FAA Advisory Circular AC 90-89A
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1 Advisory U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Circular DATE: 5/24/95 AC NO: 90-89A AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT AND ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT TESTING HANDBOOK Initiated by: AFS-340 i Advisory U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Circular Subject: AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT Date: 5/24/95 AC No: 90-89A & ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT Initiated by: AFS-340 Change: TESTING HANDBOOK 1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular (AC) sets 5. DEFINITIONS. The following terms are forth suggestions and safety related recommenda- defined for use in this AC. tions to assist amateur and ultralight builders in developing individualized aircraft flight test plans. a. Amateur-built aircraft means an aircraft issued an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate 2. CANCELLATION. AC 90-89, Amateur- under the provisions of Federal Aviation Regulations Built Aircraft Flight Testing Handbook, dated (FAR) § 21.191 (g). September 18, 1989, is cancelled. b. The term ultralight means a vehicle that 3. RELATED READING MATERIAL. A list meets the requirements of FAR § 103.1. of selected reading material on amateur-built/ ultralight flight testing and first flight experience c. The term ultralight in this AC also means may be found in appendix 3. a two-place training vehicle of 496 pounds or less, operating under an EAA or USUA exemption to 4. BACKGROUND. FAR Part 103. a. The Federal Aviation Administration d. For the purpose of this AC, both an ama- (FAA), the Experimental Aircraft Association teur-built aircraft and a ultralight vehicle will be (EAA), and the United States Ultralight Association referred to as an ``aircraft.'' (USUA) are concerned and committed to improving the safety record of amateur-built and ultralight air- 6. DISCUSSION. craft. a. This AC's purpose is the following: b. The FAA Administrator, T. Allen McArtor, (1) To make amateur-built/ultralight air- and EAA President, Paul H. Poberezny, signed a craft pilots aware that test flying an aircraft is a criti- Memorandum of Agreement on August 1, 1988, cal undertaking, which should be approached with which addressed the need for educational and safety thorough planning, skill, and common sense. programs to assist amateur-builders in test flying their aircraft. In accordance with that agreement, this (2) To provide recommendations and AC provides guidelines for flight testing amateur- suggestions that can be combined with other sources built aircraft. on test flying (e.g., the aircraft plan/kit manufactur- c. As part of the FAA's continuing efforts to er's flight testing instructions, other flight testing improve the safety record of all types of general avia- data). This will assist the amateur/ultralight owner tion aircraft, this AC has been revised to include to develop a detailed flight test plan, tailored for their flight testing recommendations for canard-type and aircraft and resources. ultralight aircraft. AC 90-89A 5/24/95 b. The flight test plan is the heart of all profes- vehicles of less than 496 pounds empty weight sional flight testing. The plan should account for operating under an exemption to FAR Part 103. every hour spent in the flight test phase and should b. Because of the large number of existing be adhered to with the same respect for the unknown amateur-built/ultralight aircraft designs and new that all successful test pilots share. The time allotted designs being introduced each year, the FAA encour- for each phase of a personalized flight test plan may ages public participation in updating this document. vary, and each phase may have more events or Send comments, suggestions, or information about checks than suggested in this AC. The goals, how- this AC to the following address: ever, should be the same. U.S. Department of Transportation c. The two goals for an amateur builder/ Federal Aviation Administration ultralight owner should be as follows: Flight Standards Service (AFS-340) (1) At the end of the aircraft's flight test 800 Independence Ave, SW. phase, the aircraft will have been adequately tested Washington, DC 20591 and found airworthy and safe to operate within its c. Suggestions also may be sent to AFS-340 established operational envelope. by FAX (202) 267-5115. (2) Incorporation of the flight test oper- d. After a review, appropriate comments, ational and performance data into the aircraft's flight suggestions, and information may be included in the manual so the pilot can reference the data prior to next revision of this AC. each flight. 8. TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THIS AC. Order 7. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. AC 90-89A from: a. This AC is designed as a reference docu- U.S. Department of Transportation ment to assist in preparing a flight test plan for an Property Use and Storage amateur-built or ultralight aircraft. Section, M-45.3 (1) The suggestions and recommendations Washington, DC 20590. in chapters 1 through 6 are for conventionally- designed aircraft with an air-cooled, 4-cycle, recip- rocating engine that develops less than 200 horse- power with a fixed pitch propeller. (2) Chapter 7 deals with flight testing rec- ommendations for canard aircraft. (3) Chapters 8 through 10 address flight testing considerations for ultralight vehicles under FAR Part 103 and two-seat ultralight training William J. White Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service ii 5/24/95 AC 90-89A THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK, SO THAT THE TOC CAN BE ON PAGE iii PER PLACEMENT IN DOCUMENT. iii AC 90-89A 5/24/95 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK, SO THAT THE TOC CAN BE ON PAGE iii PER PLACEMENT IN DOCUMENT. CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1. PREPARATION Section 1. Homework ............................................................................................................................... 1 Section 2. Airport Selection ..................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 1 - Runway Length Chart ................................................................................................. 3 Section 3. Emergency Plans and Equipment ........................................................................................... 4 Section 4. Test Pilot ................................................................................................................................. 6 Section 5. Medical Facts For Pilots ......................................................................................................... 7 Section 6. Transporting The Aircraft To the Airport .............................................................................. 9 Section 7. Assembly and Airworthiness Inspection ................................................................................ 10 Section 8. Weight and Balance ................................................................................................................ 14 Figure 2 - Empty Weight CG ....................................................................................................... 15 Figure 3 - Take Off CG ................................................................................................................ 16 Figure 4 - Additional Equipment Added ...................................................................................... 17 Section 9. Paperwork ................................................................................................................................ 18 Section 10. Powerplant Tests ..................................................................................................................... 19 Section 11. Additional Engine Tests ......................................................................................................... 22 Section 12. Propeller Inspection ................................................................................................................ 25 Figure 5 - Propeller Tracking ....................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 2. TAXI TESTS Section 1. Low Speed Taxi Tests ............................................................................................................ 29 Section 2. High Speed Taxi Tests ........................................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER 3. THE FIRST FLIGHT Section 1. General .................................................................................................................................... 33 Section 2. The Role of the Chase Plane .................................................................................................. 34 Section 3. Emergency Procedures ............................................................................................................ 35 Section 4. First Flight ............................................................................................................................... 36 Section 5. First Flight Procedures ............................................................................................................ 37 CHAPTER 4. THE FIRST 10 HOURS Section 1. The Second Flight ................................................................................................................... 41 Section 2. The Third Flight ...................................................................................................................... 41 Section 3. Hours 4 through 10 ................................................................................................................. 41 CHAPTER 5. EXPANDING