Par 8 Page 18 NOTE: The level of risk, in continued operation may be related to the conditions the airplane is flying in; an alternator or generator failure is likely a mere inconvenience in day VFR local operations, but could be an emergency during a night or IFR flight.
(4) Perhaps the most important factor in the successful outcome of a system failure is the proper identification of a problem; the flow methodology helps here, as well. By understanding the flow, a pilot can easily identify the normal function of a system. For example, in an engine, the engine oil pump circulates the oil under pressure. When the engine is cold, the oil is more viscous (thicker). After engine start, the oil pressure will be fairly high and will likely remain so until the oil heats up, becomes less viscous (thinner), and circulates more freely. Therefore, it is normal to see high oil pressure immediately after start, and to see more moderate pressure in flight. There may be something seriously wrong if the pilot observes high oil pressure in cruise, as well as low oil pressure after start. A pilot cannot tell when a system is malfunctioning unless he or she knows what it looks like when operating normally.
(5) Once the pilot has identified the situation and determined the correct checklist to apply, knowledge of the controls and indicators related to that system will prove invaluable because it may be that system performance is compromised by malfunctioning valves, pumps, relays, and other components relied upon by the checklist. Understanding what the checklist item is, and what the expected outcome is of the individual steps taken, can help the pilot identify failed components and develop a course of action that best answers the problem.
d. Performance and Limitations.
(1) While there may not be any official performance or regulatory limitations specified for an experimental airplane, pilots must be able to identify an acceptable, safe flight envelope and operate within it. Base this envelope on the designer’s or manufacturer’s data and the experience gained in the flight test program and post-test phase operation for experimental aircraft. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, § 91.103 requires the pilot to become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. For aircraft with no approved flight manuals, the information must include other reliable information appropriate to the aircraft. For example, the pilot should be able to ascertain aircraft performance under expected values of airport elevation and runway slope, aircraft gross weight, wind, and temperature.
(2) For example, if demonstrated that the stall speed of the airplane is more than the designer’s data indicates, adjust accordingly any takeoff and approach, and landing data derived from the standard airplane. Actual flight experience, coupled with close observation of density altitude, can validate that adjusted data and give the pilot a high level of knowledge about his or her specific airplane’s performance. Until the pilot achieves that level of knowledge, avoid operations to smaller fields, particularly at higher weights and density altitudes.
Par 9 Page 19 (and 20)
9. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
a. Contact Information. You may direct questions about this AC to:
Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Service, General Aviation and Commercial Division, AFS-800 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591 Telephone: 202-267-1100 Fax: 202-267-1078
b. Web Site. You may also find more information on the Flight Standards Web site at http://www.faa.gov. On this Web site, you will find links to Flight Standards programs, aviation safety inspector (ASI) handbooks and documents, the current aviation regulations of 14 CFR, ACs, and other FAA information.
ORIGINAL SIGNED by /s/ John Barbagallo Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service
Appendix 1 APPENDIX 1. AIRPLANE FAMILIES FAMILIES AND EXAMPLES. This appendix describes the families of airplanes considered in this advisory circular (AC). However, an airplane can be included in one or more families. For example, the Long EZ is Nontraditional Configuration or Controls, and High Inertia and/or Low-Drag. In a case such as this, the pilot should develop an integrated risk mitigation training strategy drawn from the appendix for each family. These families are broad, and include example airplanes which display characteristics of the family at different levels. Pilots should consider this in developing their risk mitigations. For example, in the Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag family, both the Piper Cub and the Kolb Firefly are included. Both exhibit low-inertia and highdrag characteristics, but the Kolb Firefly significantly more so. See Appendix 2 for more information on the categorization of example airplanes into families.
TABLE 1. AIRPLANE FAMILIES AND EXAMPLES Family of Airplanes Examples of Experimental Airplanes Examples of Comparable Type Certificated (TC’d)/Special Light-Sport Category Aircraft (SLSA) Airplanes Refer to Appendix Notes:
Light Control Forces and/or Rapid Airplane Response Zodiac 601, RV series, Pitts, Lancair 200 & 300 Series Pitts (TC), Extra 300, Grumman AA-1, Swift, Zlin 3
Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag Challenger II, Flight Star, Kolb Firefly, Rans S-12, Pietenpol, Fly Baby Quicksilver GT-500, Cub, Champ 4
High Inertia and/or Low-Drag Skyfly, SX300, Questair Venture, Glasair, Lancair, Long EZ Columbia, SR-22, Mooney, Piper Comanche 5
Nontraditional Configuration or Controls Varieze, Velocity, Dyke Delta, Wright Flyer, Quickie, Air Cam, Breezy, Long EZ Sky Arrow, Lake Amphibians 6 If training in the experimental airplane is not possible and is going to be done in a comparable TC’d or SLSA, take care to ensure that there is commonality in the nontraditional configuration or controls.
6/29/15
Family of Airplanes Examples of Experimental Airplanes Examples of Comparable Type Certificated (TC’d)/Special Light-Sport Category Aircraft (SLSA) Airplanes Refer to Appendix Notes:
Nontraditional or Unfamiliar Airplanes System Operations Auto conversions, other than the Volkswagen or Corvair, (e.g., two-cycle, Wankel engines) and folding/removable wing airplanes Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 3 Airplane (systems), Remos, Soloy Conversion Airplanes 7 If training in the experimental airplane is not possible and is going to be done in a comparable TC’d or SLSA, take care to ensure that there is commonality in the nontraditional configuration or unfamiliar system operations.
Nontraditional or Unfamiliar or System Component Maintenance Requirements Auto conversions, other than the Volkswagen or Corvair, (e.g., two-cycle, Wankel engines) and folding/removable wing airplanes Dependent on airplane-specific characteristics.
8 Ground training should be specific to maintenance and preflight procedures of these airplanes.
Specialty Airplane One-off airplane, limited production, unique, extremely high power-to-weight ratio, jet-powered, electric-powered, turboprop-powered, rocket-powered Dependent on airplane-specific characteristics.
Airplanes may be available with some similar characteristics or systems.
Consider retaining the services of a qualified test pilot.
9 Conduct in-depth ground training on the operation of the specific airplane.
Recommend pilot follow guidance in the current edition of AC 90-89, Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook, for first 40 hours of flight testing if flight training is not available in the specific airplane.
6/29/15
APPENDIX 2. CATEGORIZING DESIGNS OR MODELS
1. AIRPLANE CATEGORIES. The purpose of this appendix is to orient the reader to the aircraft families which are most likely associated with the identified airplane designs or models.
This appendix describes a general categorization of common experimental amateur-built airplanes into the families considered in Appendices 3 through 6 of this advisory circular (AC).
Significant effort has been made to properly categorize each model; however, any evaluation of this kind is somewhat subjective. Construction variances, installed equipment, and other factors may cause a model to have characteristics of a family not identified in this table. As mentioned in Appendix 1, different airplane models categorized in a family may display varying degrees of the characteristic of that family. The reader is advised to seek additional information from the designer, kit vendor, or type clubs. Another source of information is the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation, which maintains a Web site at www.cafefoundation.org.
2. RISK MITIGATION. The risk mitigations described in subparagraph 6a(3) apply to all models of airplanes whether listed or not. In addition, if there is an “X” in one or more family columns, see the appropriate appendix or appendices for guidance to develop your specific risk mitigation training. If a model is not listed in this table, you must decide what family or families apply based on airplane characteristics. In the event that a model in this table has no “X” marks indicating categorization to the families considered in Appendices 3 through 9, the subparagraph 6a(3) guidance applies.
NOTE: For the most up-to-date information regarding this appendix, please refer to the General Aviation Operations Branch (AFS-830) Web page at the following address:
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs8 00/afs830/. This information will be located in the Resources section. As updated information becomes available this Web site will be updated to reflect the affected changes. The date of the information on the Web site should be compared to the publication date of this AC to determine which is more current.
Appendix 2 TABLE 2. AIRPLANE CATEGORIES Airplane Model (Airplanes may be listed in more than one family of airplanes) Light Control Forces and/or Rapid Airplane Response (Appendix 3) Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag (Appendix 4) High-Inertia and/or Low-Drag (Appendix 5) Nontraditional Configuration and/or Controls (Appendix 6) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar Airplanes System Operations (Appendix 7) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar System Component Maintenance Requirements (Appendix 8) Specialty Airplane (Appendix 9)
ACRODUSTER SA750 X
AcroSport II X
AERO CANARD X Air Camper (Pietenpol) X X X
AIR-CAM X X X ARV 582 X
AVENTURA II X X
AVID-CATALINA X AVID Flyer X AVID Magnum X
BABY ACE D X
BAKENG DUCE X BD-4 X BD-5 X X Bearhawk 4-Place X Bearhawk LSA X Bearhawk Patrol X Breezy X X Buccaneer 2 X X MIDGET
MUSTANG X X
CASSUTT X X
Appendix 2 Airplane Model (Airplanes may be listed in more than one family of airplanes) Light Control Forces and/or Rapid Airplane Response (Appendix 3) Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag (Appendix 4) High-Inertia and/or Low-Drag (Appendix 5) Nontraditional Configuration and/or Controls (Appendix 6) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar Airplanes System Operations (Appendix 7) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar System Component Maintenance Requirements (Appendix 8) Specialty Airplane (Appendix 9) Fisher Celebrity X Zenair CH-801 X X
CHALLENGER II X X CHINOOK PLUS 2 X
CHRISTEN
EAGLE II X
CIRRUS VK30 X X X
COZY X X
DEFIANT RUTAN X X
DRAGONFLY II X Early Bird Jenny X X X EDGE 540 X X Emeraude X
Europa X
EXPRESS (Wheeler) X
F1 ROCKET X X Falco X Falcon X
FLY BABY X X X Giles/Aerotec X X
GLASAIR X Glastar X GP-4 X
HARMON X X
Appendix 2 Airplane Model (Airplanes may be listed in more than one family of airplanes) Light Control Forces and/or Rapid Airplane Response (Appendix 3) Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag (Appendix 4) High-Inertia and/or Low-Drag (Appendix 5) Nontraditional Configuration and/or Controls (Appendix 6) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar Airplanes System Operations (Appendix 7) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar System Component Maintenance Requirements (Appendix 8) Specialty Airplane (Appendix 9) ROCKET 2 Hornet X X
HUMMEL BIRD X X X JODEL D-9 X KELLY “D”
BIPLANE X
KitFox X Kolb X X Lancair 200/300 Series X X
LANCAIR ES X X
LANCAIR IV/IVP X X Lancair Legacy X Lancair Evolution/ Propjet X X X X
LIGHTNING X X Marquart Charger X M Squared X X Murphy Rebel X Murphy Moose X Long EZ X X One Design DR 107 X
ONEX X X
PITTS X X Pulsar (KIS) X
Appendix 2 Airplane Model (Airplanes may be listed in more than one family of airplanes) Light Control Forces and/or Rapid Airplane Response (Appendix 3) Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag (Appendix 4) High-Inertia and/or Low-Drag (Appendix 5) Nontraditional Configuration and/or Controls (Appendix 6) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar Airplanes System Operations (Appendix 7) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar System Component Maintenance Requirements (Appendix 8) Specialty Airplane (Appendix 9) Quickie Q-2 X X Quicksilver GT400 X X Quicksilver GT500 X X Quicksilver MX Sport X
Quicksilver MX Sprint X
Quicksilver MXII Sprint X
Quicksilver Sport 2S X
Quicksilver Sport 2SE X
RANS S-7 X RANS S-10 X RANS S-12 X X X X RANS S-14 X X RANS S-18 X RANS S-6ES X Rand KR-2 X
SEA REY X X SEAWIND 3000 X X
SKY RAIDER II X
SKYBOLT X
SLIPSTREAM
GENESIS X X
Appendix 2 Airplane Model (Airplanes may be listed in more than one family of airplanes) Light Control Forces and/or Rapid Airplane Response (Appendix 3) Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag (Appendix 4) High-Inertia and/or Low-Drag (Appendix 5) Nontraditional Configuration and/or Controls (Appendix 6) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar Airplanes System Operations (Appendix 7) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar System Component Maintenance Requirements (Appendix 8) Specialty Airplane (Appendix 9)
SONERAI II X X
SONEX X X
STARDUSTER TOO X
SUBSONEX X X X TAILWIND W-8 X X T-Bird II X X THORP T-18 X Titan Tornado II X X Van’s Aircraft RV- 3, RV-4, RV-6/6A, RV-7/7A, RV- 8/8A, RV-9/9A, RV-14/14A X X
Van’s Aircraft RV- 10 X
Van’s Aircraft RV- 12 X
Vari Viggen X WW-I Replicas X X Varieze X Velocity X
WAIEX X X
Appendix 2 Page 7 (and 8) Airplane Model (Airplanes may be listed in more than one family of airplanes) Light Control Forces and/or Rapid Airplane Response (Appendix 3) Low-Inertia and/or High-Drag (Appendix 4) High-Inertia and/or Low-Drag (Appendix 5) Nontraditional Configuration and/or Controls (Appendix 6) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar Airplanes System Operations (Appendix 7) Nontraditional and/or Unfamiliar System Component Maintenance Requirements (Appendix 8) Specialty Airplane (Appendix 9)
XENOS X X Zenair CH-601 HD X X Zenair CH-601 XL X X Zenair CH-701 X X