Special Conditions: Aptoz EHF; Non-Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery System Installations, 68336-68338 [2022-24773]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 15, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
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[FR Doc. 2022–24750 Filed 11–14–22; 8:45 am]
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BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2022–0760; Special
Conditions No. 25–827–SC]
Special Conditions: Aptoz EHF; NonRechargeable Lithium Batteries and
Battery System Installations
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for a supplemental type
certificate (STC) to install nonrechargeable lithium batteries and
battery systems on certain transportcategory airplanes. The airplanes, as
modified by Aptoz EHF (Aptoz), will
have a novel or unusual design feature
when compared to the state of
technology envisioned in the
airworthiness standards for transportcategory airplanes. This design feature
is non-rechargeable lithium batteries
and battery system in emergency locator
transmitters (ELTs). 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 Aptoz
on November 15, 2022. Send comments
on or before December 30, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2022–0760 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: Except for Confidential
Business Information (CBI) as described
in the following paragraph, and other
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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information as described in title 14,
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
11.35, the FAA will post all comments
received without change to https://
www.regulations.gov/, including any
personal information you provide. The
FAA will also post a report
summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about these special
conditions.
Except for Confidential Business
Information as described in the
following paragraph, and other
information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will file in the docket all
comments received concerning these
special conditions. The FAA will
consider all comments received on or
before the closing date for comments.
The FAA will consider comments filed
late if it is possible to do so without
incurring delay. The FAA may change
these special conditions based on
comments received.
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 Nazih Khaouly,
Aircraft Systems Section, AIR–673,
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
nazih.khaouly@faa.gov. 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
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,
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 15, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
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–673, 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 nazih.khaouly@
faa.gov.
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 14 CFR 11.38(b), that
new comments are unlikely, and notice
and comment prior to this publication
are unnecessary. The FAA finds that, for
the same reason, good cause exists for
adopting these special conditions upon
publication in the Federal Register.
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 comments
received.
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Background
On April 6, 2022, Aptoz applied for
a supplemental type certificate to install
non-rechargeable lithium batteries and
battery systems in ELTs. Aptoz intends
to apply this STC to multiple transportcategory airplanes, and may periodically
amend this STC to expand its
applicability to include additional
transport-category airplane makes and
models.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101,
Aptoz EHF must show that the
airplanes, for which they make
application to modify by FAA STC
ST00030IB, as changed, continue to
meet the applicable provisions of the
regulations listed in each airplane’s
respective type certificate 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
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(i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards
because of a novel or unusual design
feature, special conditions are
prescribed under the provisions of
§ 21.16.
Special conditions are initially
applicable to the airplane model for
which they are issued. Should the
applicant apply for an STC to modify
another 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 § 21.101.
In addition to the applicable
airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the airplanes modified by
STC no. ST00030IB 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 § 11.38, and they become part of
the type certification basis under
§ 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The airplanes listed in the FAA STC
ST00030IB approved model list (AML)
will incorporate the following novel or
unusual design feature:
Non-rechargeable lithium batteries
and battery systems installed in ELTs.
Discussion
The FAA derived the current
regulations governing installation of
batteries in transport-category airplanes
from Civil Air Regulations (CAR)
4b.625(d), as part of the recodification of
CAR 4b, which established 14 CFR part
25 in February 1965. This recodification
essentially reworded the CAR 4b battery
requirements, which are currently in
§ 25.1353(b)(1) through (4). Nonrechargeable lithium batteries and
battery systems are novel and unusual
with respect to the state of technology
considered when these requirements
were codified. Non-rechargeable lithium
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 introduce
failure modes that require unique design
considerations, such as provisions for
thermal management.
In January 2013, two independent
events involving rechargeable lithiumion batteries revealed unanticipated
failure modes. A National
Transportation Safety Board letter to the
FAA, dated May 22, 2014, which is
available at https://www.ntsb.gov,
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68337
filename A-14-032-036.pdf, describes
these events.
On July 12, 2013, an event involving
a non-rechargeable lithium battery in an
ELT installation demonstrated
unanticipated failure modes. The
United Kingdom’s Air Accidents
Investigation Branch Bulletin S5/2013
describes this event. These events,
involving rechargeable and nonrechargeable lithium batteries,
prompted the FAA to initiate a broad
evaluation of these energy-storage
technologies.
On April 22, 2016, the FAA published
special conditions no. 25–612–SC in the
Federal Register (81 FR 23573),
applicable to Gulfstream Aerospace
Corporation, for the Model GVI airplane.
Those were the first special conditions
the FAA issued for non-rechargeable
lithium battery installations. In that
document, the FAA explained its
decision to make those special
conditions effective on April 22, 2017,
one year after publication in the Federal
Register. In those special conditions, the
FAA stated its intention to apply nonrechargeable lithium battery and battery
system special conditions to design
changes on other airplane makes and
models applied for after this same date.
Special condition no. 1 of these
special conditions requires that each
individual cell within a nonrechargeable lithium battery and battery
system be designed to maintain safe
temperatures and pressures. Special
condition no. 2 addresses these same
issues but for the entire battery. Special
condition no. 2 requires the battery be
designed to prevent propagation of a
thermal event, such as self-sustained,
uncontrollable increases in temperature
or pressure from one cell to adjacent
cells.
Special condition nos. 1 and 2 are
intended to ensure that the nonrechargeable lithium battery and its
cells 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 battery designer.
Therefore, other special conditions are
intended to protect the airplane and its
occupants if failure occurs.
Special conditions 3, 7, and 8 are selfexplanatory.
Special condition no. 4 makes it clear
that the flammable-fluid fire-protection
requirements of § 25.863 apply to nonrechargeable lithium battery and battery
system installations. Section 25.863 is
applicable to areas of the airplane that
could be exposed to flammable-fluid
leakage from airplane systems. Nonrechargeable lithium batteries and
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 15, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
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battery systems contain an electrolyte
that is a flammable fluid.
Special condition no. 5 requires that
each non-rechargeable lithium battery
and battery system installation 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.
While special condition no. 5
addresses corrosive fluids and gases,
special condition no. 6 addresses heat.
Special condition no. 6 requires that
each non-rechargeable lithium battery
and battery system installation have
provisions to prevent any hazardous
effect on airplane structure or systems
caused by the maximum amount of heat
the battery installation can generate due
to any failure of it or its individual cells.
The means of meeting special
conditions nos. 5 and 6 may be the
same, but the requirements are
independent and address different
hazards.
These special conditions apply to all
non-rechargeable lithium battery and
battery system installations, in lieu of
§ 25.1353(b)(1) through (4) at
amendment 25–123. Sections
25.1353(b)(1) through (4) at amendment
25–123 remain in effect for other battery
installations.
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 airplane
models listed on the AML of STC no.
ST00030IB, available online at
rgl.faa.gov. All models listed in the
AML must be evaluated and determined
to comply with these special conditions.
Additionally, each new model added to
the AML subsequently must also be
evaluated and determined to comply
with these special conditions.
Should Aptoz apply at a later date for
a change to STC no. ST00030IB, to
include any other model on the AML to
incorporate the same novel or unusual
design feature, these special conditions
would apply to that model as well.
Should Aptoz apply at a later date for
another STC to modify any other model
included on the type certificates of the
models on the STC no. ST00030IB AML,
to incorporate the same novel or
unusual design feature, these special
conditions would also apply to that
model as well. These special conditions
are not applicable to those models for
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which applicable special conditions for
rechargeable lithium batteries and
battery systems have already been
issued against the type certificate for
that specific model.
Conclusion
This action only affects the
installation of ELTs that contain nonrechargeable lithium batteries and
battery systems for airplanes listed on
the AML of STC no. ST00030IB. 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 the airplane
modelslisted on the approved model list
of supplemental type certificate no.
ST00030IB, as modified by Aptoz.
In lieu of § 25.1353(b)(1) through (4)
at amendment 25–123, or § 25.1353(c)(1)
through (4) at earlier amendments, each
non-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.
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 § 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, in the
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event its failure affects safe operation of
the airplane.
8. Have a means for the flight crew or
maintenance personnel to determine the
battery charge state if the battery’s
function is required for safe operation of
the airplane.
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 these special
conditions, a battery and the battery system
is referred to as a battery.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
November 8, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–24773 Filed 11–14–22; 8:45 am]
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19 CFR Part 102
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Rules of Origin for Goods Imported
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ACTION: Final rule; technical corrections.
AGENCY:
This document sets forth
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Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
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SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68336-68338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24773]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0760; Special Conditions No. 25-827-SC]
Special Conditions: Aptoz EHF; Non-Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
and Battery System Installations
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for a supplemental type
certificate (STC) to install non-rechargeable lithium batteries and
battery systems on certain transport-category airplanes. The airplanes,
as modified by Aptoz EHF (Aptoz), 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 non-rechargeable lithium batteries and battery system in
emergency locator transmitters (ELTs). 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 Aptoz on November 15, 2022. Send
comments on or before December 30, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2022-0760 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: 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 https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about these special conditions.
Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the
following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will file in the docket all comments received concerning
these special conditions. The FAA will consider all comments received
on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider
comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring delay.
The FAA may change these special conditions based on comments received.
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
Nazih Khaouly, Aircraft Systems Section, AIR-673, 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
[email protected]. 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
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,
[[Page 68337]]
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-673, 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 [email protected].
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 14 CFR 11.38(b), that new
comments are unlikely, and notice and comment prior to this publication
are unnecessary. The FAA finds that, for the same reason, good cause
exists for adopting these special conditions upon publication in the
Federal Register.
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 comments
received.
Background
On April 6, 2022, Aptoz applied for a supplemental type certificate
to install non-rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems in
ELTs. Aptoz intends to apply this STC to multiple transport-category
airplanes, and may periodically amend this STC to expand its
applicability to include additional transport-category airplane makes
and models.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Aptoz EHF must show that the airplanes, for which they
make application to modify by FAA STC ST00030IB, as changed, continue
to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in each
airplane's respective type certificate 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 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 airplane model
for which they are issued. Should the applicant apply for an STC to
modify another 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 airplanes modified by STC no. ST00030IB 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
The airplanes listed in the FAA STC ST00030IB approved model list
(AML) will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
Non-rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems installed in
ELTs.
Discussion
The FAA derived the current regulations governing installation of
batteries in transport-category airplanes from Civil Air Regulations
(CAR) 4b.625(d), as part of the recodification of CAR 4b, which
established 14 CFR part 25 in February 1965. This recodification
essentially reworded the CAR 4b battery requirements, which are
currently in Sec. 25.1353(b)(1) through (4). Non-rechargeable lithium
batteries and battery systems are novel and unusual with respect to the
state of technology considered when these requirements were codified.
Non-rechargeable lithium 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 introduce failure modes that require
unique design considerations, such as provisions for thermal
management.
In January 2013, two independent events involving rechargeable
lithium-ion batteries revealed unanticipated failure modes. A National
Transportation Safety Board letter to the FAA, dated May 22, 2014,
which is available at https://www.ntsb.gov, filename A-14-032-036.pdf,
describes these events.
On July 12, 2013, an event involving a non-rechargeable lithium
battery in an ELT installation demonstrated unanticipated failure
modes. The United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch Bulletin
S5/2013 describes this event. These events, involving rechargeable and
non-rechargeable lithium batteries, prompted the FAA to initiate a
broad evaluation of these energy-storage technologies.
On April 22, 2016, the FAA published special conditions no. 25-612-
SC in the Federal Register (81 FR 23573), applicable to Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation, for the Model GVI airplane. Those were the first
special conditions the FAA issued for non-rechargeable lithium battery
installations. In that document, the FAA explained its decision to make
those special conditions effective on April 22, 2017, one year after
publication in the Federal Register. In those special conditions, the
FAA stated its intention to apply non-rechargeable lithium battery and
battery system special conditions to design changes on other airplane
makes and models applied for after this same date.
Special condition no. 1 of these special conditions requires that
each individual cell within a non-rechargeable lithium battery and
battery system be designed to maintain safe temperatures and pressures.
Special condition no. 2 addresses these same issues but for the entire
battery. Special condition no. 2 requires the battery be designed to
prevent propagation of a thermal event, such as self-sustained,
uncontrollable increases in temperature or pressure from one cell to
adjacent cells.
Special condition nos. 1 and 2 are intended to ensure that the non-
rechargeable lithium battery and its cells 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
battery 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 no. 4 makes it clear that the flammable-fluid
fire-protection requirements of Sec. 25.863 apply to non-rechargeable
lithium battery and battery system installations. Section 25.863 is
applicable to areas of the airplane that could be exposed to flammable-
fluid leakage from airplane systems. Non-rechargeable lithium batteries
and
[[Page 68338]]
battery systems contain an electrolyte that is a flammable fluid.
Special condition no. 5 requires that each non-rechargeable lithium
battery and battery system installation 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.
While special condition no. 5 addresses corrosive fluids and gases,
special condition no. 6 addresses heat. Special condition no. 6
requires that each non-rechargeable lithium battery and battery system
installation have provisions to prevent any hazardous effect on
airplane structure or systems caused by the maximum amount of heat the
battery installation can generate due to any failure of it or its
individual cells. The means of meeting special conditions nos. 5 and 6
may be the same, but the requirements are independent and address
different hazards.
These special conditions apply to all non-rechargeable lithium
battery and battery system installations, in lieu of Sec.
25.1353(b)(1) through (4) at amendment 25-123. Sections 25.1353(b)(1)
through (4) at amendment 25-123 remain in effect for other battery
installations.
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
airplane models listed on the AML of STC no. ST00030IB, available
online at rgl.faa.gov. All models listed in the AML must be evaluated
and determined to comply with these special conditions. Additionally,
each new model added to the AML subsequently must also be evaluated and
determined to comply with these special conditions.
Should Aptoz apply at a later date for a change to STC no.
ST00030IB, to include any other model on the AML to incorporate the
same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would
apply to that model as well.
Should Aptoz apply at a later date for another STC to modify any
other model included on the type certificates of the models on the STC
no. ST00030IB AML, to incorporate the same novel or unusual design
feature, these special conditions would also apply to that model as
well. These special conditions are not applicable to those models for
which applicable special conditions for rechargeable lithium batteries
and battery systems have already been issued against the type
certificate for that specific model.
Conclusion
This action only affects the installation of ELTs that contain non-
rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems for airplanes listed
on the AML of STC no. ST00030IB. 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 the airplane modelslisted on the
approved model list of supplemental type certificate no. ST00030IB, as
modified by Aptoz.
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 non-
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.
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, in the event its failure affects safe operation of the airplane.
8. Have a means for the flight crew or maintenance personnel to
determine the battery charge state if the battery's function is
required for safe operation of the airplane.
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 these special
conditions, a battery and the battery system is referred to as a
battery.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 8, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-24773 Filed 11-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P