[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR33.49]

[Page 765-768]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 33--AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: AIRCRAFT ENGINES--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart D--Block Tests; Reciprocating Aircraft Engines
 
Sec. 33.49  Endurance test.

    (a) General. Each engine must be subjected to an endurance test that 
includes a total of 150 hours of operation (except as provided in 
paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of this section) and, depending upon the type and 
contemplated use of the engine, consists of one of the series of runs 
specified in paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section, as applicable. 
The runs must be made in the order found appropriate by the 
Administrator for the particular engine being tested. During the 
endurance test the engine power and the crankshaft rotational speed must 
be kept within 3 percent of the rated values. During the 
runs at rated takeoff power and for at least 35 hours at rated maximum 
continuous power, one cylinder must be operated at not less than the 
limiting temperature, the other cylinders must be operated at a 
temperature not lower than 50 degrees F. below the limiting temperature, 
and the oil inlet temperature must be maintained within 10 
degrees F. of the limiting temperature. An engine that is equipped with 
a propeller shaft must be fitted for the endurance test with a propeller 
that thrust-loads the engine to the maximum thrust which the engine is 
designed to resist at each applicable operating condition specified in 
this section. Each accessory drive and mounting attachment must be 
loaded. During operation at rated takeoff power and rated maximum 
continuous power, the load imposed by each accessory used only for an 
aircraft service must be the limit load specified by the applicant for 
the engine drive or attachment point.
    (b) Unsupercharged engines and engines incorporating a gear-driven 
single-

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speed supercharger. For engines not incorporating a supercharger and for 
engines incorporating a gear-driven single-speed supercharger the 
applicant must conduct the following runs:
    (1) A 30-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 5 minutes at 
rated takeoff power with takeoff speed, and 5 minutes at maximum best 
economy cruising power or maximum recommended cruising power.
    (2) A 20-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 1\1/2\ hours at 
rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, and \1/2\ 
hour at 75 percent rated maximum continuous power and 91 percent maximum 
continuous speed.
    (3) A 20-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 1\1/2\ hours at 
rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, and \1/2\ 
hour at 70 percent rated maximum continuous power and 89 percent maximum 
continuous speed.
    (4) A 20-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 1\1/2\ hours at 
rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, and \1/2\ 
hour at 65 percent rated maximum continuous power and 87 percent maximum 
continuous speed.
    (5) A 20-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 1\1/2\ hours at 
rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, and \1/2\ 
hour at 60 percent rated maximum continuous power and 84.5 percent 
maximum continuous speed.
    (6) A 20-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 1\1/2\ hours at 
rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, and \1/2\ 
hour at 50 percent rated maximum continuous power and 79.5 percent 
maximum continuous speed.
    (7) A 20-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 2\1/2\ hours at 
rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, and 2\1/2\ 
hours at maximum best economy cruising power or at maximum recommended 
cruising power.
    (c) Engines incorporating a gear-driven two-speed supercharger. For 
engines incorporating a gear-driven two-speed supercharger the applicant 
must conduct the following runs:
    (1) A 30-hour run consisting of alternate periods in the lower gear 
ratio of 5 minutes at rated takeoff power with takeoff speed, and 5 
minutes at maximum best economy cruising power or at maximum recommended 
cruising power. If a takeoff power rating is desired in the higher gear 
ratio, 15 hours of the 30-hour run must be made in the higher gear ratio 
in alternate periods of 5 minutes at the observed horsepower obtainable 
with the takeoff critical altitude manifold pressure and takeoff speed, 
and 5 minutes at 70 percent high ratio rated maximum continuous power 
and 89 percent high ratio maximum continuous speed.
    (2) A 15-hour run consisting of alternate periods in the lower gear 
ratio of 1 hour at rated maximum continuous power with maximum 
continuous speed, and \1/2\ hour at 75 percent rated maximum continuous 
power and 91 percent maximum continuous speed.
    (3) A 15-hour run consisting of alternate periods in the lower gear 
ratio of 1 hour at rated maximum continuous power with maximum 
continuous speed, and \1/2\ hour at 70 percent rated maximum continuous 
power and 89 percent maximum continuous speed.
    (4) A 30-hour run in the higher gear ratio at rated maximum 
continuous power with maximum continuous speed.
    (5) A 5-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 5 minutes in 
each of the supercharger gear ratios. The first 5 minutes of the test 
must be made at maximum continuous speed in the higher gear ratio and 
the observed horsepower obtainable with 90 percent of maximum continuous 
manifold pressure in the higher gear ratio under sea level conditions. 
The condition for operation for the alternate 5 minutes in the lower 
gear ratio must be that obtained by shifting to the lower gear ratio at 
constant speed.
    (6) A 10-hour run consisting of alternate periods in the lower gear 
ratio of 1 hour at rated maximum continuous power with maximum 
continuous speed, and 1 hour at 65 percent rated maximum continuous 
power and 87 percent maximum continuous speed.
    (7) A 10-hour run consisting of alternate periods in the lower gear 
ratio of 1 hour at rated maximum continuous

[[Page 767]]

power with maximum continuous speed, and 1 hour at 60 percent rated 
maximum continuous power and 84.5 percent maximum continuous speed.
    (8) A 10-hour run consisting of alternate periods in the lower gear 
ratio of 1 hour at rated maximum continuous power with maximum 
continuous speed, and 1 hour at 50 percent rated maximum continuous 
power and 79.5 percent maximum continuous speed.
    (9) A 20-hour run consisting of alternate periods in the lower gear 
ratio of 2 hours at rated maximum continuous power with maximum 
continuous speed, and 2 hours at maximum best economy cruising power and 
speed or at maximum recommended cruising power.
    (10) A 5-hour run in the lower gear ratio at maximum best economy 
cruising power and speed or at maximum recommended cruising power and 
speed.

Where simulated altitude test equipment is not available when operating 
in the higher gear ratio, the runs may be made at the observed 
horsepower obtained with the critical altitude manifold pressure or 
specified percentages thereof, and the fuel-air mixtures may be adjusted 
to be rich enough to suppress detonation.
    (d) Helicopter engines. To be eligible for use on a helicopter each 
engine must either comply with paragraphs (a) through (j) of Sec. 29.923 
of this chapter, or must undergo the following series of runs:
    (1) A 35-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 30 minutes each 
at rated takeoff power with takeoff speed, and at rated maximum 
continuous power with maximum continuous speed.
    (2) A 25-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 2\1/2\ hours 
each at rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, 
and at 70 percent rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous 
speed.
    (3) A 25-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 2\1/2\ hours 
each at rated maximum continuous power with maximum continuous speed, 
and at 70 percent rated maximum continuous power with 80 to 90 percent 
maximum continuous speed.
    (4) A 25-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 2\1/2\ hours 
each at 30 percent rated maximum continuous power with takeoff speed, 
and at 30 percent rated maximum continuous power with 80 to 90 percent 
maximum continuous speed.
    (5) A 25-hour run consisting of alternate periods of 2\1/2\ hours 
each at 80 percent rated maximum continuous power with takeoff speed, 
and at either rated maximum continuous power with 110 percent maximum 
continuous speed or at rated takeoff power with 103 percent takeoff 
speed, whichever results in the greater speed.
    (6) A 15-hour run at 105 percent rated maximum continuous power with 
105 percent maximum continuous speed or at full throttle and 
corresponding speed at standard sea level carburetor entrance pressure, 
if 105 percent of the rated maximum continuous power is not exceeded.
    (e) Turbosupercharged engines. For engines incorporating a 
turbosupercharger the following apply except that altitude testing may 
be simulated provided the applicant shows that the engine and 
supercharger are being subjected to mechanical loads and operating 
temperatures no less severe than if run at actual altitude conditions:
    (1) For engines used in airplanes the applicant must conduct the 
runs specified in paragraph (b) of this section, except--
    (i) The entire run specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section 
must be made at sea level altitude pressure;
    (ii) The portions of the runs specified in paragraphs (b)(2) through 
(7) of this section at rated maximum continuous power must be made at 
critical altitude pressure, and the portions of the runs at other power 
must be made at 8,000 feet altitude pressure; and
    (iii) The turbosupercharger used during the 150-hour endurance test 
must be run on the bench for an additional 50 hours at the limiting 
turbine wheel inlet gas temperature and rotational speed for rated 
maximum continuous power operation unless the limiting temperature and 
speed are maintained during 50 hours of the rated maximum continuous 
power operation.

[[Page 768]]

    (2) For engines used in helicopters the applicant must conduct the 
runs specified in paragraph (d) of this section, except--
    (i) The entire run specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section 
must be made at critical altitude pressure;
    (ii) The portions of the runs specified in paragraphs (d)(2) and (3) 
of this section at rated maximum continuous power must be made at 
critical altitude pressure and the portions of the runs at other power 
must be made at 8,000 feet altitude pressure;
    (iii) The entire run specified in paragraph (d)(4) of this section 
must be made at 8,000 feet altitude pressure;
    (iv) The portion of the runs specified in paragraph (d)(5) of this 
section at 80 percent of rated maximum continuous power must be made at 
8,000 feet altitude pressure and the portions of the runs at other power 
must be made at critical altitude pressure;
    (v) The entire run specified in paragraph (d)(6) of this section 
must be made at critical altitude pressure; and
    (vi) The turbosupercharger used during the endurance test must be 
run on the bench for 50 hours at the limiting turbine wheel inlet gas 
temperature and rotational speed for rated maximum continuous power 
operation unless the limiting temperature and speed are maintained 
during 50 hours of the rated maximum continuous power operation.

[Amdt. 33-3, 32 FR 3736, Mar. 4, 1967, as amended by Amdt. 33-6, 39 FR 
35465, Oct. 1, 1974; Amdt. 33-10, 49 FR 6851, Feb. 23, 1984]