Rule2023-06729
Special Conditions: Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies, Textron Model 500 Series Airplanes; Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery System Installations
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 3, 2023
Effective
April 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
These special conditions are issued for the Textron Model 500/ 550/S550/560/560XL/560XLS airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies (Blackhawk), will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is electronic GI 275 Standby Instruments containing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These 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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 63 (Monday, April 3, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19547-19549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06729]
========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 63 / Monday, April 3, 2023 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 19547]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1441; Special Conditions No. 25-817-SC]
Special Conditions: Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies, Textron
Model 500 Series Airplanes; Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery
System Installations
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Textron Model 500/
550/S550/560/560XL/560XLS airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by
Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies (Blackhawk), will have a novel or
unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology
envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category
airplanes. This design feature is electronic GI 275 Standby Instruments
containing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The applicable
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety
standards for this design feature. These 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: This action is effective on Blackhawk on April 3, 2023. Send
comments on or before May 18, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2022-1441 using
any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://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="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about these special conditions.
Confidential Business Information: 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. Send submissions containing CBI to
the individual listed in the For Further Information Contact section
below. 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="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://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: Nazih Khaouly, Aircraft Systems
Section, AIR-623, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3160; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9c7c8d3c0c187c2c1c8c6dcc5d0e9cfc8c887cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ce2edf6e5e4a2e7e4ede3f9e0f5cceaededa2ebe3fa">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions
has been published in the Federal Register for public comment in
several prior instances with no substantive comments received.
Therefore, the FAA finds, pursuant to Sec. 11.38(b), that new comments
are unlikely, and notice and comment prior to this publication are
unnecessary.
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, and will consider comments filed late if it is possible to do
so without incurring delay. The FAA may change these special conditions
based on the comments received.
Background
On February 24, 2020, Blackhawk applied for a supplemental type
certificate to install rechargeable lithium batteries and battery
systems, in the Textron Model 500 series airplanes, for electronic GI
275 Standby Instruments. The Textron Model 500 series airplane,
approved under Type Certificate No. A22CE, is a twin-engine, transport-
category airplane with maximum seating capacity for 7 to 12 passengers
and a maximum takeoff weight of between 10,850 to 20,330 pounds,
depending upon model.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Blackhawk must show that the Textron
[[Page 19548]]
Model 500 series airplanes, as changed, continue to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A22CE 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 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for the Textron Model 500 series airplanes
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 applicant apply for a supplemental type
certificate to modify any other model included on the same type
certificate 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 Textron Model 500 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.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in Sec. 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 Features
The Textron Model 500 series airplanes will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design feature:
Electronic GI 275 Standby Instruments containing rechargeable
lithium-ion batteries.
Discussion
Rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems are considered
to be a novel or unusual design feature in transport category
airplanes, with respect to the requirements in Sec. 25.1353. This type
of battery has certain failure, operational, and maintenance
characteristics that differ significantly from those of the nickel-
cadmium and lead-acid rechargeable batteries currently approved for
installation on transport category airplanes. These batteries and
battery systems introduce higher energy levels into airplane systems
through new chemical compositions in various battery-cell sizes and
construction. Interconnection of these cells in battery packs
introduces failure modes that require unique design considerations,
such as provisions for thermal management.
Special Condition 1 requires that each individual cell within a
battery and battery system be designed to maintain safe temperatures
and pressures. Special Condition 2 addresses these same issues but for
the entire battery system.
Special Condition 2 requires that the batteries and battery system
be designed to prevent propagation of a thermal event, such as self-
sustained, uncontrolled increases in temperature or pressure from one
cell to adjacent cells.
Special Conditions 1 and 2 are intended to ensure that the cells
and battery system are designed to eliminate the potential for
uncontrollable failures. However, a certain number of failures will
occur due to various factors beyond the control of the designer.
Therefore, other special conditions are intended to protect the
airplane and its occupants if failure occurs.
Special Conditions 3, 7, and 8 are self-explanatory.
Special Condition 4 clarifies that the flammable-fluid fire-
protection requirements of Sec. 25.863 apply to rechargeable lithium
battery installations. Section 25.863 is applicable to areas of the
airplane that could be exposed to flammable fluid leakage from airplane
systems. Rechargeable lithium batteries contain electrolyte that is a
flammable fluid.
Special Condition 5 requires each rechargeable lithium battery and
battery system installation to not damage surrounding structure or
adjacent systems, equipment, or electrical wiring from corrosive fluids
or gases that may escape in such a way as to cause a major or more
severe failure condition.
Special Condition 6 requires each rechargeable lithium battery and
battery system installation to 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.
The means of meeting special conditions 5 and 6 may be the same, but
they are independent requirements addressing different hazards. Special
Condition 5 addresses corrosive fluids and gases, whereas special
condition 6 addresses heat.
Special Condition 9 requires rechargeable lithium batteries and
battery systems to have ``automatic'' means, for charge rate and
disconnect, due to the fast acting nature of lithium battery chemical
reactions. Manual intervention would not be timely or effective in
mitigating the hazards associated with these batteries.
These special conditions apply to all rechargeable lithium
batteries and battery system installations in lieu of Sec.
25.1353(b)(1) through (4) at amendment 25-123, or Sec. 25.1353(c)(1)
through (4) at earlier amendments. Those regulations will remain in
effect for other battery installations on these airplanes.
These 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
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Textron Model 500 series airplanes. Should Blackhawk apply at a later
date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model
included on Type Certificate No. A22CE to incorporate 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 series of airplanes. It is not a rule of general
applicability and affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for
approval of these features on the airplane.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
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 Special Conditions
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 Textron Model 500 series airplanes, as
modified by Blackhawk.
Rechargeable Lithium Battery and Battery System Installations
In lieu of Sec. 25.1353(b)(1) through (4) at amendment 25-123, or
Sec. 25.1353(c)(1) through (4) at earlier amendments, each
rechargeable lithium battery and battery system installation must:
(1) Be designed to maintain safe cell temperatures and pressures
under all foreseeable operating conditions to prevent fire and
explosion.
(2) Be designed to prevent the occurrence of self-sustaining,
uncontrollable increases in temperature or pressure, and automatically
control the charge rate of each cell to protect
[[Page 19549]]
against adverse operating conditions, such as cell imbalance, back
charging, overcharging and overheating.
(3) Not emit explosive or toxic gases, either in normal operation
or as a result of its failure that may accumulate in hazardous
quantities within the airplane.
(4) Meet the requirements of Sec. 25.863.
(5) Not damage surrounding structure or adjacent systems,
equipment, or electrical wiring from corrosive fluids or gases that may
escape in such a way as to cause a major or more-severe failure
condition.
(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.
(7) Have a failure sensing and warning system to alert the flight
crew if its failure affects safe operation of the airplane.
(8) If its function is required for safe operation of the airplane,
have a monitoring and warning feature that alerts the flight crew when
its charge state falls below acceptable levels.
(9) Have a means to automatically disconnect from its charging
source in the event of an over-temperature condition, cell failure or
battery failure.
Note: The battery system consists of the batteries, battery
charger, and any protective, monitoring, and alerting circuitry or
hardware inside or outside of the battery. It also includes vents
(where necessary) and packaging. For the purpose of these special
conditions, a battery and battery system are referred to as a
battery.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 28, 2023.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06729 Filed 3-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 3, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.