Special Condition: Agusta Aerospace Corporation (Agusta) Model A109C Helicopter, Electronic Flight Instrument System

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 27

[Docket No. 93-ASW-5; Special Condition 27-ASW-2]

Special Condition: Agusta Aerospace Corporation (Agusta) Model

A109C Helicopter, Electronic Flight Instrument System

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final special condition.

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SUMMARY: This special condition is issued for the Agusta Model A109C

helicopter. This helicopter will have a novel or unusual design feature

associated with the Electronic Flight Instrument System. This special

condition contains additional safety standards that the Administrator

considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that

provided by the applicable airworthiness standards.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 28, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert McCallister, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Policy and

Procedures Group, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0112; telephone (817) 222-

5121.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 21, 1993, Agusta Aerospace Corporation, Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, applied for a Supplemental Type Certificate for

installation of an Electronic Flight Instrument System in the Agusta

Model A109C helicopter. This model is a 7 passenger, 2 engine, 5,997

pound normal category helicopter.

Type Certification Basis

The certification basis established for the Agusta Model A109C

helicopter includes: Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Sec. 21.29; part

27 effective February 1, 1965, Amendments 27-1 through 27-8; FAR part

29 dated February 1, 1965, paragraph 29.903(b), for Category ``A''

engine isolation; and equivalent safety in lieu of compliance shown

for: FAR 27.1189 (regarding shut-off means); FAR 27.927(c) as amended

by Amendment 27-12; and Airworthiness Criteria for Helicopter

Instrument Flight, eligible for day and night Instrument Flight Rules

(IFR) operations, with one or two pilots, when Agusta Kit No. 109-0810-

22, Revision E or later approved revision, is incorporated, and the

helicopter is operated in accordance with the Model A109C Rotorcraft

Flight Manual.

If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness

regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for

this helicopter because of a novel or unusual design feature, special

conditions are prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16 to

establish a level of safety equivalent to that established in the

regulations.

Special conditions, as appropriate, are issued in accordance with

FAR Sec. 11.49 after public notice, as required by Secs. 11.28 and

11.29(b), and become part of the type certification basis in accordance

with Sec. 21.101(b)(2) for changes to the type certificates.

Novel or Unusual Design Feature

The Agusta Model A109C helicopter was identified as incorporating

one or possibly more electrical, electronic, or combination of

electrical electronic (electrical/electronic) systems that will be

performing functions critical to the continued safe flight and landing

of the helicopter. The Electronic Flight Instrument System performs the

attitude display function. The display of attitude, altitude, and

airspeed to the pilot is critical to the continued safe flight and

landing of the helicopter for IFR operations in Instrument

Meteorological Conditions.

If it is determined that these helicopters will incorporate other

electrical/electronic systems performing critical functions, those

systems also will be required to comply with the requirements of this

special condition.

Discussion of Comments

Notice of Proposed Special Condition No. SC-93-5-SW was published

in the Federal Register on November 17, 1993, (58 FR 60569). No

comments were received. Therefore, the special condition is adopted as

proposed.

Conclusion

This action affects only certain unusual or novel design features

on one model of helicopter. 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 affected helicopter.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 27

Aircraft, Air transportation, Aviation safety, Rotorcraft, Safety.

PART 27--[AMENDED]

The authority citation for this special condition is as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1344, 1348(c), 1352, 1354(a), 1355, 1421

through 1431, 1502, 1651(b)(2); 42 U.S.C. 1857f-10, 4321 et seq.;

E.O. 11514; 49 U.S.C. 106(g).

The Special Condition

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the following special condition is issued as part of the

type certification basis for the Agusta Model A109C helicopter:

Protection for Electrical and Electronic Systems From High Intensity

Radiated Fields.

Each system that performs critical functions must be designed and

installed to ensure that the operation and operational capabilities of

these critical functions are not adversely affected when the helicopter

is exposed to high intensity radiated fields external to the

helicopter.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 19, 1994.

Sanida McRae,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 94-1927 Filed 1-27-94; 8:45 am]

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