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Docket ID: [Docket No. NM188; Special Conditions No. 25-177-SC]
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Special Conditions: Cessna Aircraft Company Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 Series Airplanes; High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Cessna Aircraft Company Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 series airplanes modified by ElectroSonics. These modified airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of new dual air data display unit systems that perform critical functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high intensityradiated fields (HIRF). 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.
SUMMARY: Special conditions—; Cessna Aircraft Co. Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 series airplanes,
The FAA has determined that good cause exists for making these
special conditions effective upon issuance; however, interested persons are invited to submit such written data, views, or
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arguments, as they may desire. Communications should identify the
regulatory docket number and be submitted in duplicate to the address
specified in the ADDRESSES section, above. All communications received
on or before the closing date for comments will be considered by the
Administrator. These special conditions may be changed in light of the
comments received. All comments received will be available in the Rules
Docket for examination by interested persons, both before and after the
closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public
contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking will be filed in
the docket. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their
comments submitted in response to these special conditions must include
a selfaddressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is
made: ``Comments to Docket No. NM188.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.
On August 10, 2000, ElectroSonics, 4391 International Gateway,
Columbus, Ohio, applied for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to
modify Cessna Aircraft Company Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes.
These models are certificated under 14 CFR part 25 as (small) transport category airplanes.
The modification that is the subject of these special conditions incorporates the installation of Innovative Solutions & Support air data display units (ADDU). The ADDU is a replacement for the existing analog flight instrumentation, and provides additional functional capability and redundancy in the system. The avionics/electronics and electrical systems installed in the subject Cessna airplanes have the potential to be vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane. Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, ElectroSonics must show that
the Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes, as changed,
continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A22CE, or the
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the
change. The regulations incorporated by reference in the type
certificate are commonly referred to as the ``original type
certification basis.'' The regulations included in the certification basis for theses airplanes are as follows:
1. For the Cessna Model 500 Airplane
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, these Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes must
comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of part 34 and the noise certification requirements of part 36.
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The Effect of Special Conditions on the Type Certification Basis
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
Special conditions, as defined in Sec. 11.19, are issued in accordance with Sec. 11.38. In accordance with Sec. 21.101(b)(2), the special conditions approved in this document will form an additional part of the type certification basis for these airplanes.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which they are issued. Should ElectroSonics apply at a later date 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 the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).
As noted earlier, the Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics will incorporate a dual electronic primary flight display system that will perform critical functions. This system may be vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane. The current airworthiness standards of part 25 do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of this equipment from the adverse effects of HIRF. Accordingly, this system is considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.
There is no specific regulation that addresses protection requirements for electrical and electronic systems from HIRF. Increased power levels from groundbased radio transmitters and the growing use of sensitive avionics/electronics and electrical systems to command and control airplanes have made it necessary to provide adequate protection.
To ensure that a level of safety is achieved that is equivalent to that intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special conditions are needed for the Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics. These special conditions require that new avionics/electronics and electrical systems that perform critical functions be designed and installed to preclude component damage and interruption of function due to both the direct and indirect effects of HIRF.
With the trend toward increased power levels from groundbased transmitters, plus the advent of space and satellite communications coupled with electronic command and control of the airplane, the immunity of critical avionics/electronics and electrical systems to HIRF must be established.
It is not possible to precisely define the HIRF to which the airplane will be exposed in service. There is also uncertainty concerning the effectiveness of airframe shielding for HIRF. Furthermore, coupling of electromagnetic energy to cockpitinstalled equipment through the cockpit window apertures is undefined. Based on surveys and analysis of existing HIRF emitters, an adequate level of protection exists when compliance with the HIRF protection special condition is shown with either paragraph 1, or, alternatively, paragraph 2., below:
1. A minimum threat of 100 volts rms per meter electric field strength from 10 KHz to 18 GHz.
a. The threat must be applied to the system elements and their associated wiring harnesses without the benefit of airframe shielding.
b. Demonstration of this level of protection is established through system tests and analysis.
2. A threat external to the airframe for both of the following
field strengths for the frequency ranges indicated. Both peak and
average field strength components from Table 1 are to be demonstrated. Table 1
Field Strength
(volts per meter) Frequency
Peak Average
10 kHz100 kHz....................................... 50 50
100 kHz500 kHz...................................... 50 50
500 kHz2 MHz........................................ 50 50
2 MHz30 MHz......................................... 100 100
30 MHz70 MHz........................................ 50 50
70 MHz100 MHz....................................... 50 50
100 MHz200 MHz...................................... 100 100
200 MHz400 MHz...................................... 100 100
400 MHz700 MHz...................................... 700 50
700 MHz1 GHz........................................ 700 100
1 GHz2 GHz.......................................... 2000 200
2 GHz4 GHz.......................................... 3000 200
4 GHz6 GHz.......................................... 3000 200
6 GHz8 GHz.......................................... 1000 200
8 GHz12 GHz......................................... 3000 300
12 GHz18 GHz........................................ 2000 200
18 GHz40 GHz........................................ 600 200
The field strengths are expressed in terms of peak of the rootmean square (rms) over the complete modulation period.
The threat levels identified in Table 1 are the result of an FAA review of existing studies on the subject of HIRF, in light of the ongoing work of the Electromagnetic Effects Harmonization Working Group of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics. Should ElectroSonics apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on Type Certificate A22CE to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well under the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on the Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics. 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.
The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the notice and comment period in several prior instances and has been derived without substantive change from those previously issued. It is unlikely that prior public comment would result in a significant change from the substance contained herein. For this reason, and because a delay would significantly affect the certification of the airplane, which is imminent, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon issuance. The FAA is requesting comments to allow interested persons to submit views that may not have been submitted in response to the prior opportunities for comment described above.
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 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 supplemental type certification basis for the Cessna Aircraft Company Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 series airplanes modified by ElectroSonics:
1. Protection From Unwanted Effects of HighIntensity Radiated Fields (HIRF). Each electrical and electronic system that performs critical functions must be designed and installed to ensure that the operation and operational capability of these systems to perform critical functions are not adversely affected when the airplane is exposed to highintensity radiated fields.
2. For the purpose of these special conditions, the following definition applies: Critical Functions: Functions whose failure would contribute to or cause a failure condition that would prevent the continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 10, 2001. Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 019531 Filed 41701; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 491013U
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT For information concerning the certification program for Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes, contact: Meghan Gordon, Federal Aviation Administration, Standardization Branch, ANM113, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 980554056; telephone (425) 2272138; fax (425) 2271149.
For information on the general subject of HIRF, contact: Stephen Slotte, Federal Aviation Administration, Transport airplane Directorate, Airplane and Flight Crew Interface Branch, ANM111, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 980554056; telephone (425) 227 2315; fax (425) 2271320.
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 47 CFR Part 73 50 CFR Part 17 33 CFR Part 117 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 26 CFR Part 301 50 CFR Part 622 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 44 CFR Part 65 50 CFR Part 660 40 CFR Part 271 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 47 CFR Part 64 50 CFR Part 665 49 CFR Part 571 44 CFR Part 64 21 CFR Part 522 14 CFR Part 23 47 CFR Part 76