Sec. 25.1459 - Flight recorders.
(a) Each flight recorder required by the
operating rules of this chapter must be installed so that --
(1) It is supplied with airspeed,
altitude, and directional data obtained from sources that meet the
accuracy requirements of §§25.1323, 25.1325, and 25.1327, as appropriate;
(2) The vertical acceleration sensor is
rigidly attached, and located longitudinally either within the approved
center of gravity limits of the airplane, or at a distance forward or aft
of these limits that does not exceed 25 percent of the airplane's mean
aerodynamic chord;
(3) It receives its electrical power
from the bus that provides the maximum reliability for operation of the
flight recorder without jeopardizing service to essential or emergency
loads;
(4) There is an aural or visual means
for preflight checking of the recorder for proper recording of data in the
storage medium.
(5) Except for recorders powered solely
by the engine-driven electrical generator system, there is an automatic
means to simultaneously stop a recorder that has a data erasure feature
and prevent each erasure feature from functioning, within 10 minutes after
crash impact; and
(6) There is a means to record data from
which the time of each radio transmission either to or from ATC can be
determined.
(b) Each nonejectable record container
must be located and mounted so as to minimize the probability of container
rupture resulting from crash impact and subsequent damage to the record
from fire. In meeting this requirement the record container must be
located as far aft as practicable, but need not be aft of the pressurized
compartment, and may not be where aft-mounted engines may crush the
container upon impact.
(c) A correlation must be established
between the flight recorder readings of airspeed, altitude, and heading
and the corresponding readings (taking into account correction factors) of
the first pilot's instruments. The correlation must cover the airspeed
range over which the airplane is to be operated, the range of altitude to
which the airplane is limited, and 360 degrees of heading. Correlation may
be established on the ground as appropriate.
(d) Each recorder container must --
(1) Be either bright orange or bright
yellow;
(2) Have reflective tape affixed to its
external surface to facilitate its location under water; and
(3) Have an underwater locating device,
when required by the operating rules of this chapter, on or adjacent to
the container which is secured in such a manner that they are not likely
to be separated during crash impact.
(e) Any novel or unique design or
operational characteristics of the aircraft shall be evaluated to
determine if any dedicated parameters must be recorded on flight recorders
in addition to or in place of existing requirements.
[Amdt. 25-8, 31 FR 127, Jan. 6, 1966, as amended
by Amdt. 25-25, 35 FR 13192, Aug. 19, 1970; Amdt. 25-37, 40 FR 2577, Jan.
14, 1975; Amdt. 25-41, 42 FR 36971, July 18, 1977; Amdt. 25-65, 53 FR
26144, July 11, 1988]