CS 26.435 Automatic deployment of an emergency flotation system

(a)Compliance with point 26.435(a) of Part-26 is demonstrated by complying with CS 27.801(c)(2) of CS-27 at Amendment 5 or later, or the equivalent, or with the following:

(1)An emergency flotation system that is stowed in a deflated condition during normal flight must have a means of automatic deployment following water entry. The means to automatically deploy the emergency flotation system must operate irrespective of whether or not inflation prior to water entry is the intended operation mode. If a manual means of inflation is provided, the emergency flotation system activation switch must be located on one of the primary flight controls and must be safeguarded against inadvertent actuation.

(2)Activation of the emergency flotation system upon water entry (irrespective of whether or not inflation prior to water entry is the intended operation mode) must result in an inflation time short enough to prevent the rotorcraft from becoming excessively submerged.

(b)Compliance with point 26.435(b) of Part-26 is demonstrated by complying with CS 29.801(c)(2) of CS-29 at Amendment 5 or later, or the equivalent, or with the following: An emergency flotation system that is stowed in a deflated condition during normal flight must have a means of automatic deployment following water entry that does not rely on any pilot action during flight. The inflation system of the emergency flotation system must have an appropriately low probability of spontaneous or inadvertent actuation in flight conditions for which float deployment has not been demonstrated to be safe. If this is achieved by disarming the inflation system, this must be achieved by the use of an automatic system employing appropriate input parameters. The choice of input parameters, and the architecture of the system, must be such that rearming of the system occurs automatically in a manner that will assure the inflation system functions as intended in the event of a water impact. It is not acceptable to specify any pilot action during flight.

[Issue: 26/4]