Airplane External Load Operations Within the State of Alaska

mechanical means, the return to the standard category does not require the airplane to be inspected by a certificated airframe mechanic. 2. In addition to FAA Form 8100-2, Standard Airworthiness Certificate, FAA Form 8130-7, Special Airworthiness Certificate, will be issued in the restricted category with operating limitations. Airworthiness certificate(s), FAA Form 8100-2, and/or FAA Form 8130-7 must remain in the airplane and be displayed. A method must be provided by the applicant to display the restricted identification when the airplane is in that configuration, per 14 CFR part 45, § 45.23(b). a. Certificate Duration. In accordance with § 21.181(a), the restricted airworthiness certificate will become invalid upon transfer of ownership of the airplane. The termination date of the restricted category certificate is the date of transfer to the new owner. b. Operation. If the pilot in command (PIC) conducting the operation changes, the new PIC must re-comply with item 11 of the operating limitations, as this limitation is specific to the pilot operating the aircraft. 3. An airplane carrying an external load which is not considered a major alteration, as defined by 14 CFR part 1, § 1.1, may conduct those operations in the standard category. The following items have been evaluated and are typically not considered to be major alterations, as defined by § 1.1: a. Snowshoes, b. Cross country skis, 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-2 c. Hunting rifle/scabbard, d. Backpack frame, and e. Game tracking antenna. Note: With the exception of the game tracking antenna, these items are not considered to be installed equipment, and no further action is required. The game tracking antenna is typically a minor alteration which would require a logbook entry. 4. An airplane carrying an external load which is determined to be a major alteration, as defined by § 1.1, must conduct those operations in the restricted category. The following items have been evaluated and are typically considered to be major alterations, as defined by § 1.1: a. Game antlers, b. Canoe/boat, c. Lumber/plywood, and d. Other items not listed in paragraph 3. 5. When the airplane is operated in the restricted category, it shall not be operated for compensation or hire. CERTIFICATION STEPS—GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 1. Obtain from the applicant a properly executed FAA Form 8130-6, Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate, and any other documents that may be needed for certification. The applicant must submit FAA Form 8130-6 with the front completed, as illustrated in Figure A-1, Application For Multiple Airworthiness Certificate External Load. 2. The applicant must submit FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration (Airframe, Powerplant, Propeller, or Appliance), showing similar information as shown in Figure A-3, For Restricted Category Type Certificate, and Figure A-4, For Restricted Category Type Certificate, but leaving the date blank. 3. After the inspector and applicant have completed the preceding steps, the inspector must complete FAA Form 337 by signing Block 7, approval for return to service. He or she must complete FAA Form 8130-7 (Figure A-5) issued in the restricted category for airplane external loads, and the appropriate operating limitations, as shown on pages A-4–A-10 in triplicate. 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-3 4. A logbook entry will be made after the inspector has completed all the certification steps and will state: “I find that this airplane meets the requirements for the certification requested and have issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate dated ____________.” (It will be signed by the issuing airworthiness inspector.) 5. The original copy of FAA Form 337, FAA Form 8130-7, and the operating limitations must be given to the applicant; one copy must be forwarded to the Aircraft Registration Branch (AFS-750), and the remaining copy must be retained in the Alaskan Region Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) files. 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-4 AIRPLANE, RESTRICTED CATEGORY EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATING LIMITATIONS DATE ________ N Number _________ A/C Make & Model ___________________________________________ Serial No. _________ 1. This airplane is issued a restricted category airworthiness certificate for the carriage of external loads. 2. The restricted airworthiness certificate associated with these operating limitations is valid only when the airplane is operated within the State of Alaska. 3. This airplane must not be operated in the restricted category for other than the special purpose for which it was certificated (i.e., carriage of external loads). 4. No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire unless that person: a. Is a flightcrew member; b. Is a flightcrew member trainee; c. Performs an essential function in connection with the carriage of the external load for which the airplane is certificated; or d. Is necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with the special purpose. 5. The PIC operating the airplane with an external load must: a. Hold a private, commercial, or airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate with appropriate ratings and currency for the airplane type and operation; b. Have at least 250 hours of flight time; c. Have at least 50 hours as PIC in the make and model airplane used for the external load; d. Have adequate knowledge of: (1) External load attaching methods; (2) The airplane operating limitations issued for the external load operation; and (3) How the external load may affect the flight characteristics of the airplane. e. Operate the airplane in accordance with these operating limitations when in the restricted category. 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-5 6. Takeoffs and landings will be made to provide the least possible exposure to people and property on the ground. Takeoff, landing, and enroute flight paths will be planned so that any inadvertent or accidental release of the external load will not present a hazard to persons or property on the surface. 7. No flights will be made over densely populated areas or on a congested airway. 8. Except for takeoffs and landings, operations shall not be conducted near a busy airport where passenger transport operations are conducted. 9. When airplanes with external loads are being operated to and from tower controlled airports, it shall be the responsibility of the PIC to advise the tower that the airplane is operating in the restricted category and clearance over densely populated areas cannot be accepted. 10. For operations to and from (__________________), all takeoffs and landings must be made toward (__________________). Note: This paragraph can be used to limit operations to a specific departure and/or approach direction. It may also be eliminated if so desired. 11. It is the responsibility of the PIC conducting the operation to ensure that the external load is properly secured to prevent it from shifting or coming loose during flight. It is also the responsibility of the PIC conducting the operation to ensure that the airplane is safely controllable and has no adverse flight characteristics while carrying an external load. This determination must be made by conducting a flight check of the airplane with the external loads that will be carried. Upon completion of the satisfactory flight check and prior to further operation, the following entry must be made in the aircraft records by the PIC conducting the operation: Airplane flight checked in ____________ (non, light, moderate, or severe) turbulent air at airspeeds from _______ and to _______ mph/kts and found to be safely controllable and to operate satisfactorily with the following external load(s) attached: _____________________________________________________________________________. By: __________________________________________________________________________ Name Pilot Certificate No. 12. Operations shall not be conducted at speeds exceeding that for which safe controllability has previously been demonstrated. 13. The gross weight or limits of the airplane shall not be exceeded. 14. The word “restricted” must be displayed on the airplane near each entrance to the cabin or cockpit in letters not less than 2 inches nor more than 6 inches in height. 15. External load operations with this airplane are to be conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) day/night operation only. 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-6 16. External load operations with this airplane shall not be conducted in turbulent air greater than what was tested during the flight check (as noted in paragraph 11 above). 17. If the PIC conducting the operation changes, or if there are changes/alterations to the external load, attaching means, and/or to the airplane which may affect the flight characteristics, the flight check (as noted in paragraph 11 above) must be conducted and recorded again. 18. The attached restricted airworthiness certificate will become invalid upon transfer of ownership of the airplane. The original applicant for the restricted airworthiness certificate, prior to transferring ownership of the airplane, must surrender the certificate and operating limitations to the nearest FSDO. Signature (Airworthiness Inspector) 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-7 Figure A-1. FAA Form 8130-6, Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate (For Multiple Airworthiness Certificate External Load) 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-8 Figure A-2. Reverse of FAA Form 8130-6, Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate (For Multiple Airworthiness Certificate External Load) 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-9 Figure A-3. FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration (Airframe, Powerplant, Propeller, or Appliance) (For Restricted Category Type Certificate) 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-10 Figure A-4. Reverse of FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration (Airframe, Powerplant, Propeller, or Appliance) (For Restricted Category Type Certificate) 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix A A-11 Figure A-5. Example of FAA Form 8130-7, Special Airworthiness Certificate (Issued in the Restricted Category for Airplane External Loads) 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix B B-1 Appendix B. Some Best Operating Practices (Non-Regulatory) 1. Consider that anything attached to the struts may vibrate and cause damage. Some type of protective material should be applied at the wear spots. After the external load has been removed, the area under the protective material should be inspected for damage. 2. Attaching methods are varied and numerous. The use of the “bungee cord” has gained acceptance in recent years because it does not have a tendency to loosen, as do other methods, and is easier to remove. The item to be attached to the wing struts should be placed “uphill” from the jury struts. This provides a notch for the item to rest upon and aids in the securing process. When attaching snowshoes, the bungee cord should pass through the webbing at least once and continue around the complete snowshoe enough times to hold it in place securely. When attaching a rifle scabbard to the wing struts, it is good practice to ensure that the rifle is not going to come out of the scabbard; this may be hazardous to people and property on the ground. Backpack frames are attached in the same manner as snowshoes, using a bungee cord and wrapping it around enough times to ensure that it is secure. On some airplanes, the aileron cables are attached to the outside of the wing strut. Care should be exercised to avoid wrapping the bungee cord around the cable. Restricting the aileron cable could cause an airplane control problem and also may cause the cable to cut through the bungee cord, resulting in an inadvertent release. 3. Comments received from users reveal that PA-18 Super Cubs are capable of carrying a considerable amount of plywood on the spreader bars. The amount should be dictated by the performance factors and limitations of the airplane. Some type of protection for the spreader bars is needed at the wear spots, such as tape or rubber sheeting. The plywood can be nailed together to prevent shifting, and then be properly attached. Webbed tie-down straps with a built-in ratchet device have proven successful as an attachment method. Some operators have incorporated a piece of metal formed into a ‘V’ and screwed it to the leading edge of the wood to streamline it; the frontal height should be kept to 6 inches to 8 inches. The carriage of dimensional lumber can be treated like plywood and secured to the top of the floats in some instances. As with any load, consideration must be given to Weight and Balance (W&B) and the limitations of the airplane. 4. Lightweight material, such as sheets of roofing, can be placed between plywood or lumber to stiffen the load and reduce vibration. The sheets must be securely fastened to the wood to prevent them from sliding out. 5. The carriage of canoes may be conducted safely as long as appropriate safety precautions are taken. The Dehavilland DHC-2 Beaver may carry canoes as an external load while in the standard category, if the airplane is equipped as specified in the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS), and is operated in accordance with a flight manual approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). CAUTION: Various airplanes can be affected differently when carrying the same external load. The majority of experience with airplane external loads is with high-wing, float-equipped airplanes. Some external loads that can be safely carried on high-wing, float-equipped airplanes might not be safely carried on an airplane without floats. 8/12/15 N 8900.314 Appendix B B-2 6. The carriage of antlers may be challenging because of their shape, but this also allows for numerous fastening points. Bungee cords, parachute cord, and nylon rope have proven adequate for secure attachment. Antlers can be carried on the wing struts or on the floats. Moose antlers are particularly heavy and, while they can be attached to the wing struts, the extra weight is a consideration. Flight with heavy antlers in turbulent air or during a hard landing will impose additional loads that could result in bent wing struts, rendering the airplane unairworthy. It has been reported that, on some airplanes, antlers secured to the wing struts can cause a significant airflow disturbance to the tail surfaces. Antlers can also cause a significant amount of drag, which increases fuel consumption, and should be considered in flight planning. 7. Loads can be carried on either side of the airplane. Some pilots prefer to carry a load on the right side to balance the airplane, while others prefer the left to better monitor the load. The pilot may elect which side to place the load, depending on airplane performance and previous experience with a particular load. 8. Antennas are attached to airplanes for many purposes, but mainly for tracking radio collared game. 9. It is recommended that pilots seek the advice and experience of others to more quickly develop loading methods and procedures. Above all, remember that safety is of the utmost concern. 10. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 45, § 45.23(b) requires that the word “restricted” be displayed when operating in that category. One method of compliance is the display of temporary signs in both side windows of the airplane.