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413 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 133.43 

(1) Has successfully demonstrated, to 

the Administrator knowledge and skill 
with respect to the rotorcraft-load 
combination in accordance with § 133.23 
(in the case of a pilot other than the 
chief pilot or an assistant chief pilot 
who has been designated in accordance 
with § 133.21(b), this demonstration 
may be made to the chief pilot or as-
sistant chief pilot); and 

(2) Has in his or her personal posses-

sion a letter of competency or an ap-
propriate logbook entry indicating 
compliance with paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section. 

(b) No certificate holder may use, nor 

may any person serve as, a crew-
member or other operations personnel 
in Class D operations conducted under 
this part unless, within the preceding 
12 calendar months, that person has 
successfully completed either an ap-
proved initial or a recurrent training 
program. 

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of 

paragraph (b) of this section, a person 
who has performed a rotorcraft exter-
nal-load operation of the same class 
and in an aircraft of the same type 
within the past 12 calendar months 
need not undergo recurrent training. 

[Doc. No. 24550, 51 FR 40708, Nov. 7, 1986] 

§ 133.39 Inspection authority. 

Each person conducting an operation 

under this part shall allow the Admin-
istrator to make any inspections or 
tests that he considers necessary to de-
termine compliance with the Federal 
Aviation Regulations and the Rotor-
craft External-Load Operator Certifi-
cate. 

[Doc. No. 1529, 29 FR 603, Jan. 24, 1964. Redes-
ignated by Amdt. 133–9, 51 FR 40708, Nov. 7, 
1986] 

Subpart D—Airworthiness 

Requirements 

§ 133.41 Flight characteristics require-

ments. 

(a) The applicant must demonstrate 

to the Administrator, by performing 
the operational flight checks pre-
scribed in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of 
this section, as applicable, that the 
rotorcraft-load combination has satis-
factory flight characteristics, unless 

these operational flight checks have 
been demonstrated previously and the 
rotorcraft-load combination flight 
characteristics were satisfactory. For 
the purposes of this demonstration, the 
external-load weight (including the ex-
ternal-load attaching means) is the 
maximum weight for which authoriza-
tion is requested. 

(b) Class A rotorcraft-load combina-

tions: The operational flight check 
must consist of at least the following 
maneuvers: 

(1) Take off and landing. 
(2) Demonstration of adequate direc-

tional control while hovering. 

(3) Acceleration from a hover. 
(4) Horizontal flight at airspeeds up 

to the maximum airspeed for which au-
thorization is requested. 

(c) 

Class B and D rotorcraft-load com-

binations: 

The operational flight check 

must consist of at least the following 
maneuvers: 

(1) Pickup of the external load. 
(2) Demonstration of adequate direc-

tional control while hovering. 

(3) Acceleration from a hover. 
(4) Horizontal flight at airspeeds up 

to the maximum airspeed for which au-
thorization is requested. 

(5) Demonstrating appropriate lifting 

device operation. 

(6) Maneuvering of the external load 

into release position and its release, 
under probable flight operation condi-
tions, by means of each of the quick-re-
lease controls installed on the rotor-
craft. 

(d) Class C rotorcraft-load combina-

tions: For Class C rotorcraft-load com-
binations used in wire-stringing, cable- 
laying, or similar operations, the oper-
ational flight check must consist of the 
maneuvers, as applicable, prescribed in 
paragraph (c) of this section. 

[Doc. No. 1529, 29 FR 603, Jan. 24, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 133–5, 41 FR 55475, Dec. 20, 
1976; Amdt. 133–9, 51 FR 40709, Nov. 7, 1986] 

§ 133.43 Structures and design. 

(a) 

External-load attaching means. 

Each external-load attaching means 
must have been approved under— 

(1) Part 8 of the Civil Air Regulations 

on or before January 17, 1964; 

(2) Part 133, before February 1, 1977; 

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414 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 133.45 

(3) Part 27 or 29 of this chapter, as ap-

plicable, irrespective of the date of ap-
proval; or 

(4) Section 21.25 of this chapter. 
(b) 

Quick release devices. 

Each quick 

release device must have been approved 
under— 

(1) Part 27 or 29 of this chapter, as ap-

plicable; 

(2) Part 133, before February 1, 1977; 

or 

(3) Section 21.25 of this chapter, ex-

cept the device must comply with 
§§ 27.865(b) and 29.865(b), as applicable, 
of this chapter. 

(c) 

Weight and center of gravity

— 

(1) 

Weight. 

The total weight of the 

rotorcraft-load combination must not 
exceed the total weight approved for 
the rotorcraft during its type certifi-
cation. 

(2) 

Center of gravity. 

The location of 

the center of gravity must, for all load-
ing conditions, be within the range es-
tablished for the rotorcraft during its 
type certification. For Class C rotor-
craft-load combinations, the mag-
nitude and direction of the loading 
force must be established at those val-
ues for which the effective location of 
the center of gravity remains within 
its established range. 

[Doc. No. 14324, 41 FR 55475, Dec. 20, 1976, as 
amended by Amdt. 133–12, 55 FR 8006, Mar. 6, 
1990] 

§ 133.45 Operating limitations. 

In addition to the operating limita-

tions set forth in the approved Rotor-
craft Flight Manual, and to any other 
limitations the Administrator may 
prescribe, the operator shall establish 
at least the following limitations and 
set them forth in the Rotorcraft-Load 
Combination Flight Manual for rotor-
craft-load combination operations: 

(a) The rotorcraft-load combination 

may be operated only within the 
weight and center of gravity limita-
tions established in accordance with 
§ 133.43(c). 

(b) The rotorcraft-load combination 

may not be operated with an external 
load weight exceeding that used in 
showing compliance with §§ 133.41 and 
133.43. 

(c) The rotorcraft-load combination 

may not be operated at airspeeds great-

er than those established in accordance 
with § 133.41 (b), (c), and (d). 

(d) No person may conduct an exter-

nal-load operation under this part with 
a rotorcraft type certificated in the re-
stricted category under § 21.25 of this 
chapter over a densely populated area, 
in a congested airway, or near a busy 
airport where passenger transport op-
erations are conducted. 

(e) The rotorcraft-load combination 

of Class D may be conducted only in 
accordance with the following: 

(1) The rotorcraft to be used must 

have been type certificated under 
transport Category A for the operating 
weight and provide hover capability 
with one engine inoperative at that op-
erating weight and altitude. 

(2) The rotorcraft must be equipped 

to allow direct radio intercommunica-
tion among required crewmembers. 

(3) The personnel lifting device must 

be FAA approved. 

(4) The lifting device must have an 

emergency release requiring two dis-
tinct actions. 

[Doc. No. 1529, 29 FR 603, Jan. 24, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 133–1, 30 FR 883, Jan. 28, 
1965; Amdt. 133–5, 41 FR 55476, Dec. 20, 1976; 
Amdt. 133–6, 42 FR 24198, May 12, 1977; Amdt. 
133–9, 51 FR 40709, Nov. 7, 1986] 

§ 133.47 Rotorcraft-load combination 

flight manual. 

The applicant must prepare a Rotor-

craft-Load Combination Flight Manual 
and submit it for approval by the Ad-
ministrator. The manual must be pre-
pared in accordance with the rotorcraft 
flight manual provisions of subpart G 
of part 27 or 29 of this chapter, which-
ever is applicable. The limiting height- 
speed envelope data need not be listed 
as operating limitations. The manual 
must set forth— 

(a) Operating limitations, procedures 

(normal and emergency), performance, 
and other information established 
under this subpart; 

(b) The class of rotorcraft-load com-

binations for which the airworthiness 
of the rotorcraft has been dem-
onstrated in accordance with §§ 133.41 
and 133.43; and 

(c) In the information section of the 

Rotorcraft-Load Combination Flight 
Manual—