Rules and Regulations Federal Register Vol
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
59423 Rules and Regulations Federal Register Vol. 79, No. 191 Thursday, October 2, 2014 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER compartments located below or forward Specifications and Acceptable Means of contains regulatory documents having general of all occupants in the airplane. Compliance for Large Aeroplanes (CS– applicability and legal effect, most of which DATES: Effective December 1, 2014. 25). are keyed to and codified in the Code of ADDRESSES: For information on where to 1. Section 25.307(a), ‘‘Proof of Federal Regulations, which is published under structure,’’ currently requires structural 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. obtain copies of rulemaking documents and other information related to this strength testing, unless the applicant The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by final rule, see ‘‘How to Obtain has demonstrated that analysis alone is the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of Additional Information’’ in the reliable. Paragraph (a) is revised to new books are listed in the first FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of clarify the load levels to which testing REGISTER issue of each week. this document. is required, when such testing is FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For required. technical questions concerning this 2. Section 25.621, ‘‘Casting factors,’’ is DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION action, contact Todd Martin, Airframe revised to clarify the quality control, inspection, and testing requirements for Federal Aviation Administration and Cabin Safety Branch, ANM–115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft critical and non-critical castings. 3. Section 25.683, ‘‘Operation tests,’’ Certification Service, Federal Aviation 14 CFR Part 25 is revised to add a requirement that— Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., • The control system must remain Renton, WA 98057–3356; telephone [Docket No.: FAA–2013–0109; Amdt. No. free from jamming, friction, (425) 227–1178; facsimile (425) 227– 25–139] disconnection, and permanent damage 1232; email [email protected]. in the presence of structural deflection For legal questions concerning this RIN 2120–AK13 and action, contact Sean Howe, Office of the • Under vibration loads, no hazard Regional Counsel, ANM–7, Federal Harmonization of Airworthiness may result from interference or contact Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Standards—Miscellaneous Structures of the control system with adjacent Avenue SW., Renton, Washington Requirements elements. 98057–3356; telephone (425) 227–2591; 4. Section 25.721, ‘‘Landing Gear— AGENCY: Federal Aviation facsimile (425) 227–1007; email General,’’ is revised to— Administration (FAA), DOT. [email protected]. • Expand the landing gear failure ACTION: Final rule. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: conditions to include side loads, in addition to up and aft loads, and expand SUMMARY: This final rule amends certain Authority for This Rulemaking this requirement to include nose airworthiness regulations for transport The FAA’s authority to issue rules on landing gear in addition to the main category airplanes, based on aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the landing gear, recommendations from the FAA- United States Code. Subtitle I, Section • Specify that the wheels-up landing sponsored Aviation Rulemaking 106 describes the authority of the FAA conditions are assumed to occur at a Advisory Committee (ARAC). This Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation descent rate of 5 feet per second, amendment eliminates regulatory Programs, describes in more detail the • Add a sliding-on-ground condition, differences between the airworthiness scope of the agency’s authority. and standards of the FAA and the European This rulemaking is promulgated • Require the engine mount be Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This under the authority described in designed so that, when it fails due to final rule does not add new Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section overload, this failure does not cause the requirements beyond what 44701, ‘‘General Requirements.’’ Under spillage of enough fuel to constitute a manufacturers currently meet for EASA that section, the FAA is charged with fire hazard. certification and does not affect current promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 5. Section 25.787, ‘‘Stowage industry design practices. This final rule air commerce by prescribing regulations compartments,’’ is revised to expand the revises the structural test requirements and minimum standards for the design inertia forces requirements for cargo necessary when analysis has not been and performance of aircraft that the compartments by removing the found reliable; clarifies the quality Administrator finds necessary for safety exclusion of compartments located control, inspection, and testing in air commerce. This regulation is below or forward of all occupants in the requirements for critical and non- within the scope of that authority. It airplane. critical castings; adds control system prescribes new safety standards for the 6. Section 25.963, ‘‘Fuel tanks: requirements that consider structural design of transport category airplanes. general,’’ is revised to— deflection and vibration loads; expands • Require that fuel tanks be designed the fuel tank structural and system I. Overview of Final Rule so that no fuel is released in or near the requirements regarding emergency The FAA is amending Title 14, Code fuselage, or near the engines, in landing conditions and landing gear of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) quantities that would constitute a fire failure conditions; adds a requirement 25.307(a), 25.621, 25.683, 25.721, hazard in otherwise survivable that engine mount failure due to 25.787(a), 25.963(d), and 25.994 as emergency landing conditions, overload must not cause hazardous fuel described below. This action • Define fuel tank pressure loads for spillage; and revises the inertia forces harmonizes part 25 requirements with fuel tanks located within and outside requirements for cargo compartments by the corresponding requirements in Book the fuselage pressure boundary and near removing the exclusion of 1 of the EASA Certification the fuselage or near the engines, and VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:56 Oct 01, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02OCR1.SGM 02OCR1 rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES 59424 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 2014 / Rules and Regulations • Specify the wheels-up landing the inertial forces requirements for cargo Circular (AC) 25.307–1, ‘‘Proof of conditions and landing gear and engine compartments by removing the Structure,’’ which the FAA is issuing mount failure conditions that must be exclusion of compartments located concurrently with the final rule, considered when evaluating fuel tank below or forward of all occupants in the provides detailed guidance on means of structural integrity. airplane. The FAA proposed these compliance with the rule. 7. Section 25.994, ‘‘Fuel system changes to eliminate regulatory Another commenter recommended components,’’ is revised to specify the differences between the airworthiness changing the word ‘‘reliable’’ in the wheels-up landing conditions to be standards of the FAA and EASA. The proposed rule to ‘‘dependable and considered when evaluating fuel system NPRM comment period closed on May conservative.’’ The term ‘‘reliable’’ has components. 30, 2013. been in place since this rule was II. Background C. General Overview of Comments originally published in 1965. As stated in the NPRM, while the rule has A. Statement of the Problem The FAA received 16 comments from changed, the rule intent remains the Part 25 of 14 CFR prescribes 5 commenters. All commenters same. We believe ‘‘reliable’’ is airworthiness standards for type generally support the proposal, but they appropriate and clear, and no change is certification of transport category suggested changes discussed more fully necessary. airplanes, for products certified in the below. The FAA received comments on The same commenter also United States. EASA CS–25 Book 1 each of the sections being changed, as recommended noting that, where prescribes the corresponding follows: justified, test load levels may be less • Section 25.307(a)—four comments airworthiness standards for products than ultimate. We do not believe this • Section 25.621—four comments certified in Europe. While part 25 and change is necessary because it is already • Section 25.683—one comment CS–25 Book 1 are similar, they differ in expressed in the rule that substantiating • Section 25.721—one comment several respects. To resolve those tests must be made to load levels that • Section 25.787(a)—two comments differences, the FAA tasked ARAC are sufficient to verify structural • Section 25.963(d)—three comments through the Loads and Dynamics behavior up to loads specified in • Section 25.994—one comment Harmonization Working Group § 25.305. (LDHWG) and the General Structures III. Discussion of Public Comments and The same commenter also Harmonization Working Group Final Rule recommended the FAA add further (GSHWG) to review existing structures explanation about the absolute need to A. Section 25.307, Proof of Structure regulations and recommend changes validate models and when lack of that would eliminate differences In the NPRM, the FAA proposed validation might be acceptable. We do between the U.S. and European revising paragraph (a) of § 25.307 to not believe it is necessary to revise the airworthiness standards. The LDHWG require that, when structural analysis rule to address validation, since that and GSHWG developed has not been