StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

14 CFR §27.521

Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
If certification for float operation is requested, the rotorcraft, with floats, must be designed to withstand the following loading conditions (where the limit load factor is determined under § 27.473(b) or assumed to be equal to that determined for wheel landing gear):
  1. (a)Up-load conditions in which—
    1. (1)A load is applied so that, with the rotorcraft in the static level attitude, the resultant water reaction passes vertically through the center of gravity; and
    2. (2)The vertical load prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section is applied simultaneously with an aft component of 0.25 times the vertical component.
  2. (b)A side-load condition in which—
    1. (1)A vertical load of 0.75 times the total vertical load specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section is divided equally among the floats; and
    2. (2)For each float, the load share determined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, combined with a total side load of 0.25 times the total vertical load specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, is applied to that float only.