Originally Posted by
S92mech
These notes copied from the FAA type certificate data sheet have me questioning if the aircraft is FAA certified or not. Maybe some of you regulation experts can give opinions.
Manufacturer’s eligible serial numbers: S/N 1002.
Note 10.
Expiration of Exemption No. 18717:
The H160-B Certification Basis includes Exemption No. 18717, which expires on June 30, 2023. After this date the H160-B type design approved under TC R00009RD, as defined by Airbus Helicopters Report no. U000A1313E01_TDD_DDD, H160-B Type Design Definition for USA (FAA), revision B, dated June 29, 2023, will no longer comply with the certification basis, and the type design will no longer be FAA approved.
Note 11.
Certificate of Airworthiness:
The H160-B is not eligible for a Certificate of Airworthiness.
All in the public domain -
Operating Limitations. VFR day and night in non-icing conditions. IFR operations are prohibited. Flight in falling and blowing snow without inlet barrier filter installed is prohibited. Aircraft S/N 1002 with
electric brakes, is subject to the limitations identified in
FAA Exemption No. 18717: a. Landing and
parking is limited to paved surfaces with no more than a 5-degree slope. b. The helicopter must have its wheels chocked upon parking.
FAA CFR Part 29.735 For rotorcraft with wheel-type landing gear, a braking device must be installed that is—
(a) Controllable by the pilot;
(b) Usable during power-off landings; and
(c) Adequate to—
(1) Counteract any normal unbalanced torque when starting or stopping the rotor; and
(2)
Hold the rotorcraft parked on a 10-degree slope on a dry, smooth pavement.
EASA under CS29 issued a deviation as follows:
IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUE: The Brakes and Braking Control System claimed by Airbus Helicopters (AH) for the type certification of the H160 helicopter are electrically powered. Flight Testing showed that this electric brake system (EBS) is not able to hold the rotorcraft parked on a 10 degree slope. This represents a non-compliance to CS 29.735, specifically to sub-paragraph (c)(2)
AH has initiated the development of a modified hydraulically-actuated brake system intended to be designed in full compliance with the CS 29.735 (c) (2) requirement. This new system will be retrofitted to all aircraft delivered with EBS, however, will not be available before the EASA TC is issued. Therefore, this Deviation is issued to identify the mitigating factors to be put in place to ensure that the type is compliant with the essential requirements for airworthiness in Annex II of the regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
EASA has determined the following mitigating factors for the acceptance of the identified Deviation to CS 735 (c) (2): An operating limitation is established in the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to limit landing and
parking of the helicopter to a 5 degree (5°) slope. This RFM limitation is justified based on the results obtained from: dedicated flight test program, qualification bench test campaign, and technical analysis and safety assessment. This RFM limitation is considered adequately safe as: 5° slope angle is fully compatible with H160 operational use, 5° slope angle has been evaluated as an angle easily identifiable on H160 cockpit attitude indicator, and A slope landing angle limitation is typical operating information provided in RFMs. There is no adverse impact on compliance with CS 29.53(a), CS 29.79(b), CS 29.231, CS 29.735 (a), (b), (c) (1), CS 29.1301 and CS 29.1309. A very limited number of H160 helicopters will be manufactured and delivered with the EBS. A brand new braking system, with conventional hydraulic architecture and technology, fully compliant with CS 29.735 (c) (2) will be developed and EASA certified by mid 2021. All in-service helicopters equipped with EBS will be retrofitted with this hydraulic braking system in accordance with a Retrofit Plan under the supervision of EASA.
Of note the FAA TCDS is only applicable to SN 1002 which is probably a transitional frame somewhere between pre-production and a full production aircraft used for FAA testing / certification and does not have the hydraulic brakes?. Apparently an exemption was applied for with the FAA back in 2020 for the first 3 US aircraft but maybe they have a supply or technical issue? Who knows as the wheels grind slowly sometimes.
As a side note the AW109 will roll away after the brake accumulator goes flat when parked but that is a Part 27 machine and nobody took the time to look! Same conditions apply.
I was lucky enough to get a tour of the 160 production facility and also fly with Olivier Gensse (AH ETP) from Marignane to Monaco back in 2019. Lot's of cool stuff in this aircraft!