Model 700 Airplane; Operation Without Normal Electrical Power

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 234 (December 6, 2018)

These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model 700 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. These design features are electrical and electronic systems that perform critical functions, the loss of which could be catastrophic to the airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62689-62690]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26455]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
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under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 234 / Thursday, December 6, 2018 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 62689]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0477; Special Conditions No. 25-738-SC]


Special Conditions: Textron Aviation Inc. Model 700 Airplane; 
Operation Without Normal Electrical Power

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 Textron Aviation 
Inc. (Textron) Model 700 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. These design features are electrical and electronic systems 
that perform critical functions, the loss of which could be 
catastrophic to the airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations 
do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these 
design features. 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 Textron on December 5, 2018. We must 
receive your comments by January 22, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2018-0477 
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 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: Stephen Slotte, FAA, Airplane and 
Flight Crew Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, 
Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, 2200 S 
216th St., Des Moines, Washington 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-
3163; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions 
previously has been published in the Federal Register for public 
comment. These special conditions have 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, 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

    The FAA is requesting comments to allow interested persons to 
submit views that may not have been submitted in response to prior 
opportunities for comment described above. 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 November 20, 2014, Textron applied for a type certificate for 
their new Model 700 airplane. The Model 700 airplane is a turbofan-
powered executive-jet airplane with seating for 2 crewmembers and 12 
passengers. This airplane will have a maximum takeoff weight of 39,500 
pounds.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.17, Textron must show that the Model 700 airplane meets the 
applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 
25-139, 25-141, and 25-143.
    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 Textron Model 700 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 Textron Model 700 airplane must comply with the fuel-
vent and exhaust-emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, and the 
noise-

[[Page 62690]]

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.  21.17(a)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Textron Model 700 airplane will incorporate the following novel 
or unusual design feature: A fly-by-wire rudder-control system that 
requires a continuous source of electrical power to maintain an 
operable rudder flight-control system. The loss of this system may 
result in loss of flight control and may be catastrophic to the 
airplane.

Discussion

    The Textron Model 700 airplane has a fly-by-wire rudder-control 
system that requires a continuous source of electrical power to 
maintain an operable flight-control system. Section 25.1351(d), 
operation without normal electrical power, requires safe operation in 
visual flight rule (VFR) conditions for at least 5 minutes after loss 
of normal electrical power, excluding the battery. This rule is 
structured around traditional designs that use mechanical control 
cables and linkages for flight control. These manual controls allow the 
crew to maintain aerodynamic control of the airplane for an indefinite 
time after loss of all electrical power. Under these conditions, a 
mechanical flight-control system provides the crew with the ability to 
fly the airplane while attempting to identify the cause of the 
electrical failure, restart engine(s) if necessary, and attempt to re-
establish some of the electrical-power-generation capability.
    A critical assumption in Sec.  25.1351(d) is that the airplane is 
in VFR conditions at the time of an electrical failure. This is not a 
valid assumption in today's airline operating environment, where 
airplanes fly much of the time in instrument-meteorological conditions 
on air-traffic-control-defined flight paths. Another assumption in the 
existing rule is that the loss of all normal electrical power is the 
result of the loss of all engines. The 5-minute period in the rule is 
to allow at least one engine to be restarted, following an all-engines 
power loss, to continue the flight to a safe landing. However, service 
experience on airplanes with similar electrical-power-system 
architecture as the Textron Model 700 airplane has shown that at least 
the temporary loss of all electrical power for causes other than all-
engine failure is not extremely improbable.
    To maintain the same level of safety envisioned by the existing 
rule with traditional mechanical flight controls, the Textron Model 700 
airplane design must not be time-limited in its operation under all 
reasonably foreseeable conditions, including loss of all normal sources 
of engine or auxiliary power unit (APU)-generated electrical power. 
Textron must demonstrate that the airplane can maintain safe flight and 
landing (including rollout and brake control through full stop) with 
the use of its emergency/alternate electrical-power systems. These 
electrical-power systems, or the minimum restorable electrical-power 
sources, must be able to power loads that are essential for continued 
safe flight and landing, including those required for the maximum 
length of approved flight diversion.
    These special conditions contain the additional safety standards 
that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of 
safety equivalent to that established by existing airworthiness 
standards.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Textron Model 700 airplane. Should Textron 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 special conditions would 
apply 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 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(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 Textron Model 700 airplanes.
    In lieu of 14 CFR 25.1351(d), the following special condition 
applies:
    Textron must show, by test or combination of test and analysis that 
the airplane is capable of continued safe flight and landing with all 
normal sources of engine- and APU-generated electrical power 
inoperative (electrical power sources excluding the battery and any 
other standby electrical sources). The airplane operation should be 
considered at the critical phase of flight, and should include the 
ability to restart the engines and maintain flight for the maximum 
diversion-time capability being certified.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on November 30, 2018.
Paul Siegmund,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26455 Filed 12-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P