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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 217 (Thursday, November 8, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66936-66937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25214]

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 217 / Thursday, November 8, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 66936]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 33

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1085; Notice No. 33-12-02-SC1]

Special Conditions: Turbomeca Ardiden 3K Turboshaft Engine

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Turbomeca 
Ardiden 3K model engines. This engine model will have a novel or 
unusual design feature which is a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO) 
power rating for hovering at increased power (HIP). This rating is 
primarily intended for high-power hovering operations that are normal 
mission functions. 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 that the FAA considers necessary to establish a level 
of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness 
standards.

DATES: Send your comments on or before December 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2012-1085 
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 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 8 a.m., and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: Docket Operations 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: You may read background documents or comments received 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: Tara Fitzgerald, ANE-111, Engine and 
Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803-5299; telephone (781) 
238-7130; facsimile (781) 238-7199; email tara.fitzgerald@faa.gov. For 
legal questions concerning this proposed rule, contact Vincent Bennett, 
ANE-7 Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803-5299; 
telephone (781) 238-7044; facsimile (781) 238-7055; email 
vincent.bennett@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by 
sending written comments, data, or views to the docket. 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 received in the docket 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 September 15, 2010, Turbomeca S.A. (Turbomeca) applied for a 
type certificate for their new Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine. The 
Ardiden 3K engine is the first variant in the new Ardiden 3 series. 
This engine incorporates a two-stage centrifugal compressor that is 
driven by a single-stage high-pressure turbine. A two-stage power 
turbine drives the engine output shaft. The control system includes a 
dual-channel full-authority digital-electronic control.
    The engine will incorporate a novel or unusual design feature, 
which is a 30-minute hovering at increased power (HIP) rating. The 
applicant requested this rating to support extended hover operations at 
high power.
    A special condition is necessary to apply additional requirements 
for rating definition, instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), 
instrumentation, and endurance testing because the applicable 
airworthiness standards do not contain adequate or appropriate 
airworthiness standards to address this design feature. The ICA 
requirement addresses the unknown nature of actual rating usage and 
associated engine deterioration. The applicant is expected to make an 
assessment of the expected usage, and publish ICAs and Airworthiness 
Limitations Section limits in accordance with those assumptions, such 
that engine deterioration is not excessive. The instrumentation 
requirement is to ensure that operators use this high-power rating 
within its limits, and that engine integrity is maintained. The 
endurance test requirement of 25 hours operation at 30-minutes HIP is 
similar to other special conditions recently issued. Because the 
Ardiden 3K model has a continuous one-engine inoperative (OEI) rating 
with limits equal to or higher than the proposed 30-minute HIP rating, 
the applicant may credit the test time performed at the continuous OEI 
rating toward the 25-hour requirement. However, test time spent at 
other rating elements of the test, such as takeoff or other OEI ratings 
(that are equal to or higher than HIP rating values), cannot

[[Page 66937]]

be counted toward the 25 hours of required running.
    These special conditions contain the additional airworthiness 
standards necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to the 
level intended by the applicable standards of airworthiness in effect 
on the date of application.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17 and 21.101(a), Turbomeca must 
show that the model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine meets the provisions 
of the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application, or 
later amendment if so elected. Accordingly, the certification basis for 
the Ardiden model turboshaft engine is determined to be part 33, 
effective February 1, 1965, as amended by Amendments 33-1 through 33-
31.
    If the FAA finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations in 
part 33, as amended, do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for the Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine, because 
of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed 
under the provisions of Sec.  21.16.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined by 14 CFR 11.19, 
under 14 CFR 11.38, which become part of the type certification basis 
as specified in Sec.  21.17(a)(2).
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. If the type certificate for that model is amended 
later to include another related model that incorporates the same or 
similar novel or unusual design feature, or if any other model already 
included on the same type certificate is modified to incorporate the 
same or similar novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions 
would also apply to the other model.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine will incorporate a 
30-minute HIP rating, for use up to 30 minutes at any time between 
take-off and landing. The 30 minute time limit applies to each instance 
the rating is used; however there is no limit to the number of times 
the rating can be used during any one flight, and there is no 
cumulative time limitation. Special conditions for a 30-minute HIP 
rating are proposed to address this novel and unusual design feature. 
The special conditions are discussed below.

Discussion

    The Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine is a free turbine 
turboshaft designed for a transport category twin-engine helicopter. 
The helicopter manufacturer anticipates that extended hovering 
maneuvers may require more than maximum continuous power for up to 30 
minutes. Turbomeca has requested a 30-minute HIP rating for use up to 
30 minutes at any time between the take-off and landing phases of a 
flight. Turbomeca has indicated that the number of times this rating 
can be accessed in one flight is not limited, and there is no 
cumulative time limitation.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to TM 
model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engines. If TM applies later for a change 
to the type certificate to include another closely related model 
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special 
conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Turbomeca Model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine. It is not a rule 
of general applicability, and it affects only Turbomeca, who applied to 
the FAA for approval of these features on the engine.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 33

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

    The authority citation for these special conditions continues to 
read as follows:

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

The Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the FAA proposes the following special conditions as 
part of the type certification basis for the Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K 
turboshaft engine.

1. PART 1 DEFINITIONS

    Unless otherwise approved by the Administrator and documented in 
the appropriate manuals and certification documents, the following 
definition applies to this special condition: ``Rated 30-Minute Hover 
at Increased Power (HIP),'' means the approved shaft horsepower 
developed under static conditions at the specified altitude and 
temperature, and within the operating limitations established under 
part 33, and limited in use to periods not exceeding 30 minutes.

2. PART 33 REQUIREMENTS

    (a) Sec. Sec.  33.1 Applicability and 33.3 General. As applicable, 
all documentation, testing and analysis required to comply with the 
part 33 certification basis must account for the 30-minute HIP rating, 
limits and usage.
    (b) Sec.  33.4, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). In 
addition to the requirements of Sec.  33.4, the ICA must:
    (1) Include instructions to ensure that in-service engine 
deterioration due to rated 30-minute HIP usage will not be excessive, 
meaning that all approved ratings, including One Engine Inoperative 
(OEI), are available (within associated limits and assumed usage) for 
each flight; and that deterioration will not exceed that assumed for 
declaring a Time Between Overhaul period.
    (2) Validate the adequacy of the maintenance actions required under 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (3) Include in the Airworthiness Limitations section, any mandatory 
inspections and serviceability limits related to the use of the 30-
minute HIP rating.
    (c) Sec.  33.29, Instrument Connection. The engine must have a 
means or a provision for a means, which alerts the pilot when the 30-
minute HIP rating time limit has expired.
    (d) Sec.  33.87, Endurance Test. In addition to the applicable 
requirements of Sec. Sec.  33.87(a), 33.87(d) and 33.87(e) (for engines 
that combine 2.5 minute and continuous OEI ratings):
    (1) The overall test run must include a minimum of 25 hours of 
operation at 30-minute HIP rating and limits, divided into periods of 
not less than 30 minutes but not more than 60 minutes, with alternate 
periods at maximum continuous power or less.
    (2) Each Sec.  33.87(d)(3) continuous OEI rating test period of 60 
minutes duration run at power and limits equal to or higher than the 
30-minute HIP rating, may be credited toward this requirement. Note 
that the test time required for the takeoff or other OEI ratings may 
not be counted toward the 25 hours of testing required at the 30-minute 
HIP rating.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on September 17, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25214 Filed 11-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
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