Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/16/2017-09840/special-conditions-airbus-model-a380-800-series-airplanes-non-rechargeable-lithium-battery
Timestamp: 2018-04-25 19:05:45
Document Index: 587904652

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 25', 'art 25', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', 'art 34', 'art 36']

Federal Register :: Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A380-800 Series Airplanes; Non-Rechargeable Lithium Battery Installations
Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A380-800 Series Airplanes; Non-Rechargeable Lithium Battery Installations
82 FR 22399
2017-09840
FAA-2017-0371
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-09840 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-09840
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 22399
Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-0371 using any of the following methods:
Section 1205 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 1996 requires the FAA to consider the extent to which Alaska is not served by transportation modes other than aviation and to establish appropriate regulatory distinctions when modifying airworthiness regulations that affect intrastate aviation in Alaska. In consideration of this requirement and the overall impact on safety, the FAA does not intend to require non-rechargeable lithium battery special conditions for design changes that only replace a 121.5 megahertz (MHz) emergency locator transmitter (ELT) with a 406 MHz ELT that meets Technical Standard Order C126b, or later revision, on transport airplanes operating only in Alaska. This will support our efforts of encouraging operators in Alaska to upgrade to a 406 Start Printed Page 22400MHz ELT. These ELTs provide significantly improved accuracy for lifesaving services to locate an accident site in Alaskan terrain. The FAA considers that the safety benefits from upgrading to a 406 MHz ELT for Alaskan operations will outweigh the battery fire risk.
Airbus holds type certificate no. A58NM, which provides the certification basis for the A380-800 series airplanes. The A380-800 series airplanes are four engine, transport category airplanes with a passenger seating capacity of 853 and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,124,400 to 1,254,400 pounds, depending on the specific design.
The FAA is issuing these special conditions for non-rechargeable lithium battery installations on the A380-800 series airplanes. The current battery requirements in title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 25 are inadequate for addressing an airplane with non-rechargeable lithium batteries.
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Airbus must show that the A380-800 series airplanes meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in type certificate no. A58NM or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the change, except for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA. In addition, the certification basis includes certain special conditions, exemptions, or later amended sections that are not relevant to these special conditions.
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 A380-800 series airplanes because of a novel design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the airplane 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 or similar novel or unusual design feature, or should any other model already included on the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to the other model under § 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the A380-800 series airplanes must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
Internal failures: In general, these batteries are significantly more susceptible to internal failures that can result in self-sustaining increases in temperature and pressure (i.e., thermal runaway) than their nickel-cadmium or lead-acid counterparts. The metallic lithium can ignite, resulting in a self-sustaining fire or explosion.Start Printed Page 22401
These special conditions are applicable to the A380-800 series airplanes. Should Airbus apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well.
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 the Airbus Model A380-800 series airplanes.
6. Have provisions to prevent any hazardous effect on airplane structure or systems caused by the maximum amount of heat it can generate due to any failure of it or its individual cells.Start Printed Page 22402
[FR Doc. 2017-09840 Filed 5-15-17; 8:45 am]