EASA CM No.
: EASA CM – S – 004 Issue: 01
EASA CERTIFICATION MEMORANDUM
EASA CM No.: EASA CM - S – 004 Issue: 01
Issue Date: 14th of January 2014
Issued by: Structures section
Approved by: Head of Certification Experts Department
Regulatory Requirement(s): CS 2X.603, CS 2X.605, CS
2X.613, CS-E 70 and CS-P 170
EASA Certification Memoranda clarify the European Aviation Safety Agency’s
general course of action on specific certification items. They are intended to
provide guidance on a particular subject and, as non-binding material, may provide
complementary information and guidance for compliance demonstration with
current standards. Certification Memoranda are provided for information purposes
only and must not be misconstrued as formally adopted Acceptable Means of
Compliance (AMC) or as Guidance Material (GM). Certification Memoranda are not
intended to introduce new certification requirements or to modify existing
certification requirements and do not constitute any legal obligation.
EASA Certification Memoranda are living documents into which either additional
criteria or additional issues can be incorporated as soon as a need is identified by
EASA.
Subject
Composite Materials – Shared Databases
Acceptance of Composite Specifications and Design Values
Developed using the NCAMP Process
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EASA CM No.: EASA CM – S – 004 Issue: 01
Log of Issues
Issue Issue date Change description
01 14.01.2014 First issue.
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Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 4
1.1. Purpose and Scope ........................................................................................ 4
1.2. References ................................................................................................... 4
1.3. Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 5
1.4. Definitions .................................................................................................... 5
2. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................... 6
2.1. General ........................................................................................................ 6
2.2. History......................................................................................................... 6
2.3. Discussion .................................................................................................... 7
3. EASA CERTIFICATION POLICY .......................................................................... 7
3.1. EASA Policy .................................................................................................. 7
3.1.1. FAA policy (quoted in italics) ..................................................................... 7
3.1.2. EASA policy (continued, further to 3.1.1) .................................................... 8
3.2. Who this Certification Memorandum Affects ...................................................... 8
4. REMARKS .......................................................................................................... 9
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This Certification Memorandum (CM) provides an interim EASA position regarding acceptance
of composite material data developed specifically using the NCAMP shared database process,
which has been developed during the last 15 years to improve standardisation of lower test
pyramid data for composite materials, similar to that commonly accepted for metals using
the well-established MMPDS process. Mature standardisation processes are considered to be
potentially beneficial to industry and safety.
Although this is primarily a USA industry based process, initially developed by the FAA, its
development included some European industry and regulatory (NAA and EASA) involvement,
e.g. via document review and interface with CMH-17. Currently, there is also involvement
from organisations from other non-USA countries. Furthermore, the process will maintain
some regulatory involvement.
This CM presents an interim EASA position, because EASA believes that some further work
remains to be completed in order to fully harmonise the processes.
Note: This CM is in broad agreement with the FAA Memo AIR-100-10-120001 ‘Acceptance of
Composite Specifications and Design Values Developed using the NCAMP Process’, dated
22/7/2010, and related PS-AIR-100-120-07 ‘Policy Memo on Guidance for Component
Contractor Generated Composite Design Values for Composite Structure’, dated 20/9/2013.
1.2. REFERENCES
It is intended that the following reference materials be used in conjunction with this CM:
Reference Title Code Issue Date
CS 2X.603 Materials and workmanship CS-2X --- ---
CS 2X.605 Fabrication Methods CS-2X --- ---
CS 2X.613 Material Strength Properties and Design CS-2X --- ---
Values
CS-E 70 Materials and Manufacturing Methods CS-E --- ---
CS-P 170 Materials and Manufacturing Methods CS-P --- ---
AMC 20-29 Composite Aircraft Structure CS-2X
AC 23-20 Acceptance Guidance on Material 19/9/2003
Procurement and Process Specifications
for Polymer Matrix Composite Systems
AC 27-1 Certification of Normal Category 30/9/2008
Rotorcraft
AC 29-2 Certification of Transport Category 30/9/2008
Rotorcraft
DOT/FAA/AR- Material Qualification and Equivalency for September
03/19 Polymer Matrix Composite Material 2003
Systems: Updated Procedure
NCAMP NSP NCAMP Standard Operation Procedures 22/9/2009
(SOP), Doc NSP 100(E)
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1.3. ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations are used in this Certification Memorandum:
Abbreviation Meaning
AER Authorised Engineering Representative (NCAMP)
AFF Arbeitskreis Faserverbund Flugzeugbau
AGATE Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiment
AIR Authorised Inspection Representative (NCAMP)
AMC Acceptable Means of Compliance
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CM Certification Memorandum
CMH Composite Material Handbook
CS Certification Specification
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
ft Feet
HFF Handbuch Faserverbund Flugzeuge
lbs Pounds
MAB Manufacturer Advisory Board (NCAMP)
NAA National Airworthiness Authority
NASA National Aeronautical and Space Administration
NCAMP National Centre for Advanced Materials Performance
NIAR National Institute for Aviation Research
PRT Performance Review Team (NCAMP)
RGB Regulatory Governing Board (NCAMP)
SAB Supplier Advisory Board (NCAMP)
WSU Wichita State University
1.4. DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are used in this Certification Memorandum:
Definition Meaning
--- ---
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2. BACKGROUND
2.1. GENERAL
The development of detailed harmonised guidance and practices regarding the definition and
use of composite material data remains relatively immature compared to the well-
established metallic protocols.
AMC 20-29 ‘Composite Aircraft Structure’ paragraph 6.a.(7) ‘Material and Process Control’
states:
”…the Agency does not certify materials and processes. However, materials and
processes specifications are part of the type-design subject to type-certification.
Appropriate certification credit may be given to products and organisations using the
same materials and processes in similar applications subject to substantiation and
applicability. In some cases, material and processing information may become part of
accepted shared databases used throughout the industry. New users of shared
qualification databases must control the associated materials and processes through
proper use of the related specifications and demonstrate their understanding by
performing equivalency sampling tests for key properties.”
This CM provides clarification regarding the acceptability of material specifications, material
strength properties and material design values (allowables) developed by the National
Centre for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) for composite materials. NCAMP has
published a standard operating procedures document detailing the organisation, methods,
and processes that they will use to work with material suppliers, manufacturers, and
regulatory bodies to develop composite material specifications and limited associated
material allowables. These procedures are based on experience gained from the Advanced
General Aviation Transport Experiment (AGATE) and NCAMP. Throughout this timeframe,
AGATE and NCAMP have had a strong interface with FAA (including European NAA and EASA
involvement), including the regulatory oversight occurring in related certification
programmes and special projects. In addition, the National Institute of Aviation Research
(NIAR) at Wichita State University (WSU), which oversees the AGATE and NCAMP programs,
performed a supporting role in the FAA development of related guidance for composite
material qualification and material & process specifications and the associated protocol for
methods, shared databases, quality control, and equivalency sampling tests. Material
specifications developed following the NCAMP standard operation procedures are compliant
with the US regulations regarding CFR 2X.603(a)&(b). Applicants who wish to use
associated NCAMP databases and material allowables should validate the applicability of that
data to their project with a limited test program to be compliant with 2X.605 and
2X.613(a)&(b). In addition, NCAMP specifications are acceptable for showing compliance
with CFR 33.15 and 35.17 (equivalent to CS-E 70 and CS-P 170 respectively) for materials
used in engine and propeller applications.
2.2. HISTORY
Non-proprietary material specifications for composite materials have not been made public
like those currently available for Metallic Materials. This has been partly due to the difficulty
suppliers experience sharing material property data and associated specifications which are
relevant to more than one manufacturer’s production processes. Each manufacturer has
typically developed their own composite material specifications and design allowables. In
contrast, specifications and allowables for metallic materials are readily available to
aerospace industry. The result has been that for metallic designs, individual manufacturers
generally have not had to expand their resources in this area. However, work is in progress
to improve this situation, e.g. SAE International is working to develop existing NCAMP
specifications into publicly available consensus specifications.
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2.3. DISCUSSION
The final mechanical behaviour of composite structures is extremely dependent on both the
materials and the production processes controlled by the manufacturers (material producers
and product manufacturers). In an effort to reduce the cost of using composite materials the
National Aeronautical and Space administration (NASA), industry, and FAA, formed the
Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiment (AGATE) research consortium. AGATE
developed an approach for sharing composite material property data from multiple sources.
This allowed the development for tools which permitted the creation of non-proprietary
material allowables for composite materials. The AGATE process has become accepted
practice in the general aviation industry.
The AGATE programme has since evolved into NCAMP. The objective of NCAMP is to take
the experience gained from the AGATE program and develop acceptable methods for
developing common material specifications and basic material property data suitable for
general use in the certification of general aviation aircraft, transport category airplanes, and
other aircraft product types. To achieve that goal, NCAMP has documented procedures that
allow the development of non-proprietary specifications and material design values similar in
the industry-wide applicability as what is now available for metallic materials. NCAMP is
working closely with Composite Materials Handbook 17 (CMH-17) consortium to incorporate
NCAMP procedures into the CMH-17 methodology.
EASA acknowledges that NCAMP presents similarities in process to some existing, and
accepted, lower pyramid data development and sharing activities within Europe which
include shared databases, e.g., the well-established German smaller airplane industry
activities presented in HFF (Handbuch Faserverbund Flugzeuge = Handbook Fibre Composite
Aircrafts), by AFF (Arbeitskreis Faserverbund Flugzeugbau = Working Group Fibre Composite
Aircraft Design) etc. This CM does not change or compromise acceptance of such
established activities in relation to project certification, but simply identifies that an
international activity is also available to European Industry regarding the development and
use of lower test pyramid data.
3. EASA CERTIFICATION POLICY
3.1. EASA POLICY
EASA accepts data developed through the FAA process described below, subject to review as
required by standard project Certification and Validation processes.
3.1.1. FAA policy (quoted in italics)
‘Material specifications and related databases developed using the NCAMP process, as
described in NCAMP Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Doc. # NSP 100 are considered
to be compliant with 2X.603(a)&(b). In addition, NCAMP specifications are acceptable for
showing compliance with 33.15 and 35.17 (note: equivalent to EASA CS-E 70, and CS-P
170) for materials used in engine and propeller applications. However, to show compliance
with the requirements of the 2X.605, 2X.613(a)&(b), 33.15 and 35.17 regulations, material
allowables published by NCAMP should be validated as being applicable for each applicant’s
application by the following provisions:
Procure materials per specifications developed using NCAMP procedures;
Applicants who develop the original data following NCAMP procedures may use the
resulting allowables;
If not the original applicant, (who developed the original data) applicants wishing to
utilise existing NCAMP allowables should conduct a limited test plan to validate the
equivalency of materials, production processes and the associated material & process
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EASA CM No.: EASA CM – S – 004 Issue: 01
controls being used on their program to those used to derive NCAMP allowables.
Guidance on what testing is needed is provided in technical report DOT/FAA/AR-
03/19.
Note that the allowables provided by the NCAMP processes are not intended to fulfil all of the
design needs of every project. In general, NCAMP allowables only cover basic lamina and
limited laminate data associated with the lower levels of the building block approach (see
CMH-17 Vol.3). Applicants should assess the applicability of provided allowables to the
specification properties, environments, laminate architecture, and loading situations needed
for their individual projects. In particular, applicants should be able to demonstrate that
material allowables are compatible with their validated analytical tools and design
methodology. If additional allowables are needed to support higher levels of the building
block approach for their designs, it is the applicant responsibility to supplement the NCAMP
data with an appropriate test program for their project to be fully compliant with 2X.613.
Data generated by the NCAMP organisation following the procedures defined in NCAMP
Standard Operation Procedures (SOP), Doc. # NSP 100 is acceptable to FAA without further
showing. Any testing conducted by non-NCAMP organisations should be performed per FAA
(or EASA) approved test programme or processes.’
3.1.2. EASA policy (continued, further to 3.1.1)
EASA accepts the processes and data generated, as described in para. 3.1.1, as appropriate
and subject to review in accordance with standard project Certification and Validation
processes, for:
- project Validations, e.g. for EASA Validation of FAA products
- EASA product Certification, when the applicant has fully engaged with the NCAMP
processes, as acceptable to NCAMP and EASA
Subject to appropriate European Industry interest being expressed to EASA, EASA may
consider further development of the harmonisation process. This could include identification
of NCAMP tasks which may be completed directly within Europe under EASA acceptance and
approval, e.g. the independent panel testing by a recognised European test facility and/or
data review could be completed within Europe as part of a harmonised process. Benefits to
Europe could include reduced process time, transportation, and travel costs etc.
EASA understands that some process differences exist between European and USA
processes, e.g. the SOPs, and supporting documents, identify ASTM test standards, whilst
European organisations may be using EN test standards etc. However, EASA will work with
European Industry, as required, to address such matters.
This CM may be amended, subject to changes in associated EASA regulations, e.g. regarding
acceptance of third party industry activities etc. Similarly, the integration of the NCAMP
process with CMH-17 is in progress and may broaden and change the scope of future
revisions to this CM.
3.2. WHO THIS CERTIFICATION MEMORANDUM AFFECTS
This CM could affect applicants who need to show compliance with CS-2X.603, 2X.605, and
2X.613 structure and material requirements, including the related requirements in CS-22,
CS-VLA, CS-E and CS-P, unless addressed by other means . It also affects regulators
processing applications.
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4. REMARKS
1. Suggestions for amendment(s) to this EASA CM should be referred to the Certification
Policy and Planning Department, Certification Directorate, EASA. E-mail
[email protected] or fax +49 (0)221 89990 4459.
2. For any question concerning the technical content of this EASA Certification
Memorandum, please contact:
Name, First Name: Waite, Simon
Function: Structures Expert
Phone: +49 (0)221 89990 4042
Facsimile: +49 (0)221 89990 4542
E-mail: [email protected]
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