{"id":"F2006B01795","name":"AD/A109/11 - Emergency Float Assembly P/N 109-0715-01","slug":"ad-a109-11-emergency-float-assembly-p-n-109-0715-01","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":40993,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B01795-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/A109/11 - Emergency Float Assembly P/N 109-0715-01","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nAgusta A109 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/A109/11 Emergency Float Assembly P/N 109-0715-01 2/88\n\nApplicability: Float assemblies up to S/No 0092.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-64.\n\nNote: RAI AD 87-162 refers.\n\nCompliance: (a) For new float assemblies, prior to initial installation and thereafter at periods not exceeding six months calendar time in service.\n\n(b) For float assemblies with two or more years calendar time in service; at the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 25 February 1988 and thereafter at periods not exceeding six months calendar time in service.\n\nBackground: Damaged/deteriorated emergency floats have been reported to the float manufacturer.\n\nThis has included delamination and blistering, the most likely cause of which is operation in high temperature/humidity conditions.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific maintenance issue with a specific helicopter part. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring emergency float reliability."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific applicability criterion (serial numbers up to 0092)","Two simple compliance pathways based on age of equipment","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation (only references a manufacturer technical bulletin and a related airworthiness directive)","Straightforward temporal conditions (6-month intervals, fixed date of 25 February 1988)","Total length: approximately 150 words"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that requires specific maintenance actions on aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of **Agusta A109 series helicopters** to inspect and maintain a specific emergency float assembly (part number 109-0715-01) used for water landings.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone who owns or operates an Agusta A109 helicopter with float assemblies with serial numbers up to 0092\n- Maintenance engineers responsible for issuing Maintenance Releases (official documents that allow an aircraft to fly)\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **New float assemblies:** Must be inspected before first installation, then every 6 months\n- **Float assemblies already in use for 2+ years:** Must be inspected by the next scheduled Maintenance Release check after 25 February 1988, then every 6 months thereafter\n- All inspections must follow the manufacturer's technical bulletin (Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-64)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nEmergency floats on helicopters can save lives during water landings, but CASA received reports of these floats becoming damaged or deteriorating — specifically delaminating (layers separating) and blistering. This appears to happen in hot, humid climates like Australia's. The directive prevents potential float failure during an actual emergency water landing."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD’s scope is narrowly defined in the text: it applies to emergency float assemblies up to serial number 0092 and requires inspections per Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-64. The stated objective in the Background (addressing reported delamination/blistering likely caused by high temperature/humidity) aligns with the inspection-focused measures prescribed. There is no text in the instrument indicating an expansion or narrowing of that scope from its stated purpose. (Applicability; Requirement; Background)"},"complexity_factors":["Reference to an external technical document (Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-64) for the required inspection procedures, creating dependence on that bulletin for compliance (Requirement).","Different inspection timing rules for new assemblies versus assemblies with two or more years in service, including a specific historical triggering date (25 February 1988) (Compliance (a) & (b)).","Serial-number limited applicability (only float assemblies up to S/No 0092), requiring operators to check serials before applying the AD (Applicability).","Technical subject-matter (delamination/blistering) implies inspections and possible specialist repairs, raising practical complexity despite a short textual AD (Background).","Limited technical detail within the AD itself — the AD delegates technical content to the manufacturer’s bulletin, requiring separate document retrieval and interpretation (Requirement)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of Agusta A109 helicopters fitted with specified emergency float assemblies (S/No up to 0092) to have those floats inspected per Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109‑64—including pre‑installation checks and recurring six‑monthly inspections for most units, with a one‑time inspection trigger for older assemblies. It targets delamination/blistering risk in hot, humid conditions; affected parties bear inspection and any corrective costs and scheduling burdens."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a109-11-emergency-float-assembly-p-n-109-0715-01","history":"/api/acts/ad-a109-11-emergency-float-assembly-p-n-109-0715-01/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a109-11-emergency-float-assembly-p-n-109-0715-01/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a109-11-emergency-float-assembly-p-n-109-0715-01/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a109-11-emergency-float-assembly-p-n-109-0715-01/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a109-11-emergency-float-assembly-p-n-109-0715-01/documents"}}