Proposed Rule2022-02387
Special Conditions: Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 Helicopter; Pressure Refueling Provisions
Primary source
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Published
February 4, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes special conditions for the Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) Model R66 helicopter. This helicopter will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for normal category helicopters. This design feature is a pressure refueling system. 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 Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 24 (Friday, February 4, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6437-6439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02387]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 27
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0943; Special Conditions No. 27-21-01-SC]
Special Conditions: Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66
Helicopter; Pressure Refueling Provisions
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.
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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Robinson
Helicopter Company (RHC) Model R66 helicopter. This helicopter will
have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of
technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for normal
category helicopters. This design feature is a pressure refueling
system. 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 Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of
safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness
standards.
DATES: Send comments on or before March 7, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2021-0943 using
any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov/">http://www.regulations.gov/</a> and follow the online instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
Privacy: Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as
described in the following paragraph, and other information as
described in title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 11.35, the
FAA will post all comments received without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov/">http://www.regulations.gov/</a>, including any personal information you provide.
The
[[Page 6438]]
FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact
received about these special conditions.
Confidential Business Information: CBI is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
these special conditions contain commercial or financial information
that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as
private, and that is relevant or responsive to these special
conditions, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and the indicated comments will not be
placed in the public docket of these special conditions. Submissions
containing CBI should be sent to Monica Abboud, Propulsion Section,
AIR-794, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Aircraft Certification Service,
Federal Aviation Administration, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5223; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#caa7a5a4a3a9abe4a7e4aba8a8a5bfae8aacababe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f79a98999e9496d99ad9969595988293b7919696d9909881">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments the FAA receives, which are not
specifically designated as CBI, will be placed in the public docket for
these special conditions.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov/">http://www.regulations.gov/</a> at any time. Follow the online instructions
for accessing the docket or go 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica Abboud, Propulsion Section,
AIR-794, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Aircraft Certification Service,
Federal Aviation Administration, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5223; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f69b99989f9597d89bd8979494998392b6909797d8919980"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ec818382858f8dc281c28d8e8e839988ac8a8d8dc28b839a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites 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.
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date for
comments. The FAA may change these special conditions based on the
comments received.
Background
On July 15, 2021, RHC applied for a change to Type Certificate No.
R00015LA for the Model R66 helicopter. This change incorporated a
pressure fueling system in the Model R66 helicopter. The RHC Model R66
helicopter, which is a derivative of the earlier models of the Model
R66 helicopter currently approved under Type Certificate No. R00015LA,
is a part 27 normal category helicopter. It is a single turbine engine
helicopter with a four-passenger maximum passenger capacity and has a
maximum gross weight, with no external load, of up to 2,700 pounds
depending on the model configuration.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, RHC must show that the Model
R66 helicopter, as changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions
of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. R00015LA or the
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the
change, except for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (e.g., 14 CFR part 27) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for the RHC Model R66 helicopter 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, 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 Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the RHC Model R66 helicopter must comply with the noise
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. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Feature
The RHC Model R66 helicopter will incorporate the following novel
or unusual design feature:
A pressure refueling system, which will allow for optional pressure
fueling.
Discussion
RHC proposes to modify the Model R66 helicopter by incorporating a
pressure refueling system that would allow for optional pressure
fueling from a fueling port on the right side of the fuselage and the
existing gravity system via the fuel filler cap on top of the main fuel
tank. This modification would provide faster, easier, and safer
refueling when the engines are running and rotors turning compared to
the existing fueling system located on the top of the main fuel tank.
The pressure refueling system cannot be used for defueling and would
include a crash-resistant fuel hose that runs from the fueling port on
the right side to an inlet at the top of the fuel tank on the left side
of the helicopter.
Part 27 does not contain requirements for pressure refueling for
normal category helicopters. However, 14 CFR 29.979, amendment 29-12,
effective February 1, 1977, provides these requirements for transport
category helicopters. Accordingly, these proposed special conditions
are based on Sec. 29.979 to provide requirements for the inclusion of
the optional pressure refueling system on the Model R66 helicopters. 14
CFR 29.979 includes standards for pressure refueling and fueling
provisions below fuel level on transport category rotorcraft.
This regulation is intended to prevent hazards to ground crew,
flight crew, and occupants by reducing the probability of exposure to
hazardous quantities of fuel due to spillage and ensuring the pressure
refueling/defueling system is designed to prevent overfilling the fuel
tank and to withstand an ultimate load overpressure event without
failure.
Section 29.979(a) requires each fueling connection below the fuel
level in each tank have a means to prevent the escape of hazardous
quantities of fuel from that tank in case of malfunction of the fuel
entry valve.
Section 29.979(b) requires systems intended for pressure refueling
have a means in addition to the normal means for limiting the tank
content to prevent damage to the tank in case of failure of the normal
means.
Section 29.979(c) requires the rotorcraft pressure fueling system
(not fuel tanks and fuel tank vents) to withstand an ultimate load that
is 2.0 times the load arising from the maximum pressure, including
surge,
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that is likely to occur during fueling. The maximum surge pressure must
be established with any combination of tank valves being either
intentionally or inadvertently closed.
Section 29.979(d) requires the rotorcraft defueling system (not
including fuel tanks and fuel tank vents) to withstand an ultimate load
that is 2.0 times the load arising from the maximum permissible
defueling pressure (positive or negative) at the rotorcraft fueling
connection. The design proposed by RHC does not include defueling
capability.
The proposed 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.
Applicability
These special conditions are applicable to the RHC Model R66
helicopter. Should RHC 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.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature
on one model of helicopter. It is not a rule of general applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 27
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(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.
The Proposed Special Conditions
Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis
for Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 helicopters.
The pressure refueling system must be designed and installed as
follows:
(a) Each fueling connection below the fuel level in each tank must
have the means to prevent the escape of hazardous quantities of fuel
from that tank in case of malfunction of the fuel entry valve.
(b) For systems intended for pressure refueling, a means in
addition to the normal means for limiting the tank content must be
installed to prevent damage to the fuel tank in case of failure of the
normal means.
(c) The rotorcraft pressure fueling system (not fuel tanks and fuel
tank vents) must withstand an ultimate load that is 2.0 times the load
arising from maximum pressure, including a surge, that is likely to
occur during fueling. The maximum surge pressure must be established
with any combination of tank valves being either intentionally or
inadvertently closed.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 1, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-02387 Filed 2-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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