ASTM F3408/F3408M-21

Standard Specification for Aircraft Emergency Parachute Recovery Systems

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers minimum requirements for the design of emergency parachute recovery systems for aircraft. Airframe emergency parachute systems addressed in this specification refer to parachute systems designed, manufactured, and installed to recover the airframe and its occupants at a survivable rate of descent. This specification is not applicable to deepstall parachutes, spin recovery parachutes, drogue parachutes, or other airframe emergency aerodynamic decelerators not specifically intended for safely lowering the airframe and occupants to the ground. The specification is applicable to these types of parachutes if they are an integral part of an airframe emergency parachute system designed to recover the airframe and occupants at a survivable rate of descent. The material was developed through open consensus of international experts in general aviation. This information was created by focusing on Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 Normal Category aeroplanes. The content may be more broadly applicable; it is the responsibility of the Applicant to substantiate broader applicability as a specific means of compliance. The topics covered within this document are: strength requirements, parachute test method, activation system, deployment system, parachute attachment to the airframe, occupant protection, and system verification.  
1.2 An applicant intending to propose this information as Means of Compliance for a design approval must seek guidance from their respective oversight authority (for example, published guidance from applicable CAAs) concerning the acceptable use and application thereof. For information on which oversight authorities have accepted this specification (in whole or in part) as an acceptable Means of Compliance to their regulatory requirements (hereinafter the Rules), refer to the ASTM Committee F44 web page (www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/F44.htm). Annex A1 maps the Means of Compliance of this ASTM specification to EASA CS-23, amendment 5, or later, and FAA 14 CFR Part 23, amendment 64, or later, rules applicable to the Aircraft Emergency Parachute Recovery Systems installation.  
1.3 Airframe emergency parachute recovery systems have become an acceptable means of greatly reducing the likelihood of serious injury or death in an in-flight emergency. Even though they have saved hundreds of lives in many different types of conditions, inherent danger of failure, even if properly designed remains due to the countless permutations of random variables (attitude, altitude, accelerations, airspeed, weight, geographic location, etc.) that may exist at time of usage. The combination of these variables may negatively influence the lifesaving function of these airframe emergency parachute systems. They are designed to be a safety device and to be used at the discretion of the pilot when deemed to provide the best chance of survivability.  
1.4 Units—This document may present information in either SI units, English Engineering units, or both; the values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2021
• ICS: 49.020 - Aircraft and space vehicles in general
• Technical Committee: F44 - General Aviation Aircraft
• Drafting Committee: F44.30 - Structures

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3408/F3408M −21
Standard Specification for
1
Aircraft Emergency Parachute Recovery Systems
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF3408/F3408M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope later, rules applicable to the Aircraft Emergency Parachute
Recovery Systems installation.
1.1 This specification covers minimum requirements for the
1.3 Airframe emergency parachute recovery systems have
design of emergency parachute recovery systems for aircraft.
become an acceptable means of greatly reducing the likelihood
Airframe emergency parachute systems addressed in this
of serious injury or death in an in-flight emergency. Even
specification refer to parachute systems designed,
though they have saved hundreds of lives in many different
manufactured, and installed to recover the airframe and its
types of conditions, inherent danger of failure, even if properly
occupants at a survivable rate of descent. This specification is
designed remains due to the countless permutations of random
not applicable to deepstall parachutes, spin recovery
variables (attitude, altitude, accelerations, airspeed, weight,
parachutes, drogue parachutes, or other airframe emergency
geographic location, etc.) that may exist at time of usage. The
aerodynamic decelerators not specifically intended for safely
combination of these variables may negatively influence the
lowering the airframe and occupants to the ground. The
lifesaving function of these airframe emergency parachute
specification is applicable to these types of parachutes if they
systems.Theyaredesignedtobeasafetydeviceandtobeused
are an integral part of an airframe emergency parachute system
at the discretion of the pilot when deemed to provide the best
designed to recover the airframe and occupants at a survivable
chance of survivability.
rate of descent. The material was developed through open
consensus of international experts in general aviation. This
1.4 Units—Thisdocumentmaypresentinformationineither
information was created by focusing on Level 1, 2, 3, and 4
SI units, English Engineering units, or both; the values stated
Normal Category aeroplanes. The content may be more
in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore,
broadly applicable; it is the responsibility of the Applicant to
to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
substantiate broader applicability as a specific means of com-
used independently of the other, and values from the two
pliance. The topics covered within this document are: strength
systems shall not be combined.
requirements, parachute test method, activation system, de-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ployment system, parachute attachment to the airframe, occu-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
pant protection, and system verification.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.2 An applicant intending to propose this information as
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Means of Compliance for a design approval must seek guid-
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
ance from their respective oversight authority (for example,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
published guidance from applicable CAAs) concerning the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
acceptable use and application thereof. For information on
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
which oversight authorities have accepted this specification (in
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
whole or in part) as an acceptable Means of Compliance to
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
their regulatory requirements (hereinafter the Rules), refer to
the ASTM Committee F44 web page (www.astm.org/
2. Referenced Documents
COMMITTEE/F44.htm). Annex A1 maps the Means of Com-
2
pliance of this ASTM specification to EASA CS-23, amend-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ment 5, or later, and FAA 14 CFR Part 23, amendment 64, or
F3060 Terminology for Aircraft
F3083/F3083M Specification for Emergency Conditions,
Occupant Safety and Accommodations
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ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF44onGeneral
Aviation Aircraft and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F44.30 on
2
Structures. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM web
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F3408/F3408M − 20 F3408/F3408M − 21
Standard Specification for
1
Aircraft Emergency Parachute Recovery Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3408/F3408M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers minimum requirements for the design of emergency parachute recovery systems for aircraft.
Airframe emergency parachute systems addressed in this specification refer to parachute systems designed, manufactured, and
installed to recover the airframe and its occupants at a survivable rate of descent. This specification is not applicable to deepstall
parachutes, spin recovery parachutes, drogue parachutes, or other airframe emergency aerodynamic decelerators not specifically
intended for safely lowering the airframe and occupants to the ground. The specification is applicable to these types of parachutes
if they are an integral part of an airframe emergency parachute system designed to recover the airframe and occupants at a
survivable rate of descent. The material was developed through open consensus of international experts in general aviation. This
information was created by focusing on Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 Normal Category aeroplanes. The content may be more broadly
applicable; it is the responsibility of the Applicant to substantiate broader applicability as a specific means of compliance. The
topics covered within this document are: strength requirements, parachute test method, activation system, deployment system,
parachute attachment to the airframe, occupant protection, and system verification.
1.2 An applicant intending to propose this information as Means of Compliance for a design approval must seek guidance from
their respective oversight authority (for example, published guidance from applicable CAAs) concerning the acceptable use and
application thereof. For information on which oversight authorities have accepted this specification (in whole or in part) as an
acceptable Means of Compliance to their regulatory requirements (hereinafter the Rules), refer to the ASTM Committee F44 web
page (www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/F44.htm). Annex A1 maps the Means of Compliance of this ASTM specification to EASA
CS-23, amendment 5, or later, and FAA 14 CFR Part 23, amendment 64, or later, rules applicable to the Aircraft Emergency
Parachute Recovery Systems installation.
1.3 Airframe emergency parachute recovery systems have become an acceptable means of greatly reducing the likelihood of
serious injury or death in an in-flight emergency. Even though they have saved hundreds of lives in many different types of
conditions, inherent danger of failure, even if properly designed remains due to the countless permutations of random variables
(attitude, altitude, accelerations, airspeed, weight, geographic location, etc.) that may exist at time of usage. The combination of
these variables may negatively influence the lifesaving function of these airframe emergency parachute systems. They are designed
to be a safety device and to be used at the discretion of the pilot when deemed to provide the best chance of survivability.
1.4 Units—This document may present information in either SI units, English Engineering units, or both; the values stated in each
system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used
independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F44 on General Aviation Aircraft and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F44.30 on Structures.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2020Aug. 1, 2021. Published February 2020August 2021. Originally approved in 2020. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as
F3408/F3408M-20. DOI: 10.1520/F3408_F3408M–20.10.1520/F3408_F3408M-21.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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