Regulations last checked for updates: Oct 17, 2024

Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space last revised: Oct 08, 2024
§ 25.1309 - Equipment, systems, and installations.

The requirements of this section, except as identified below, apply to any equipment or system as installed on the airplane. Although this section does not apply to the performance and flight characteristic requirements of subpart B of this part, or to the structural requirements of subparts C and D of this part, it does apply to any system on which compliance with any of those requirements is dependent. Section 25.1309(b) does not apply to the flight control jam conditions addressed by § 25.671(c)(3); single failures in the brake system addressed by § 25.735(b)(1); the failure conditions addressed by §§ 25.810(a)(1)(v) and 25.812; uncontained engine rotor failure, engine case rupture, or engine case burn-through failures addressed by §§ 25.903(d)(1) and 25.1193 and part 33 of this chapter; and propeller debris release failures addressed by § 25.905(d) and part 35 of this chapter.

(a) The airplane's equipment and systems must be designed and installed so that:

(1) The equipment and systems required for type certification or by operating rules, or whose improper functioning would reduce safety, perform as intended under the airplane operating and environmental conditions; and

(2) Other equipment and systems, functioning normally or abnormally, do not adversely affect the safety of the airplane or its occupants or the proper functioning of the equipment and systems addressed by paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(b) The airplane systems and associated components, evaluated separately and in relation to other systems, must be designed and installed so that they meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Each catastrophic failure condition—

(i) Must be extremely improbable; and

(ii) Must not result from a single failure.

(2) Each hazardous failure condition must be extremely remote.

(3) Each major failure condition must be remote.

(4) Each significant latent failure must be eliminated as far as practical, or, if not practical to eliminate, the latency of the significant latent failure must be minimized. However, the requirements of the previous sentence do not apply if the associated system meets the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, assuming the significant latent failure has occurred.

(5) For each catastrophic failure condition that results from two failures, either of which could be latent for more than one flight, the applicant must show that—

(i) It is impractical to provide additional fault tolerance; and

(ii) Given the occurrence of any single latent failure, the residual average probability of the catastrophic failure condition due to all subsequent active failures is remote; and

(iii) The sum of the probabilities of the latent failures that are combined with each active failure does not exceed 1/1000.

(c) The airplane and systems must provide information concerning unsafe system operating conditions to the flightcrew to enable them to take appropriate corrective action in a timely manner. Systems and controls, including information, indications, and annunciations, must be designed to minimize flightcrew errors that could create additional hazards.

(d) [Reserved]

(e) The applicant must establish certification maintenance requirements as necessary to prevent the development of the failure conditions described in paragraph (b) of this section. These requirements must be included in the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness required by § 25.1529.

[Doc. No. FAA-2022-1544, 89 FR 68735, Aug. 27, 2024]
authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702 and 44704; Pub. L. 115-254, 132 Stat 3281 (49 U.S.C. 44903 note)
source: Docket No. 5066, 29 FR 18291, Dec. 24, 1964, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 14 CFR 25.1309