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626 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–19 Edition) 

§ 29.917 

(2) Each fan is located so that a fan 

blade failure will not jeopardize safety; 
or 

(3) Each fan blade can withstand an 

ultimate load of 1.5 times the cen-
trifugal force expected in service, lim-
ited by either— 

(i) The highest rotational speeds 

achievable under uncontrolled condi-
tions; or 

(ii) An overspeed limiting device. 
(c) 

Fatigue evaluation. 

Unless a fa-

tigue evaluation under § 29.571 is con-
ducted, it must be shown that cooling 
fan blades are not operating at reso-
nant conditions within the operating 
limits of the rotorcraft. 

(Secs. 313(a), 601, and 603, 72 Stat. 752, 775, 49 
U.S.C. 1354(a), 1421, and 1423; sec. 6(c), 49 
U.S.C. 1655 (c)) 

[Amdt. 29–13, 42 FR 15046, Mar. 17, 1977, as 
amended by Amdt. 29–26, 53 FR 34215, Sept. 2, 
1988] 

R

OTOR

D

RIVE

S

YSTEM

 

§ 29.917

Design. 

(a) 

General. 

The rotor drive system 

includes any part necessary to trans-
mit power from the engines to the 
rotor hubs. This includes gear boxes, 
shafting, universal joints, couplings, 
rotor brake assemblies, clutches, sup-
porting bearings for shafting, any at-
tendant accessory pads or drives, and 
any cooling fans that are a part of, at-
tached to, or mounted on the rotor 
drive system. 

(b) 

Design assessment. 

A design assess-

ment must be performed to ensure that 
the rotor drive system functions safely 
over the full range of conditions for 
which certification is sought. The de-
sign assessment must include a de-
tailed failure analysis to identify all 
failures that will prevent continued 
safe flight or safe landing and must 
identify the means to minimize the 
likelihood of their occurrence. 

(c) 

Arrangement. 

Rotor drive systems 

must be arranged as follows: 

(1) Each rotor drive system of multi-

engine rotorcraft must be arranged so 
that each rotor necessary for operation 
and control will continue to be driven 
by the remaining engines if any engine 
fails. 

(2) For single-engine rotorcraft, each 

rotor drive system must be so arranged 

that each rotor necessary for control in 
autorotation will continue to be driven 
by the main rotors after disengage-
ment of the engine from the main and 
auxiliary rotors. 

(3) Each rotor drive system must in-

corporate a unit for each engine to 
automatically disengage that engine 
from the main and auxiliary rotors if 
that engine fails. 

(4) If a torque limiting device is used 

in the rotor drive system, it must be 
located so as to allow continued con-
trol of the rotorcraft when the device 
is operating. 

(5) If the rotors must be phased for 

intermeshing, each system must pro-
vide constant and positive phase rela-
tionship under any operating condi-
tion. 

(6) If a rotor dephasing device is in-

corporated, there must be means to 
keep the rotors locked in proper phase 
before operation. 

[Doc. No. 5084, 29 FR 16150, Dec. 3, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 29–12, 41 FR 55472, Dec. 20, 
1976; Amdt. 29–40, 61 FR 21908, May 10, 1996] 

§ 29.921

Rotor brake. 

If there is a means to control the ro-

tation of the rotor drive system inde-
pendently of the engine, any limita-
tions on the use of that means must be 
specified, and the control for that 
means must be guarded to prevent in-
advertent operation. 

§ 29.923

Rotor drive system and con-

trol mechanism tests. 

(a) 

Endurance tests, general. 

Each 

rotor drive system and rotor control 
mechanism must be tested, as pre-
scribed in paragraphs (b) through (n) 
and (p) of this section, for at least 200 
hours plus the time required to meet 
the requirements of paragraphs (b)(2), 
(b)(3), and (k) of this section. These 
tests must be conducted as follows: 

(1) Ten-hour test cycles must be used, 

except that the test cycle must be ex-
tended to include the OEI test of para-
graphs (b)(2) and (k), of this section if 
OEI ratings are requested. 

(2) The tests must be conducted on 

the rotorcraft. 

(3) The test torque and rotational 

speed must be— 

(i) Determined by the powerplant 

limitations; and 

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