1. Installation of Non-Required Equipment
Presented to: AEA Rotorcraft Forum
By: Mark Wiley
Date: January 24, 2013

2. Outline What is Non-Required Equipment? Regulatory Basis
Installation Assessment
Configuration Control
Policy and Guidance
Non- required equipment can pose a hazard to the rotorcraft, crew and passengers
This briefing will define what is non-required equipment
Will identify a sample of requirements that should be addressed to meet the applicable FARs
I’ll review a laser installation example and the potential hazards of the laser system on the rotorcraft, crew, passengers, maintainers, and Joe Public

3. What is Non-Required Equipment
Equipment that is not required by
Rotorcraft Airworthiness Rules: Parts 27 and 29
Operating Rules: Parts 91, 133, or 135, etc.
Has some Declared Intended Use or Function / Mission benefit
Passenger comfort or entertainment
Mission equipment
It does not include enhancements to required equipment
27 Normal Category
29 Transport Category

4. Regulatory Basis Applicable Regulations Intended Use 1301 Function
Hazard Assessment
1309 Failure Conditions
Other airworthiness regulations that apply
1351, 1357 as an example

5. Regulatory Basis 1301 (intended use or function)
Applicant is afforded quite a bit of leeway in this area.
Clearly define what the system or equipments intended purpose is.
Or the inverse i.e. what it won’t do or is not intended for use as.
Proposed limitations for the aircraft crew or equipment when it is installed
Loss of function will typically have no safety effect
Address any required training

6. Regulatory Basis 1309 (Hazard Assessment)
Equipment poses no hazard to the aircraft, crew or passengers
Loss of the equipment/function
Equipment malfunction or failure
Equipment does not pose a hazard to other aircraft or personnel on the ground
Software and complex electronic hardware design assurance
Design assurance levels should be commensurate with the Failure or malfunction hazard classification Not for Loss of Function if there is no safety effect
If a safety effect is identified, appropriate design assurance levels are required
Example of externally mounted wire strike laser detection system
27.251, page 16 – If excessive vibrations are incurred during the flight test, how will this be determined? Are there any plans to do a rap test to ensure that the natural frequency of the installation is not near any critical frequencies of the helicopter?
– Landing gear deflection –
– Cat B the equipment must be designed to prevent hazards to the rotorcraft if they malfunction or fail. Cat A failure condition which would prevent the continued flight and landing of the rotorcraft is extremely improbable. The occurrence of any other failure condition which would prevent the continued safe flight and landing of the rotorcraft is improbable. Section does not apply to the functional aspects of aircraft non-safety related equipment such as entertainment systems, hoists, Forward Looking Infrared systems (FLIR), or emergency medical equipment such as defibrillators, etc. However, it does apply to hazards to the rotorcraft, its occupants, and flight crew introduced by the installation/presence of this type of equipment/systems (e.g., Electromagnetic-Interference considerations, fire hazards, and failure of the electrical system fault protection scheme) approved as part of the type design.
1353 Electrical equipment, controls, and wiring must be installed so that operation of any one unit or system of units will not adversely affect the simultaneous operation of any other electrical unit or system essential to safe operation. Additionally, wiring installation design should be documented sufficiently to maintain configuration control for manufacturing and to assure that the electromagnetic characteristics remain the same as the certification sample.
The battery’s capacity must be sufficient to supply the required current, at a voltage level that allows proper operation of the equipment/functions dependent on battery power. This capacity must be shown to be sufficient, at the proper voltage levels, for all operational and environmental conditions. Helicopters approved for IFR operations require sufficient battery power to operate a minimum set of required equipment for a time long enough to find a suitable place to land and effect a safe landing. The minimum time for IFR is 30 minutes. Additionally, for helicopters that employ electrical power for starting, the battery must have sufficient capacity to provide adequate engine starting on the ground, and also to have the capability to provide power for the air start function, when required. The power requirement for air start could have high-level safety considerations depending on the helicopter’s power distribution system and the number of engines.
radio and
navigation equipment does not interfere with operation of any other required avionics

7. Installation Assessment
System safety and environmental assessment
To identify and categorize any potential hazards (based on FHA)
To limit the scope of the certification and determine the extent of environmental, ground and flight testing
Laboratory Qualification
Equipment performance verified in operational environments
Operational limitations and placards may be required
(a)(4) Except for electrical wire and cable insulation, and for small parts (such as knobs, handles, rollers, fasteners, clips, grommets, rub strips, pulleys and small electrical parts that would not contribute to the propagation of a fire
Compartment Interiors - The materials must be at least flame-resistant

8. Installation Considerations
Does the equipment interface with required equipment?
Where will the equipment be located?
Is the equipment a potential source (e.g. clocked processor, transmitter) of radiated and/or conducted electromagnetic interference?
What is the flammability potential of the equipment?
What are the electrical power requirements for the equipment?
Does the equipment have its own battery?
(a)(4) Except for electrical wire and cable insulation, and for small parts (such as knobs, handles, rollers, fasteners, clips, grommets, rub strips, pulleys and small electrical parts that would not contribute to the propagation of a fire
Compartment Interiors - The materials must be at least flame-resistant
Reserve Energy Absorption – the external accessories should not contact the ground

9. Configuration Control
Need configuration control of COTS equipment for subsequent installations or parts replacement
Provides process for reporting any changes to certified equipment to ensure airworthiness for follow-on installations
Options
Lifetime buy
Type design source control drawing and test procedure
Source control drawing defines critical COTS characteristics (e.g. dimensions, weight, power, battery, case material, performance, electrical or mechanical interface)
COTS critical characteristics conformity inspection
Test procedure
Verify that the COTS meets the critical power, performance and interface requirements
Aircraft installation check
EMC
Aircraft Interfaces

10. Policy and Guidance
AC , Certification Guidance for Installation of Non-Essential, Non-Required Aircraft Cabin Systems and Equipment
References RTCA/DO-313, Certification Guidance for Installation of Non-Essential, Non-Required Aircraft Cabin Systems and Equipment
AC , Design and Installation Guidance for an Airborne System for Non-Required Telecommunications Service in Non-Aeronautical Frequency Bands
AC 27-1B, Certification of Normal Category Rotorcraft
AC 29-2C, Certification of Transport Category Rotorcraft

11. Non-Required Equipment
Questions ?