86 FR 219 pgs. 64063-64065 - Special Conditions: Airbus Defense and Space S.A., C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE Airplanes; Rechargeable Lithium Battery Installations
Type: RULEVolume: 86Number: 219Pages: 64063 - 64065
Pages: 64063, 64064, 64065Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2021-1045; Special Conditions No. 25-795-SC]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2021-25006 Filed 11-16-21; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2021-1045; Special Conditions No. 25-795-SC]
Special Conditions: Airbus Defense and Space S.A., C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE Airplanes; Rechargeable Lithium Battery Installations
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final special conditions; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
[top] These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Airbus) Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes. This airplane, as modified by Airbus Defense and Space, Inc., 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 the emergency lighting installation that contain rechargeable lithium batteries. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this
DATES:
This action is effective November 17, 2021. Send comments on or before January 3, 2022.
ADDRESSES:
Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2021-1045 using any of the following methods:
• Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://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 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received without change to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information you provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this proposal.
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 this Notice contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this Notice, 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 this Notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Nazih Khaouly, Aircraft Systems, AIR-623, 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 this rulemaking.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at http://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, Aircraft Systems, AIR-623, 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 has determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary, and 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 the comments received.
Background
On December 16, 2019, Airbus Defense and Space, Inc. applied for a supplemental type certificate for the installation of rechargeable lithium batteries as part of an emergency lighting installation in the Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes. The Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes are twin-engine, transport category aircraft, with capacity for 28 passengers, and a maximum takeoff weight of 16,976 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101, Airbus Defense and Space, Inc. must show that the Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes, as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A43EU 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 ( e.g., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes 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 model for which they are issued. Should the applicant apply 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 §?21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes 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 Feature
The Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
An emergency lighting installation that contains rechargeable lithium batteries.
Discussion
[top] Rechargeable lithium batteries are considered to be a novel or unusual design feature in transport category airplanes, with respect to the requirements in §?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
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 §??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 §??25.1353(b)(1) through (4) at amendment 25-123, or §??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 the Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes. Should Airbus Defense and Space, Inc. apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. A43EU to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature on the Airbus Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE airplanes. 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 airplanes.
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 Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model C212-CC/-CD/-CE/-CF/-DF/-DE, as modified by Airbus Defense and Space, Inc.
In lieu of §??25.1353(b)(1) through (4) at amendment 25-123, or §??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 §??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 these special conditions, a battery and battery system are referred to as a battery.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 10, 2021.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25006 Filed 11-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P