AC 23-16A

Advisory circular · Powerplant Guide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes and Airships

Approved
February 23, 2004
Last reviewed
March 31, 2017
Cancels
AC23-16
Family
AC 23-16 · 2 versions
Revision
A
14 CFR parts
23

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed October 23, 2026.

Show pages 157–168
Page 169Open in PDF

The intent of the rule is to keep the engine supplied with a sufficient amount of fuel to allow continued safe flight and landing in the event of a control system failure that prevents the pilot from setting the appropriate power level (i.e., fuel flow rate).

Can a design that maintains positive retention of the linkage be used to show compliance with § 23.1143(g)?

A number of Equivalent Level of Safety (ELOS) findings have been issued that have allowed linkage designs incorporating positive retention means when complying with § 23.1143(g). These ELOS findings have required a higher level of attachment reliability, establishment of mandatory inspection intervals, inspection procedures, and replacement criteria for the attachments.

Page 170Open in PDF

23.1145 Ignition switches (Amendment 23-43)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: 3.629

ADC Cross-reference: 5.55

Paragraph 23.1145(a)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.55(a)

Does § 23.1145 apply to turbine and reciprocating engines?

This paragraph applies to both turbine and reciprocating engines. The required ignition switch may be used to select any position such as continuous, automatic, on, or off.

Paragraph 23.1145(b)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.55(b)

Is it possible to integrate the required shutoff switch with the engine power lever?

On turbine engines incorporating an auto-relight system, one acceptable means of complying with the shutoff provision would be to have the shutoff switch activated by the power lever. Adequate instruction should be available to the pilot.

Paragraph 23.1145(c)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.55(c)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Page 171Open in PDF

23.1147 Mixture controls (Amendment 23-43)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: 3.630

ADC Cross-reference: 5.56

Paragraph 23.1147(a)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.56

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Paragraph 23.1147(b)

ADC Cross-reference: None

This guidance may be used for Airship Certification as applicable.

Can a design that maintains positive retention of the linkage be used to show compliance with § 23.1147(b)?

A number of Equivalent Level of Safety (ELOS) findings have been issued that have allowed linkage designs incorporating positive retention means when complying with § 23.1147(b). These ELOS findings have required a higher level of attachment reliability, establishment of mandatory inspection intervals, inspection procedures, and replacement criteria for the attachments.

Page 172Open in PDF

23.1149 Propeller speed and pitch controls (Original)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: None

ADC Cross-reference: 5.57

Paragraph 23.1149(a)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.57(a)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Paragraph 23.1149(b)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.57(b)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Page 173Open in PDF

23.1153 Propeller feathering controls (Amendment 23-51)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: None

ADC Cross-reference: 5.58

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Related Material

AC 23-8B, Flight Test Guide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes

Page 174Open in PDF

23.1155 Turbine engine reverse thrust and propeller pitch settings below the flight regime (Amendment 23-7)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: None

ADC Cross-reference: None

This guidance may be used for Airship Certification as applicable.

What is the history of this requirement?

The FAA has long recognized the hazard of inadvertent operation of propeller reversing systems. Prior to the commercial use of turbine-powered airplanes, a few reciprocating engine powered airplane designs included propeller-reversing systems and were addressed by Civil Air Regulations (CAR) paragraph 4b. Section 23.1155 was added to part 23 with Amendment 23-7 (1969) and applied to turbine-powered airplanes only. In the event of a part 23 reciprocating engine powered airplane using propeller-reversing systems, special conditions should be developed.

If the possibility of inadvertent operation can be shown to be remote, does it comply with § 23.1155?

No, the intent is to prevent inadvertent operation in the beta mode, even if the possibility of inadvertent operation is remote. If an operation or feature of the design can allow inflight, inadvertent placement of the control below the flight regime, the design does not comply with the regulation. The design should be evaluated considering the types of operations that will be seen in service, and it should consider items such as hardware wear modes or maintenance issues that may cause the control to be unintentionally placed or creep into the beta regime over time.

Amendment 23-7 added § 23.1155 requiring that operations of the propeller controls at pitch settings below the flight regime have a means to prevent inadvertent operation. For airplanes with a certification basis before Amendment 23-7 that are modified to add inflight beta capability, the provisions of § 21.101(b) should be used to evaluate the possible unsafe nature of inadvertent operation of propellers in the beta regime. If it is determined that such operation is unsafe, the issue may be addressed by showing compliance with § 23.1155.

What is an acceptable means of compliance with § 23.1155 relative to intentional inflight operation?

On all future type certification projects, the flight manuals should include the appropriate operational limitations and consequence statement for in-flight beta operation.

Page 175Open in PDF

Is a Beta Lock-out system acceptable for compliance with § 23.1155?

To add an assurance that in-flight beta will not occur, some airplanes have incorporated lock-out systems. These systems remove the ability to do this operation in flight, even if intentionally commanded. It is important to note that the installation of a beta lock-out system cannot be used instead of the design requirements of § 23.1155 compliance.

Also, in some cases, propeller beta operation is used to show compliance with stopping distances in part 23, subpart B. Under subpart B, when means other than wheel brakes are used for determining stopping distances, the means must be ”safe and reliable.” If beta operation is used to show compliance with stopping distances, the reliability of a system that would prevent in-flight beta operation must be such that this capability, when required, will be available to comply with subpart B, and § 21.21(b)(2) or § 21.101(b).

With a system safety analysis, the applicant can determine the required reliability level for the beta lock-out system based on the hazard level (for example, § 23.1309 compliance).

Therefore, for new type certificated airplanes that have a beta lock-out system incorporated or previously certificated airplanes that add a beta lock-out system, the applicant should perform a system safety analysis of the installation of this system. This analysis should consider hazards such as the inability to command beta on one engine of a multiengine airplane. For example, if beta is commanded on both engines during landing roll-out, but only one propeller goes into beta mode, this might adversely affect ground controllability.

Page 176Open in PDF

23.1157 Carburetor air temperature controls (Original)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: 3.634

ADC Cross-reference: 5.59

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Page 177Open in PDF

23.1163 Powerplant accessories (Amendment 23-42)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: 3.635

ADC Cross-reference: 5.60

Paragraph 23.1163(a)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.60(a)

What accessory provisions are included in § 23.1163?

Paragraph (a)(1) refers to provisions for mounting items such as brackets, isolating bushings, belt tension arms, belts, and other hardware up to, but not including, mounting lugs on the accessory. These provisions are to be approved under the engine Type Certificate (TC).

Are there any unique considerations for special purpose, restricted category, singleengine agricultural airplanes using the normal category requirements of part 23 as a certification basis?

Each engine mount accessory must be acceptable for mounting on the engine involved and use the proper provision on the engines for mounting.

Paragraph 23.1163(b)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.60(b)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Paragraph 23.1163(c)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.60(c)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Paragraph 23.1163(d)

ADC Cross-reference: None

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Page 178Open in PDF

Paragraph 23.1163(e)

ADC Cross-reference: None

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Page 179Open in PDF

23.1165 Engine ignition systems (Amendment 23-34)

CAR 3 Cross-reference: 3.636

ADC Cross-reference: 5.61

Paragraph 23.1165(a)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.61(a)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Paragraph 23.1165(b)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.61(b)

What are acceptable means of compliance for § 23.1165(b)?

An electrical load analysis should be conducted to ensure that the capacity of the batteries and generator is large enough to meet the highest current demands in the system. The analysis should show that there is sufficient electrical power available from either the battery or the generator to operate all components simultaneously.

Paragraph 23.1165(c)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.61(c)

What are acceptable means of compliance for § 23.1165(c)?

The requirements of § 23.1165(c) should be demonstrated by a test that has been coordinated with the FAA prior to conducting the test.

Paragraph 23.1165(d)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.61(d)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Paragraph 23.1165(e)

ADC Cross-reference: 5.61(e)

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.

Page 180Open in PDF

Paragraph 23.1165(f)

ADC Cross-reference: None

No specific policy is available as of December 31, 2002.