[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 29, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40943-40944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18324]
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 29, 2017 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 40943]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 23
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0651; Special Conditions No. 23-285-SC]
Special Conditions: Game Composites Ltd., GB1 Airplane; Acrobatic
Category Aerodynamic Stability
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Game Composites
Ltd. GB1 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design
feature(s) associated with static stability. This airplane can perform
at the highest level of aerobatic competition. To be competitive, the
airplane is designed with its lateral and directional axes being
decoupled from each other; providing more precise maneuvering. The
applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special
conditions contain the additional safety standards the Administrator
considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that
established by the existing airworthiness standards.
DATES: These special conditions are effective August 29, 2017 and are
applicable on August 22, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ross Schaller, AIR-714, Federal
Aviation Administration, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, Flight
Test Branch, Aircraft Certification Service, 901 Locust, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 329-4162; facsimile (816) 329-4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On March 10, 2014, Game Composite Ltd. applied for a type
certificate for their new GB1 airplane. The GB1 is a single-engine
airplane with a two-place tandem canopy cockpit. It features
conventional landing gear, conventional low-wing planform, and is
mostly constructed of carbon composite materials. The engine is a
Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A, fitted with a model MTV-14-B-C/C190-130 4-blade
MT-propeller. The airplane will be approved for Day-VFR operations
(non-icing). The maximum takeoff weight is 2,200 pounds in acrobatic
category with a maximum operating altitude of 15,000 feet. The never
exceed speed (VNE) is 230 knots, the design cruise speed
(VC) is 200 knots, and the design maneuvering speed
(VA) is 175 knots.
Acrobatic airplanes previously type certified by the FAA did comply
with the stability provisions of part 23, subpart B. However, airplanes
like the GB1 are considered as ``unlimited'' acrobatic airplanes
because these airplanes can perform all the maneuvers listed in the
Aresti Catalog. Generally, the evolution of the ``unlimited'' types of
acrobatic airplanes, with very low mass, exceptional roll rates, and
very high G capabilities--in addition to power to mass ratios--are
unique to this type of airplane and have led to airplanes that cannot
comply with the stability provisions of the regulations. These
airplanes can be type certified in the acrobatic category only with an
appropriate set of special conditions and associated limitations.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Game Composites Ltd. must
show the GB1 meets the applicable provisions of part 23, as amended by
amendments 23-1 through 23-62 thereto.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 23) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for the GB1 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 type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same or similar
novel or unusual design feature, the FAA would apply these special
conditions to the other model under Sec. 21.17(a)(2).
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the GB1 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 and the FAA must issue a finding of regulatory
adequacy under Sec. 611 of Public Law 92-574, the ``Noise Control Act
of 1972.''.
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. 21.17(a)(2).
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The GB1 airplane will incorporate the following novel or unusual
design features:
For acrobatic category airplanes with unlimited acrobatic
capability:
Relaxed longitudinal and decoupled lateral static stability
characteristics.
Discussion
Sections 23.173 and 23.177 provide static stability criteria for
longitudinal, lateral, and directional axes requirements for an
airplane. However, these requirements are not adequate to address the
specific issues raised in the flight characteristics of an unlimited
aerobatic airplane. Therefore, the FAA has determined special
conditions are needed--after a flight-test evaluation--to address the
static stability characteristics of the GB1. Accordingly, these special
conditions are for the Game Composites Ltd. GB1 airplane's static
stability characteristics.
Discussion of Comments
Notice of proposed special conditions No. 23-17-02-SC for the Game
Composites Ltd. GB1 airplane was published in the Federal Register on
July 3, 2017 (82 FR 30798). The FAA received one comment. The commenter
suggested the FAA makes this special condition a standard for all
unlimited aerobatic airplanes. The FAA agrees and published amendment
23-64 in the Federal Register (81 FR 96572, December 30, 2016) with an
effective date of August 30, 2017; moving from a prescriptive-based to
a performance-based regulation. A goal of amendment 23-64 is to reduce
the need for special conditions through the use of industry standards
that can be applied--as the commenter suggests--to airplanes that meet
the criteria for that standard. Until an industry standard is developed
by an industry standards organization such as
[[Page 40944]]
ASTM International, SAE International, etc. these special conditions
are required and adopted as proposed.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
GB1. Should Game Composites Ltd. apply at a later date for a change to
the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same
novel or unusual design feature the FAA would apply these special
conditions to that model as well.
Under standard practice, the effective date of final special
conditions would be 30 days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register; however, as the certification date for the Game
Composites Ltd. GB1 airplane is imminent, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)
the FAA finds that good cause exists to make these special conditions
effective upon issuance.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability and
it affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of
these features on the airplane.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 23
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Signs and symbols.
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 condition are issued as part of
the type certification basis for Game Composites GB1 airplanes.
1. Acrobatic Only Category Static Stability Requirements.
a. In place of 14 CFR 23.173, ``Static longitudinal stability,''
comply with the following:
SC23.173 Static Longitudinal Stability
Under the conditions in 14 CFR 23.175 and with the airplane trimmed
as indicated, the characteristics of the elevator control forces and
the friction within the control system must be as follows:
(a) A pull must be required to obtain and maintain speeds below the
specified trim speed and a push required to obtain and maintain speeds
above the specified trim speed. This must be shown at any speed that
can be obtained, except that speeds requiring a control force in excess
of 40 pounds or speeds above the maximum allowable speed or below the
minimum speed for steady unstalled flight need not be considered.
(b) The stick force or position must vary with speed so any
substantial speed change results in a stick force or position clearly
perceptible to the pilot.
b. In place of 14 CFR 23.177, ``Static directional and lateral
stability,'' comply with the following:
SC23.177 Static Directional and Lateral Stability
(a) The static directional stability, as shown by the tendency to
recover from a wings level sideslip with the rudder free, must be
positive for any landing gear and flap position appropriate to the
takeoff, climb, cruise, approach, and landing configurations. This must
be shown with symmetrical power up to maximum continuous power and at
speeds from 1.2 VS1 to VO (maximum operating
maneuvering speed); the rudder pedal force must not reverse.
(b) In straight, steady slips at 1.2 VS1 for any landing
gear and flap positions and for any symmetrical power conditions up to
50 percent of maximum continuous power, the rudder control movements
and forces must increase steadily--but not necessarily in constant
proportion--as the angle of sideslip is increased up to the maximum
appropriate for the type of airplane. The aileron control movements and
forces may increase steadily, but not necessarily in constant
proportion, as the angle of sideslip is increased up to the maximum
appropriate for the type of airplane. At larger slip angles, up to the
angle at which full rudder or aileron control is used or a control
force limit contained in 14 CFR 23.143 is reached, the aileron and
rudder control movements and forces must not reverse as the angle of
sideslip is increased.
Rapid entry into--and recovery from--a maximum sideslip considered
appropriate for the airplane must not result in uncontrollable flight
characteristics.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 22, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Manager, Small Airplane Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18324 Filed 8-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P