Special Conditions: Preferred Improvements, LLC, Boeing Model DC3C Airplanes; Rechargeable Lithium Batteries, 3062-3064 [2018-01102]
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3062-3064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01102]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0035; Special Conditions No. 25-714-SC]
Special Conditions: Preferred Improvements, LLC, Boeing Model
DC3C Airplanes; Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model DC3C
airplanes as modified by Preferred Improvements, LLC. These airplanes
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 rechargeable lithium ion
backup battery packs installed on the airplanes. The applicable
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate
[[Page 3063]]
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 Preferred Improvements, LLC, on
January 23, 2018. Send your comments by March 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2018-0035
using any of the following methods:
Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/and follow the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
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.
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.
Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without
change, to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the
docket website, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478).
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
https://www.regulations.gov/ 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, Airplane & Flight Crew
Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, Policy &
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98057-3356;
telephone (425) 227-2432; facsimile (425) 227-1320; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay
issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected
airplanes.
In addition, 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. The FAA, therefore,
finds it unnecessary to delay the effective date, and finds good cause
for making these special conditions effective upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Comments Invited
We invite 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.
We will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments
we receive.
Background
On February 1, 2017, Preferred Improvements, LLC, applied for a
supplemental type certificate to install a Saab Grintek Impi II
tracking system on Boeing Model DC3C airplanes. The tracking system
sends altitude and speed information to a ground station via a modem,
which contains a rechargeable lithium ion battery.
The Boeing Model DC3C airplane is a narrow-body transport category
airplane powered by twin-turbine/piston wing-mounted engines. The
airplane has a maximum takeoff weight of 26,900 pounds with seating for
2 crewmembers and 32 passengers.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Preferred Improvements, LLC, must show that the Boeing
Model DC3C airplanes, as changed, continue to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A669, 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 (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for these airplanes, as modified by
Preferred Improvements, LLC, 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 models for which
they are issued. Should the applicant apply for a supplemental type
certificate to modify any other models included on the same type
certificates to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature,
these special conditions would also apply to the other models under
Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, Boeing Model DC3C airplanes, as modified by Preferred
Improvements, LLC, 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 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 Features
Boeing Model DC3C airplanes, as modified by Preferred Improvements,
LLC, will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
airplane tracking system with a modem containing a rechargeable lithium
ion battery.
The battery system consists of the battery, 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.
Discussion
Rechargeable lithium batteries 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 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.
[[Page 3064]]
Special Condition 1 requires that each individual cell within a
rechargeable lithium battery be designed to maintain safe temperatures
and pressures. Special Condition 2 addresses these same issues but for
the entire battery. Special Condition 2 requires the battery 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 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
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 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 to have
``automatic'' means 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 conditions apply to all rechargeable lithium battery
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. These
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
Boeing Model DC3C airplanes as modified by Preferred Improvements, LLC.
Should Preferred Improvements, LLC, apply at a later date for a
supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on
Type Certificate No. A699 to incorporate the same novel or unusual
design feature, these special conditions would apply to those models as
well.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
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 Boeing Model DC3C airplanes as
modified by Preferred Improvements, LLC.
Rechargeable Lithium Battery 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 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 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: A battery system consists of the battery, 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 this special condition,
a battery and battery system are referred to as a battery.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 17, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy & Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-01102 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
