Appendix 3 APPENDIX 3. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES ON FLIGHT TESTING The following references comprise selected additional information sources on flight testing and first flight experiences for amateur-built and ultralight aircraft. This list of informational material may help amateur builders in preparing the FLIGHT-TEST PLAN for their aircraft.
EAA publications are available in the EAA archives, a benefit available to EAA members.
Non-members can obtain copies, for a fee, by calling 1-800-564-6322.
Some of these publications are out of print but may be available on auction sites such as eBay.
INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS: Amateur-Built Askue, Vaughan, Flight Testing Homebuilt Aircraft, (Ames, IA: State University Press, 1992).
Ariosto, James, “A Two Minute Test-Hop Reveals All Wrongs,” Sport Aviation, (May 1970), pp. 29-30.
Bingelis, Antoni, “A Report on the 1973 Oshkosh Safety and Courtesy Inspections,” Sport Aviation, (November 1973), pp. 35-37.
____ “After the First Test Flight,” Sport Aviation, (April 1988), pp. 27-30.
____ “Flight Testing Homebuilts-Stage One: Making Preparations for Flight Testing,” Sport Aviation, (January 1989), pp. 27-30.
____ “Flight Testing Homebuilts-Stage Two: Making the Initial Flight Test,” Sport Aviation, (February 1989), pp. 27-30.
____ “Flight Testing Homebuilts-Stage Three: Expanding the Flight Envelope,” Sport Aviation, (March 1989), pp. 28-31, 66.
Donofrio, P. R., “Checkmate,” Sport Aviation, (June 1978), pp. 30-31.
Dwiggins, Don, “Flight Testing Your Homebuilt,” Homebuilt Aircraft, (July 1985), pp. 40-43.
____ “Flight Testing Your Homebuilt,” Plane and Pilot, (Annual, 1974), pp. 56-61.
Enman, Ann, “The Moment of Truth! The Test Flight,” Air Progress 1989 Guide to Sport Aircraft Kits, pp. 16-19.
Experimental Aircraft Association, Pilot Reports and Flight Testing, V. 1, pg. 72 (1977).
Selected first flight reports and flight testing procedures.
Friedman, Peter, “High Tech-First flight,” Sport Pilot, (February 1989), pp. 16, 17, 72, 73.
Goyar, Norman, “Free Insurance and How to Get It,” Sport Pilot, j. 5, No. 3 (1989), pp. 44-49.
Heintz, Chris, “The First Flight of Your Aircraft,” EAA Light Plane World, (May 1986), pp. 7-9.
Appendix 3 ____ “Performance Testing Your Aircraft,” EAA Light Plane World, (July 1986), pp. 13-15.
Hurt, H. H., Jr., Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators, (California: University of Southern California, 1960 [revised 1965]). NAVAIR 00-80T-80. Issued by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Aviation Training Division.
Jacquemin, G., “Flight-testing for the Amateur,” Sport Aviation, (April 1965), pg. 4.
Kerley, Jim, “Thoughts on Test Flying,” Sport Aviation, (March 1970), pp. 34-35.
Ladd, Robert W., “The Test Flight of Chihuahua,” Sport Aviation, (February 1968), pg. 4.
Macq, Harvey, “Test Flight,” Sport Aviation, (March 1960), pg. 3.
Mason, Sammy, Stalls, Spins, and Safety, (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1985).
Mitchell, C.G.B., “Design of the ‘Kittiwake’ Family of Light Aircraft,” (Part 2) Sport Aviation, (March 1969), pp. 36-37.
Rhodes, Mike, “First Flight—Trial by Fire,” (Part 1) Sport Aviation, (August 1988), pp. 26, 27, 29.
Smith, Hubert, Performance Flight Testing, (Blue Ridge Summit: Tab Books, Inc. [Modern Aviation Series], 1982), pg. 131.
Sport Aviation, “Pointers on Test Flying Complied by Chapter 32, St. Louis, MO,” Sport Aviation, (December 1960), pg. 3.
Sport Planes, “The Sacramento Seaplanes,” Sport Planes, (Fall 1970), pp. 16-27.
Taylor, M. B., “Testing your Homebuilt,” Sport Aviation, (January 1977), pg. 24-27.
Tausworthe, Jim, “The Brotherhood of Flight,” Sport Aviation, (August 1969), pg. 22.
Thorp, J. W., “Structural Flight Testing,” Sport Aviation, (November 1961), pg. 2.
Wendt, H. O., “Designing, Building, and Flight Testing of the Wendt Wh-1 Traveler,” Sport Aviation, (March 1973), pg. 10-15.
White, E. J., “Super Coot—The Fisherman’s Homebuilt,” Homebuilt Aircraft, (September 5, 1981), pg. 1821.
Wood, Karl D., Technical Aerodynamics, (New York: McGraw Hill, 1947).
INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS: Ultralight Brooke, Rob, “Greatest Peril,” Ultralight Flying, (September 1993), pp. 42-43.
Cannon, Mike, “Learning to Fly—Again,” Ultralight Flying, (June 1988), pp. 5.
Appendix 3 ____ “Keeping Cool in the Summer Time,” Ultralight Flying, (August 1988), pp. 16-17.
Cartier, Kerry, “Power Failure on Take-off,” Ultralight Flying, (January 1988), pp. 25.
Chapman, John, and Smith, Clark, “Preparing for the In-Flight Emergency,” Ultralight Flying, (March 1989), pp. 32.
Demeter, Dennis, “Risk Management,” Ultralight Flying, (July 1993), pp. 48-49.
____ “Don’t Forget the Pre-flight,” Ultralight Flying, (May 1993), pp. 70-71.
Grunnarson, Tom, “Getting into Ultralight Float Flying,” Ultralight Flying, (April 1989), pp. 27-29.
Johnson, Don, “Getting the Most out of Flight Reviews,” Ultralight Flying, (March 1989), pp. 20-23.
Loveman, Dave, “Problem-Solving the Cayuna 430R,” Ultralight Flying, (June 1988), pp. 24-25.
Pagen, Dennis, “‘G’ forces and your Ultralight,” Ultralight Flying, (August 1989), pp. 37.
____ “Weight and Speed,” Ultralight Flying, (May 1989), pp. 20-21.
Peghiny, Tom, “Effects of Sunlight on Polyester Sail Cloth,” Ultralight Foundation, Volume 2, Number 1, pp. 49-50, (1986).
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS:
FAA Advisory Circulars are available at:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars.
AC 20-32, Carbon Monoxide (CO) Contamination in Aircraft—Detection and Prevention.
AC 20-34, Prevention of Retractable Landing Gear Failures.
AC 20-35, Tiedown Sense.
AC 20-37, Aircraft Metal Propeller Maintenance.
AC 20-42, Hand Fire Extinguishers for Use in Aircraft.
AC 20-103, Aircraft Engine Crankshaft Failure.
AC 20-105, Reciprocating Engine Power-Loss Accident Prevention and Trend Monitoring.
AC 20-125, Water in Aviation Fuels.
AC 23-8, Flight Test Guide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes.
AC 23-16, Powerplant Guide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes and Airships.
Appendix 3 AC 90-109, Airmen Transition to Experimental or Unfamiliar Airplanes.
AC 90-116, Additional Pilot Program for Phase I Flight Test.
AC 91-61, A Hazard in Aerobatics: Effects or G-Forces of Pilots.
AC 103-6, Ultralight Vehicle Operations-Airports, Air Traffic Control (ATC), and Weather.
AC 103-7, The Ultralight Vehicle.
FAA Handbooks (current editions) are available at:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals.
Airman’s Information Manual (AIM): Official Guide to Basic Flight Information and ATC Procedures.
FAA-H-8083, Airplane Flying Handbook.
FAA-H-8083-25, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
FAA-H-8083-1 Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook.
Appendix 4 APPENDIX 4. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
1. CANCELLATION. AC 90-89A, Amateur-Built Aircraft Flight Testing Handbook, dated May 24, 1995, is cancelled.
2. BACKGROUND. We, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and the United States Ultralight Association (USUA), are concerned and committed to improving the safety record of amateur-built and ultralight aircraft. Past FAA Administrator, T. Allen McArtor, and past EAA President, Paul H.
Poberezny, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on August 1, 1988, addressing the need for educational and safety programs to help amateur builders test fly their aircraft. This AC lists guidelines for flight testing amateur-built aircraft, using suggestions in the MOA. We have revised this AC to include flight testing recommendations for canard type and ultralight aircraft as part of our continuing efforts to improve the safety record of all types of general aviation aircraft. In 2012 the first Loss of Control Working Group (LOCWG) investigated the causal factors behind fatal accidents arising from a loss of control (LOC) during the approach and landing phases of flight. Loss of Control is the leading cause of fatal accidents in general aviation. From study of a random sample of 90 fatal accidents fitting this profile over the past decade the Working Group recommended 27 safety enhancements (SE), 23 of which were approved. SE-23 is implemented into this AC. As a result of SE-23, there are two major additions to this AC.
• The Type Club Coalition (TCC) coordinated by the EAA developed a best practices guide for when flight tests should be done following a modification to an amateur-built aircraft.
• Testing for center-of-gravity (CG) limits, including lateral, was added to this Advisory Circular.
Two informational FAA updates were added.
• Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) flight testing after a modification is mentioned where appropriate within this AC.
• All references to two seat ultralights have been removed.
3. DEFINITIONS. The following terms are defined for use in this AC.
• Aircraft. In this AC, is an amateur built aircraft, SLSA, ELSA, or an ultralight vehicle.
• Amateur-Built Aircraft. An aircraft issued an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate under the provisions of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21, § 21.191(g).
• Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (ELSA). An aircraft issued an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate under the provisions of § 21.191(i).
• Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA). An aircraft issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate in the light-sport category under the provisions of part 21, § 21.190.
• Ultralight. A vehicle that meets the requirements of 14 CFR part 103, § 103.1.
Appendix 4
4. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. We have designed this AC as a reference document to help prepare a flight-test plan for an amateur-built or ultralight aircraft. The suggestions and recommendations in Chapters 1 through 6 are for conventionally-designed aircraft with an air-cooled, 4-cycle, reciprocating engine developing less than 200 HP and with a fixed pitch propeller.
• Chapter 7 deals with flight testing recommendations for canard aircraft.
• Chapters 8 through 10 address flight testing considerations for ultralight vehicles under 14 CFR part 103.
Because of many existing amateur-built/ultralight aircraft designs and new designs being introduced each year, we encourage public participation in updating this document. Send comments, suggestions, or information about this AC to the following address:
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Service (AFS-350) 800 Independence Avenue Washington, DC 20591 After a review, appropriate comments, suggestions, and information may be included in the next revision of this AC.
5. COPIES OF THIS AC. You can access this AC online at www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars.