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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 17, 2021 / Rules and Regulations ACTION:

Final special conditions.

These special conditions are issued for the Leonardo S.p.A.
Leonardo Model A119 and AW119
MKII helicopters. These helicopters as modified by AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation AWPC will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for helicopters.
This design feature is the optional closed circuit refueling receiver CCRR.
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: Effective April 16, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rao Edupuganti, Dynamic Systems Section, AIR627, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76177; telephone 817 2224389.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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SUMMARY:

Background On January 30, 2020, AWPC applied for a supplemental type certificate to install an optional CCRR in the Leonardo Model A119 and AW119 MKII
helicopters. The general configuration and the principles of construction of these helicopters will not be changed by the modifications. These helicopters are 14 CFR part 27 normal category helicopters powered by turboshaft engines, with a 7-passenger maximum capacity and minimum crew of one pilot and a maximum weight of 5,997 lb 2,720 kg and 6,283 lb 2,850 kg, respectively. The total useable fuel capacity of the Leonardo Model A119
and AW119 MKII helicopters is 157.0
U.S. gallons distributed within the fuel tanks. Both helicopter models are powered by one Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc. PT6B37A turboshaft engine.
Part 27 does not contain requirements for pressure refueling for normal category helicopters. Title 14 CFR
29.979, amendment 2912, provides these requirements for transport category helicopters. Accordingly, these special conditions are based on 29.979
to provide requirements for the inclusion of the optional CCRR on the Leonardo Model A119 and AW119 MKII
helicopters.
Type Certification Basis Under the provisions of 14 CFR
21.101, AWPC must show that the
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Leonardo Model A119 and AW119 MKII
helicopters, as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No.
H7EU or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the change. The regulations adopted by reference in the type certificate are commonly referred to as the original type certification basis. The certification basis also includes certain special conditions, exemptions, or later amended sections of the applicable part that are not relevant to these special conditions.
The Administrator has determined that the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Leonardo Model A119 and AW119 MKII
helicopters because of a novel or unusual design feature. Therefore, 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.
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 Leonardo Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature: An optional CCRR system that allows for pressure refueling.
Discussion AWPC proposed to install an optional CCRR system that includes provisions for pressure refueling during ground operations with the engine running and the rotors turning. The design proposed by AWPC allows for both closed-circuit pressure and normal gravity refueling and fueling. In this design, the ground crew will be able to perform closedcircuit pressure refueling by pulling the receiver into place using the provided lanyard tool after the fuel filler cap is opened. When gravity fueling is desired, a latch is depressed using the same lanyard tool. Depressing the latch causes the receiver to swing open to accommodate any nozzle up to three inches in diameter. The CCRR system is currently certified on the Leonardo Model AW139 transport category helicopter. Relative to the Model
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AW139 installation, the Model A119
and AW119 MKII installations will be clocked 25 degrees counter-clockwise, and the receptacle flange will be offset approximately two inches outboard of the fuselage profile due to packaging constraints. The mechanical components and functional aspects of the Model A119 and AW119 MKII CCRR
installations are unchanged from the previously certified AW139 installation.
The part 27 airworthiness regulations in the type certification basis do not contain appropriate safety standards for this design feature. However, part 29
regulations contain appropriate airworthiness standards; therefore, these special conditions are necessary. They are derived from 14 CFR 29.979, Pressure refueling and fueling provisions below fuel level.
Section 29.979, amendment 2912, effective February 1, 1977, includes standards for pressure refueling and fueling provisions below fuel level on transport category helicopters. This regulation is intended to prevent hazards to ground crew, flight crew, and occupants by reducing the probability of exposure to hazardous quantities of fuel due to spillage. This regulation also ensures the pressure refueling/defueling system is designed to prevent overfilling the fuel tank and to withstand an ultimate load overpressure event without failure.
Section 29.979a requires that each fueling connection below the fuel level in each tank have means to prevent the escape of hazardous quantities of fuel from that tank in case of malfunction of the fuel entry valve. The only refueling connection on the Leonardo Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters is located above the fuel level of the single main upper, two main lower, and optional two auxiliary fuel tanks. As the proposed modification by AWPC does not move the existing refueling connection below the fuel line of any fuel tank, these special conditions do not include a requirement derived from 14 CFR 29.979a.
Section 29.979b requires that systems intended for pressure refueling and fueling have a means in addition to the normal means for limiting the tank content to prevent damage to the tank in case of failure of the normal means.
Section 29.979c requires that the helicopter pressure fueling system not fuel tanks and fuel tank vents withstand an ultimate load that is 2.0
times the load arising from the maximum pressure, including surge, likely to occur during fueling. The maximum surge pressure must be established with any combination of
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