7: Type Certificate Data Sheets, Aircraft Specifications and Listings

TCDS Background Information

TCDS Availability

Sample Test Questions

TCDS Background Information

Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS) and Specifications set forth essential factors and other conditions which are necessary for U.S. airworthiness certification. Aircraft, engines, and propellers which conform to a U.S. Type Certificate (TC) are eligible for U.S. airworthiness certification when found to be in a condition for safe operation, and ownership requisites are fulfilled.

Type Certificate Data Sheets which were originated and first published in January of 1958 are, according to 14 CFR §21.41, a part of the type certificate, and as such are evidence that the product has been type-certificated. Generally, TCDS’s are compiled from details supplied by the type certificate holder; however, the FAA may request and incorporate additional details when conditions warrant.

Specifications are not a part of a type certificate; they were originated during implementation of the Air Commerce Act of 1926. They are FAA recordkeeping documents issued for both type-certificated and non-type-certificated products which have been found eligible for U.S. airworthiness certification. Although they are no longer issued, specifications remain in effect and will be further amended. Specifications covering type-certificated products may be converted to Type Certificate Data Sheets at the option of the type certificate holder. However, to do so requires the type certificate holder to provide an equipment list.

Specifications are subdivided into five major groups:

1. Type Certificated Aircraft, Engines, and Propellers

This covers standard, restricted, and limited types issued for domestic, foreign, and military surplus products.

2. Group II: Aircraft, Engine, and Propeller Approvals

This covers domestic, foreign, and military surplus products constructed or modified between October 1, 1927 and August 22, 1938, all of which have met minimum airworthiness requirements without formal type certification. Such products are eligible for standard airworthiness certification as though they were type-certificated products.

3. Group III: Aircraft, Engine, and Propeller Approvals

This covers domestic products manufactured prior to October 1, 1927, and foreign products manufactured prior to June 20, 1931, and certain military surplus engines and propellers, all of which have met minimum airworthiness requirements of the Air Commerce Act of 1926 and implementing Air Commerce Regulations without formal type certification. Such products are eligible for standard airworthiness certification as though they were type-certificated products.

4. Group IV: Engine Ratings

This covers unapproved engines rated for maximum power and speed only, their use being limited to specific aircraft with maximum gross weights less than 1,000 pounds. Such engines are not eligible for independent airworthiness certification. These ratings are no longer issued.

5. Group V: Engine Approvals

This covers military surplus engines meeting Civil Air Regulations (CAR) 13 design requirements without formal type certification. Such engines are eligible for airworthiness certification as though they were type-certificated engines.

Note: Most products found in Groups II, III, and IV were approved prior to 1938. Although such products may still be eligible for U.S. airworthiness certification, they may require issuance of specific operating limitations. Specifications covering Groups II, III, IV, and V products may be recognized in two ways:

1. An approval number which begins with 2- (sometimes A-2- or G-2-), 3-, 4-, or 5E-.

2. The words Group 2, Group 3, Group 4, or Group 5E in lieu of the specification number.

Specifications have also been used to record the approval of major alterations performed on any of
the products for which they were issued. Such approvals are presently recorded on a “Supplemental Type Certificate” (STC). STCs are not published in data sheet format. However, they are listed in the “Summary of Supplemental Type Certificates” when the holder indicates that parts (kits), data, and design rights are available to the public (see the latest revision of Advisory Circular 00-21.5 for ordering instructions). The best reference for researching STC data is found on the FAA website: www.airweb.FAA.gov/RGL

TCDS Availability

Nowadays the method of looking up TCDS is all online, yet historically, “Type Certificate Data Sheets, Specifications, and Listings” were available in six volumes in both paper and mircofiche format from the Superintendent of Documents; some independent companies also make the data available in electronic format:

Volume I, Single-engine airplanes. Contained documents for all single-engine fixed-wing airplanes regardless of takeoff weight.

Volume II, Small multiengine airplanes. Contained documents for multi-engine airplanes of 12,500 pounds or less maximum takeoff weight.

Volume III, Large multiengine airplanes. Contained documents for multi-engine airplanes of more than 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight.

Volume IV, Rotorcraft, gliders, and balloons. Contained documents on all rotorcraft, gliders, and piloted balloons.

Volume V, Aircraft engines and propellers. Contained documents for engines and propellers of all types and models.

Volume VI, Aircraft Listing and Aircraft Engine and Propeller Listing. Contained information pertaining to older aircraft models of which there are 50 or less on the FAA Aircraft Registry. It also contained engine and propeller information for which approvals have expired or for which the manufacturer no longer holds a production certificate.

Volumes I through V were available on a one-year subscription basis, with monthly supplementary service included with the subscription. Volume VI was seldom revised, and was available on a single-sale basis. The historically used method of looking up TCDS is still referred to on the FAA test and therefore covered here. Because Type Certificate Data Sheets are periodically revised by the FAA, you must have the latest revision to make a valid airworthiness decision. The best way to ensure that you are reviewing the most current data is to access information from the Regulatory and Guidance library found on the FAA website (http://rgl.faa.gov).

Coded Entries

Many Aircraft and Engine Specifications and some Type Certificate Data Sheets carry coded information to describe the general characteristics of the product. These may be found in the model caption line or a separate line entry entitled “Type” or “Designation.”

Aircraft Codes

An example of an aircraft code (Designation) is:

4PCLM

The first number followed by the letter P is the number of seats, for both passengers and crew.

The next letter or compound letters designate the cockpit or cabin design:

O open cockpit

C closed cabin

O–C convertible

The next letter designates the basic kind of aircraft:

L landplane

S seaplane

L–S convertible

Am amphibian

Fb flying boat

Ag autogiro

H helicopter

The last letter designates the wing design:

M monoplane

B biplane

Engine Codes

An example of an engine code (Type) is:

6HOA

The first number is the number of cylinders.

The first letter or letters designate the cylinder arrangement:

L in-line

V vee

R radial

HO horizontally opposed

I inverted

The second letter designation is for the type of coolant:

A air

W liquid

Additional letters represent modifications of the original designation.

Sample Test Questions

Note: Any TCDS sources referenced in the answer lines below that are not contained within this IA Test Prep can be found in the Computer Testing Supplement (FAA-CT-8080-8D), in the TCDS section of that document (“Section IV”), which is available as a separate downloadable file on the Reader Resources page for this book at asa2fly.com/reader/ia.