background image

502 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 27.471 

separately. The flight conditions must 
be selected so the maximum design 
loads are obtained on each surface. In 
the absence of more rational data, the 
unsymmetrical horizontal tail surface 
loading distributions described in this 
section must be assumed. 

[Amdt. 27–26, 55 FR 7999, Mar. 6, 1990, as 
amended by Amdt. 27–27, 55 FR 38966, Sept. 
21, 1990] 

G

ROUND

L

OADS

 

§ 27.471

General. 

(a) 

Loads and equilibrium. For limit 

ground loads— 

(1) The limit ground loads obtained 

in the landing conditions in this part 
must be considered to be external loads 
that would occur in the rotorcraft 
structure if it were acting as a rigid 
body; and 

(2) In each specified landing condi-

tion, the external loads must be placed 
in equilibrium with linear and angular 
inertia loads in a rational or conserv-
ative manner. 

(b) 

Critical centers of gravity. The crit-

ical centers of gravity within the range 
for which certification is requested 
must be selected so that the maximum 
design loads are obtained in each land-
ing gear element. 

§ 27.473

Ground loading conditions 

and assumptions. 

(a) For specified landing conditions, 

a design maximum weight must be 
used that is not less than the max-
imum weight. A rotor lift may be as-
sumed to act through the center of 
gravity throughout the landing impact. 
This lift may not exceed two-thirds of 
the design maximum weight. 

(b) Unless otherwise prescribed, for 

each specified landing condition, the 
rotorcraft must be designed for a limit 
load factor of not less than the limit 
inertia load factor substantiated under 
§ 27.725. 

[Amdt. 27–2, 33 FR 963, Jan. 26, 1968] 

§ 27.475

Tires and shock absorbers. 

Unless otherwise prescribed, for each 

specified landing condition, the tires 
must be assumed to be in their static 
position and the shock absorbers to be 
in their most critical position. 

§ 27.477

Landing gear arrangement. 

Sections 27.235, 27.479 through 27.485, 

and 27.493 apply to landing gear with 
two wheels aft, and one or more wheels 
forward, of the center of gravity. 

§ 27.479

Level landing conditions. 

(a) 

Attitudes.  Under each of the load-

ing conditions prescribed in paragraph 
(b) of this section, the rotorcraft is as-
sumed to be in each of the following 
level landing attitudes: 

(1) An attitude in which all wheels 

contact the ground simultaneously. 

(2) An attitude in which the aft 

wheels contact the ground with the for-
ward wheels just clear of the ground. 

(b) 

Loading conditions. The rotorcraft 

must be designed for the following 
landing loading conditions: 

(1) Vertical loads applied under 

§ 27.471. 

(2) The loads resulting from a com-

bination of the loads applied under 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section with 
drag loads at each wheel of not less 
than 25 percent of the vertical load at 
that wheel. 

(3) If there are two wheels forward, a 

distribution of the loads applied to 
those wheels under paragraphs (b)(1) 
and (2) of this section in a ratio of 
40:60. 

(c) 

Pitching moments. Pitching mo-

ments are assumed to be resisted by— 

(1) In the case of the attitude in para-

graph (a)(1) of this section, the forward 
landing gear; and 

(2) In the case of the attitude in para-

graph (a)(2) of this section, the angular 
inertia forces. 

[Doc. No. 5074, 29 FR 15695, Nov. 24, 1964; 29 
FR 17885, Dec. 17, 1964] 

§ 27.481

Tail-down landing conditions. 

(a) The rotorcraft is assumed to be in 

the maximum nose-up attitude allow-
ing ground clearance by each part of 
the rotorcraft. 

(b) In this attitude, ground loads are 

assumed to act perpendicular to the 
ground. 

§ 27.483

One-wheel landing conditions. 

For the one-wheel landing condition, 

the rotorcraft is assumed to be in the 
level attitude and to contact the 

VerDate Sep<11>2014 

09:06 Jun 28, 2024

Jkt 262046

PO 00000

Frm 00512

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\262046.XXX

262046

jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with CFR

background image

503 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 27.497 

ground on one aft wheel. In this atti-
tude— 

(a) The vertical load must be the 

same as that obtained on that side 
under § 27.479(b)(1); and 

(b) The unbalanced external loads 

must be reacted by rotorcraft inertia. 

§ 27.485

Lateral drift landing condi-

tions. 

(a) The rotorcraft is assumed to be in 

the level landing attitude, with— 

(1) Side loads combined with one-half 

of the maximum ground reactions ob-
tained in the level landing conditions 
of § 27.479 (b)(1); and 

(2) The loads obtained under para-

graph (a)(1) of this section applied— 

(i) At the ground contact point; or 
(ii) For full-swiveling gear, at the 

center of the axle. 

(b) The rotorcraft must be designed 

to withstand, at ground contact— 

(1) When only the aft wheels contact 

the ground, side loads of 0.8 times the 
vertical reaction acting inward on one 
side, and 0.6 times the vertical reaction 
acting outward on the other side, all 
combined with the vertical loads speci-
fied in paragraph (a) of this section; 
and 

(2) When all wheels contact the 

ground simultaneously— 

(i) For the aft wheels, the side loads 

specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this sec-
tion; and 

(ii) For the forward wheels, a side 

load of 0.8 times the vertical reaction 
combined with the vertical load speci-
fied in paragraph (a) of this section. 

§ 27.493

Braked roll conditions. 

Under braked roll conditions with 

the shock absorbers in their static po-
sitions— 

(a) The limit vertical load must be 

based on a load factor of at least— 

(1) 1.33, for the attitude specified in 

§ 27.479(a)(1); and 

(2) 1.0 for the attitude specified in 

§ 27.479(a)(2); and 

(b) The structure must be designed to 

withstand at the ground contact point 
of each wheel with brakes, a drag load 
at least the lesser of— 

(1) The vertical load multiplied by a 

coefficient of friction of 0.8; and 

(2) The maximum value based on lim-

iting brake torque. 

§ 27.497

Ground loading conditions: 

landing gear with tail wheels. 

(a) 

General.  Rotorcraft with landing 

gear with two wheels forward, and one 
wheel aft, of the center of gravity must 
be designed for loading conditions as 
prescribed in this section. 

(b) 

Level landing attitude with only the 

forward wheels contacting the ground. In 
this attitude— 

(1) The vertical loads must be applied 

under §§ 27.471 through 27.475; 

(2) The vertical load at each axle 

must be combined with a drag load at 
that axle of not less than 25 percent of 
that vertical load; and 

(3) Unbalanced pitching moments are 

assumed to be resisted by angular iner-
tia forces. 

(c) 

Level landing attitude with all 

wheels contacting the ground simulta-
neously. 
In this attitude, the rotorcraft 
must be designed for landing loading 
conditions as prescribed in paragraph 
(b) of this section. 

(d) 

Maximum nose-up attitude with 

only the rear wheel contacting the 
ground.  
The attitude for this condition 
must be the maximum nose-up attitude 
expected in normal operation, includ-
ing autorotative landings. In this atti-
tude— 

(1) The appropriate ground loads 

specified in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of 
this section must be determined and 
applied, using a rational method to ac-
count for the moment arm between the 
rear wheel ground reaction and the 
rotorcraft center of gravity; or 

(2) The probability of landing with 

initial contact on the rear wheel must 
be shown to be extremely remote. 

(e) 

Level landing attitude with only one 

forward wheel contacting the ground. In 
this attitude, the rotorcraft must be 
designed for ground loads as specified 
in paragraphs (b)(1) and (3) of this sec-
tion. 

(f) 

Side loads in the level landing atti-

tude. In the attitudes specified in para-
graphs (b) and (c) of this section, the 
following apply: 

(1) The side loads must be combined 

at each wheel with one-half of the max-
imum vertical ground reactions ob-
tained for that wheel under paragraphs 
(b) and (c) of this section. In this condi-
tion, the side loads must be— 

VerDate Sep<11>2014 

09:06 Jun 28, 2024

Jkt 262046

PO 00000

Frm 00513

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\262046.XXX

262046

jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with CFR