Scribd
Upload
111 views5 pages

Maintenance of Pressure Cylinders in Use As

The document provides guidance to inspectors on maintaining pressure cylinders used as aircraft equipment. It outlines regulations from DOT and other organizations that establish standards for inspecting, testing, and determining lifelimits of cylinders. The guidance states that operators must include cylinder maintenance procedures in their inspection programs according to 14 CFR regulations.

Uploaded by

mostafa14
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
111 views5 pages

Maintenance of Pressure Cylinders in Use As

The document provides guidance to inspectors on maintaining pressure cylinders used as aircraft equipment. It outlines regulations from DOT and other organizations that establish standards for inspecting, testing, and determining lifelimits of cylinders. The guidance states that operators must include cylinder maintenance procedures in their inspection programs according to 14 CFR regulations.

Uploaded by

mostafa14
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

ORDER: 8300.

10APPENDIX: 3
BULLETIN TYPE: Flight Standards Handbook Bulletin for
Airworthiness (HBAW)

BULLETIN NUMBER: HBAW 02-01B (Amended)


BULLETIN TITLE: Maintenance of Pressure Cylinders in Use as
Aircraft Equipment

EFFECTIVE DATE: 7-16-02

AMENDED DATE: 2-10-03

TRACKING NUMBER: N/A

APPLICABILITY: M/M ATA Code 14 CFR PTRS

N/A N/A 91, 121, 125, N/A


129, § 129.14,
135

-----------------------------------------------------------------

1. PURPOSE. This bulletin provides guidance to Airworthiness


Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) regarding the maintenance and
inspection of pressure cylinders that serve as aircraft equipment
in operations under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) parts 91, 121, 125, 129, 135, and § 129.14. The guidance
presented is in accordance with established standards of the
United States Department of Transportation (DOT), DOT Research and
Special Programs Administration (RSPA), United States Coast Guard
(USCG), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Military Specifications
(MIL SPEC), and applicable pressure cylinder manufacturer’s
methods. This bulletin provides additional guidance to FAA
Order 8300.10, Airworthiness Inspector’s Handbook, and cancels FAA
Order 8000.40D, Maintenance of Pressure Cylinders in Use as
Aircraft Equipment.

2. BACKGROUND.
A. The development of DOT regulations (Title 49 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (49 CFR) parts 100-185) regarding the
transportation of hazardous material and magnetized materials by
aircraft was based on the applicable regulations of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Initially, the transportation of hazardous
material was prohibited in scheduled air transportation. However,
regulatory efforts that were directed toward the transportation of
dangerous articles, gave little attention to similar, hazardous
material used aboard aircraft as part of the aircraft systems as
required equipment.

1
B. Examples of hazardous materials are the pressure cylinders
used for a variety of aircraft applications, including
supplemental oxygen for passengers and flightcrew, onboard fire
extinguishers, and emergency escape door slide air cylinders and
other life support systems.

C. Title 49 CFR parts 171 through 180, Hazardous Materials


Regulations (HMR), pertains to the retest and inspection of
cylinders in transportation in commerce. However, cylinders used
as components in aircraft are not considered to be in
transportation in commerce when installed in an aircraft. As a
result, the retest period for cylinders used as a component of and
installed in an aircraft is not subject to the HMR. However,
49 CFR part 180, § 180.205, formerly part 173, § 173.34(e), would
apply to a cylinder that is removed from the aircraft and offered
for transportation as an article of commerce. In this case, the
cylinder must include the appropriate exterior packaging and
hazard communication requirements (i.e., shipping papers, marking,
and labeling).

D. Presently, there are no specific 14 CFR regulations for


certification, manufacture, and maintenance of pressure cylinders
used aboard aircraft. However, 14 CFR § 21.305 has a general
provision that allows approval of material, parts, processes, or
appliances in any manner approved by the Administrator.
Therefore, pressure cylinders may be approved in conjunction with
aircraft type certification procedures. Under this regulatory
provision, the standards for pressure cylinders are approved for
use aboard aircraft by using the requirements of DOT, RSPA, USCG,
UL, domestic and foreign manufacturers of pressure cylinders, and
MIL SPEC.

E. Rules on inspecting and testing pressure cylinders used


aboard aircraft are not specified in 14 CFR parts 91, 121, 125,
129, § 129.14, and part 135. The FAA recognizes the lack of
specific guidance on cylinder aging, internal corrosion, external
pressure changes, cycles, and extreme temperature changes.
Therefore, the FAA Flight Standards Service has also accepted
standards developed by DOT, RSPA, and other experts for
maintaining the integrity of pressure cylinders. These standards
are addressed in 49 CFR § 180.205.

2
3. GUIDANCE.

A. The Administrator grants approval to owners/operators to


conduct operations under the provisions of 14 CFR § 119.5(g) and
the inspection program listed in § 91.409. These regulations
establish the linkage of authority for the Administrator to adopt
the rules and regulations of DOT, RSPA, USCG, UL, MIL SPEC, and
applicable manufacturers as acceptable methods for controlling the
retesting (e.g., hydrostatic) and life limits of pressure
cylinders.

B. Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operators. Pressure cylinders that


are installed as aircraft equipment will be maintained and
inspected in accordance with manufacturer’s requirements.

C. Title 14 CFR Part 135 Aircraft Type-Certificated for


Passenger Seating Configuration of Nine Seats or Less. Pressure
cylinders that are installed as aircraft equipment will be
listed in the approved, automated operations specifications
(OpSpecs) D104. These cylinders will be maintained as follows:

(1) DOT specification cylinders, including DOT 3HT


cylinders, will be inspected and tested as required by 49 CFR
§ 180.205.

(2) Cylinders manufactured under an exemption issued by RSPA


must be inspected and tested as required by the terms of the
exemption.

(3) All other cylinders must be inspected and tested as


required by subparagraph 3C(1) above as it applies to DOT 3HT
cylinders unless alternative testing and inspection procedures are
specified by the manufacturer or referenced authority.

D. Title 14 CFR parts 121/135 aircraft type-certificated for


passenger seating configuration of ten or more seats (including
cargo configuration) with scheduled heavy maintenance checks will
accomplish maintenance and inspection of pressure cylinders
through the operator’s Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance
Program (CAMP). The FAA recommends performing maintenance and
inspection on pressure cylinders during scheduled heavy
maintenance to reduce the risk of injury to personnel and/or
damage to equipment. For the purposes of this bulletin, heavy
maintenance checks may be accomplished in phases or in “C” or “D”
checks or operator’s equivalent designation. The following
maintenance and inspection requirements will be incorporated into
the operator’s manual:

3
(1) The operator will establish a written
maintenance/inspection program specifically for the cylinders
covered in 49 CFR § 175.10. The operator will comply with the
airframe or cylinder manufacturer’s life-limit recommendations.

(2) Each cylinder must be inspected at regular intervals to


ensure that the required internal pressure or weight of contents
is maintained. Each cylinder must also be inspected to ensure
that the valving, safety relief devices, mounting brackets, and
associated instrumentation are secure and acceptable for continued
safe flight.

(3) Any cylinder removed from an aircraft for any reason


must be inspected to determine that the required internal pressure
or weight of contents is within acceptable limits. There can be
no visible evidence of degradation of the cylinder or attached
accessories. Cylinders showing degradation or loss of contents
must be retested and requalified (or rejected and condemned) as
prescribed in 49 CFR § 180.205.

(4) Any cylinder that is part of a supplementary oxygen


system, that in the course of its normal operation is gradually
depleted, may remain in service if it meets the operational
requirements in 14 CFR § 91.211, Supplemental oxygen.

(5) Any cylinder (except supplemental oxygen) that is part


of an aircraft system, which has been discharged for any reason,
must be requalified and visually inspected in accordance with
49 CFR § 180.205.

(6) Cylinders may remain in service without the required


periodic retesting, reinspection, and marking as prescribed in
49 CFR § 180.205 if they meet the criteria in paragraphs 3D(1),
(2), (3), and (4) and have not been discharged.

4. ACTION. ASIs should verify that the owner/operator has


established maintenance procedures for the inspection, retest, and
life limit requirements for pressure cylinders. These requirements
must be included in the inspection programs as required by 14 CFR
§§ 91.409, 121.367, 125.247, 129.14, 135.419 and 135.425.

5. INQUIRIES. This bulletin was developed by the Flight


Standards Air Carrier Maintenance Branch, AFS-330. Any questions
about the guidance in this bulletin should be directed to
Stephen Gibbs, AFS-330, at (202) 267-3440.

4
6. LOCATION. This bulletin will be incorporated into
FAA Order 8300.10, volume 2, chapter 35, section 1; chapter 64,
section 1, paragraph 9, and section 2, paragraph 3; chapter 91;
and chapter 105. Until this bulletin is incorporated into the
handbook, inspectors should make reference to this bulletin in the
appropriate margins of their handbook.

/s/
David E. Cann, Manager
Aircraft Maintenance Division

You might also like