{"id":"F2007L04644","name":"AD/A109/60 Amdt 1 - Pilot and Co-Pilot Doors Emergency Release System","slug":"ad-a109-60-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-doors-emergency-release-system","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":70971,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L04644-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/A109/60 Amdt 1 | Pilot and Co-Pilot DoorsEmergency Release System | 2/2008 DM |\n| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | --------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Model A109E, A109S, and A109LUH helicopters, all serial numbers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |\n| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Inspect in accordance with Agusta Alert Technical Bulletin 109EP-83, 109S-18, or 109L-010, as applicable; or later EASA approved revisions.If any interference is found between the lower hinge and the housing on the helicopter structure, before further flight, accomplish the corrective actions in accordance with Part II of Alert Technical Bulletin 109EP-83, 109S-18, or 109L-010, as applicable; or later EASA approved revisions.If no interference is found between the lower hinge and the housing on the helicopter structure, before 30 June 2008, accomplish the corrective actions in accordance with Part II of Alert Technical Bulletin 109EP-83, 109S-18, or 109L-010, as applicable; or later EASA approved revisions.Note: EASA Emergency AD 2007-0295R1-E refers. |\n| Compliance:    | Inspect within 5 flight hours after 4 December 2007, but not later than 31 December 2007, whichever occurs first.The compliance time remains unchanged by this issue of the Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 7 December 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| Background:    | During a ground test of the emergency door release system, the Pilot doors failed to disengage. Investigation determined that the reason for the malfunction was interference between the lower hinge and the fuselage structure. This condition, if not corrected, creates the risk of non-disengagement of the Pilot-and/or Co-pilot doors during an emergency, inhibiting the evacuation during an emergency, with possible injuries to the occupants.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n\n|     | Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related EASA AD, which clarifies the mandatory actions to be accomplished and the associated compliance times. |\n| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n5 December 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/A109/60 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/A109/60 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/A109/60 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Pilot and Co-Pilot DoorsEmergency Releas","sectionType":"part","heading":"Pilot and Co-Pilot DoorsEmergency Release System","content":"## Pilot and Co-Pilot Doors  \nEmergency Release System","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2/2008 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"2/2008 DM","content":"## 2/2008 DM","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment does not materially change the scope of the original directive. It clarifies mandatory actions and compliance times in line with a revision to the related EASA AD, but does not expand the set of helicopters affected or introduce additional categories of work beyond the Part II corrective actions in the referenced Agusta Technical Bulletins."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single‑issue airworthiness directive focused on one system (door emergency release).","Cross‑reference to three model‑specific Agusta Alert Technical Bulletins (109EP‑83, 109S‑18, 109L‑010) and to later EASA‑approved revisions.","Simple conditional logic: two branches (interference found → immediate corrective action before flight; no interference → corrective action by 30 June 2008).","Two compliance timing rules (inspect within 5 flight hours after 4 Dec 2007 but not later than 31 Dec 2007; longer deadline for deferred corrective action if no interference).","Reference to EASA Emergency AD for background/coordination, creating a dependency on an external regulatory instrument."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does (mechanics)**\n\n- It applies to all Agusta A109E, A109S and A109LUH helicopters (every serial number).\n- It requires operators to inspect the pilot and co‑pilot doors’ emergency release system following the procedures in Agusta Alert Technical Bulletin 109EP‑83, 109S‑18, or 109L‑010 (as applicable), or any later revision approved by EASA (the European Aviation Safety Agency).\n- If the inspection finds any interference between the lower hinge and the housing on the helicopter structure, the helicopter must not fly again until the corrective actions in Part II of the applicable Agusta Alert Technical Bulletin have been completed.\n- If no interference is found, the corrective actions in Part II of the applicable Agusta Alert Technical Bulletin must still be completed, but may be deferred until 30 June 2008.\n- The inspection must be done within 5 flight hours after 4 December 2007, but no later than 31 December 2007 — whichever comes first. This amendment did not change those compliance times.\n- The directive became effective 7 December 2007 and cites EASA Emergency AD 2007‑0295R1‑E for reference.\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Helicopter owners and operators of Agusta A109E, A109S and A109LUH types.\n- Maintenance organisations and engineers who carry out inspections and corrective work to the manufacturer’s technical bulletins.\n\n**Why it matters (official rationale and analytical testing of that rationale)**\n\n- Official rationale: a ground test showed the pilot doors failed to disengage because the lower hinge interfered with the fuselage structure. If not corrected, that interference could prevent door disengagement in an emergency and impede evacuation, risking occupant injury.\n\n- What operators pay / who bears the cost: operators bear the direct costs — time to perform the inspection, any parts and labour to carry out the Part II corrective actions, and possible income loss if a helicopter is grounded until repairs are done.\n\n- Who decides: the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (via this airworthiness directive) sets the mandatory inspection and repair requirement; the specific technical steps are set out by Agusta in the referenced Alert Technical Bulletins and by any later EASA‑approved revisions.\n\n- Behaviour changes required: operators must prioritise and schedule a short, mandatory inspection within a tight window and must implement required repairs immediately if interference is found. If no interference is found, repairs must still be completed by the specified later date.\n\n- Trade‑offs and implementation risks: the compliance window is short (5 flight hours or until 31 December 2007), which may force operators to rearrange flights or ground aircraft temporarily. Relying on manufacturer bulletins and EASA approvals concentrates the technical decision‑making with the manufacturer/regulator — operators must follow those instructions rather than choose alternative fixes without approval. The directive does not broaden the types of work required beyond the manufacturer’s Part II corrective actions; it clarifies the mandatory nature and timing of those actions.\n\n- Effects on private markets and competition: the work generates demand for approved maintenance providers and replacement parts, with costs borne by operators. There is no change to ownership or operating rights — only a short, safety‑driven compliance burden.\n\n- Concentrated benefits, diffuse costs: the safety benefit (reduced risk of non‑disengaging doors) accrues to occupants and the operator’s liability/reputation; the costs (inspection and repair expense, scheduling impacts) are concentrated on operators and maintenance providers.\n\n**Reference to amendment**\n\n- Amendment 1 simply responds to a revision of the related EASA AD to clarify which actions are mandatory and the compliance times; it does not introduce new categories of work beyond the referenced Part II corrective actions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose: addressing the emergency door release interference defect in A109 helicopters. Amendment 1 simply clarifies compliance times and mandatory actions to align with updated European aviation safety standards. It does not expand applicability to other aircraft models, add unrelated requirements, or broaden the scope beyond the specific door hinge interference issue."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive focused on one mechanical defect","Only 3 defined model variants (A109E, A109S, A109LUH) with straightforward applicability","Simple conditional logic: inspect → if interference found, fix immediately; if not found, fix by deadline","References to external technical bulletins (Agusta Alert Technical Bulletins) rather than embedding full technical specifications in the text","Clear compliance dates with 'whichever occurs first' language for the inspection window","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing within the instrument itself"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of Agusta A109E, A109S and A109LUH helicopters to inspect and, if needed, immediately repair pilot and co‑pilot emergency door release systems after reports of hinge/frame interference that can jam doors. It makes the inspections and permanent correction mandatory to ensure occupants can evacuate in an emergency.\n\nAmendment 1 aligns the order with revised EASA guidance and clarifies required actions and timings."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-a109-60-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-doors-emergency-release-system","history":"/api/acts/ad-a109-60-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-doors-emergency-release-system/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-a109-60-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-doors-emergency-release-system/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-a109-60-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-doors-emergency-release-system/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-a109-60-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-doors-emergency-release-system/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-a109-60-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-doors-emergency-release-system/documents"}}