{"id":"F2007L00126","name":"AD/A109/38 Amdt 1 - Tail Rotor Blades","slug":"ad-a109-38-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":68235,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L00126-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Agusta A109 Series Helicopters","sectionType":"division","heading":"Agusta A109 Series Helicopters","content":"### Agusta A109 Series Helicopters\n\n| AD/A109/38 Amdt 1 | Tail Rotor Blades | 2/2007 |\n| ----------------- | ----------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All Model A109E helicopters equipped with part number 109-8132-01-111 tail rotor blades.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement:   | Action in accordance with the requirements of Agusta Technical Bulletin 109EP-30 Revision C.This Directive shall be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The Requirement document Part II visual inspections may be performed and certified by the Pilot in Command who has been trained to do the inspection by an appropriately qualified person. In this case, a copy of the Requirement document and this Directive is to be carried in the aircraft.Note: EASA AD 2006-0353 refers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n| Compliance:    | As specified in the Requirement document.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 15 February 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| Background:    | The manufacturer received reports of cracked part number 109-8132-01-111 tail rotor blades. Analysis and tests have shown that the cracking was caused by fatigue, as a result of unanticipated loads on the tail rotor blades. The manufacturer has redesigned the tail rotor grip bushings to reduce these loads. Until the tail rotor grip assembly is modified, the life limit of the tail rotor blades is reduced to 200 hours time in service. If not corrected, fatigue failure of the tail rotor blade could lead to loss of control of the helicopter.Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new EASA AD, which extends the inspection interval of the tail rotor blade bushing from 150 flight hours to 200 flight hours as specified in Revision C of the Requirement document. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n5 January 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/A109/38 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/A109/38 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/A109/38 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Tail Rotor Blades","sectionType":"part","heading":"Tail Rotor Blades","content":"## Tail Rotor Blades","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"2/2007","content":"## 2/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 updates the Requirement document (Agusta Technical Bulletin 109EP-30 Revision C) to extend the tail rotor bushing inspection interval from 150 to 200 flight hours and reiterates that tail rotor blades have a reduced life limit of 200 flight hours until the tail rotor grip assembly is modified (Background, Requirement)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, specific applicability (only A109E with P/N 109-8132-01-111) (Applicability) — reduces scope but concentrates operational impact.","Reliance on an external document for detailed actions: Agusta Technical Bulletin 109EP-30 Revision C (Requirement) — compliance depends on that document's content and timing.","Allowance for Pilot‑in‑Command to perform/certify visual inspections if trained by an \"appropriately qualified person\" (Requirement) — introduces discretion and delegated certification.","Record‑keeping obligation: entry on the Maintenance Release and carriage of the Requirement document and AD (Requirement) — administrative compliance burden for operators.","Changed inspection interval via amendment (Background) — operators must track revised intervals (150 → 200 flight hours) and adjust maintenance planning.","Reduced life limit to 200 hours until modification of the grip assembly (Background) — creates direct replacement costs and scheduling impacts for operators.","Safety‑critical nature of the defect (fatigue cracking) implies potential for regulatory enforcement and operational grounding if non‑compliant (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive applies to Agusta A109E helicopters fitted with tail rotor blades P/N 109-8132-01-111 and requires operators to comply with Agusta Technical Bulletin 109EP-30 Revision C: record the AD on the maintenance release and carry out the specified inspections. The blade life limit is reduced to 200 flight hours until the tail rotor grip assembly is modified.\n\nInspections may be performed and certified by a Pilot‑in‑Command trained by a qualified person; Amendment 1 extends the bushing inspection interval from 150 to 200 flight hours. Operators pay inspection and replacement costs; maintainers decide PIC training and certification."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, narrow airworthiness directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in a specific helicopter model. It has not expanded beyond its original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose document (approximately 250 words of substantive content)","Only one defined term of note ('Requirement document' referring to Agusta Technical Bulletin 109EP-30 Revision C)","Simple conditional logic: applies only to specific helicopter model with specific part number","Single cross-reference to EASA AD 2006-0353 (European equivalent directive)","No nested exceptions or complex procedural branching","Clear, linear compliance structure: identify applicability → follow technical bulletin → record in maintenance release"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates Agusta A109E operators with tail rotor blades P/N 109-8132-01-111 follow the manufacturer’s technical bulletin: increase visual inspection frequency, replace blades after 200 flight hours until the tail rotor grip is modified, and carry the inspection paperwork onboard.  \n\nIt responds to metal-fatigue cracking that could cause loss of control, allows pilots trained by a qualified person to perform the visual checks, and relaxes the interval from 150 to 200 hours per the updated guidance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a109-38-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades","history":"/api/acts/ad-a109-38-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a109-38-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a109-38-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a109-38-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a109-38-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades/documents"}}