{"id":"F2006B02475","name":"AD/AS 355/19 Amdt 1 - Rear RH & LH Steps","slug":"ad-as-355-19-amdt-1-rear-rh-lh-steps","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":41731,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B02475-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/AS 355/19 Amdt 1 - Rear RH & LH Steps","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)  \nEurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters\n\nAD/AS 355/19\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nRear RH & LH Steps 10/87\n\nApplicability: All Model AS 355 equipped with both raised skid-type landing gear and emergency flotation gear installations and which are not modified in accordance with Aerospatiale modification AMS 350 A07-1755.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Aerospatiale AS 355 Telex Service 32-04A.\n\nNote: Bureau Veritas AD 86-32-27(B) refers.\n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished, prior to 18 April 1986 and thereafter at each installation of the emergency flotation equipment.\n\nBackground: The possibility of interference between the steps fitted to the raised skid type landing gear and the RH and LH flotation bags in the inflated configuration has been noted. This Directive requires removal of the steps to preclude flotation bag puncture.\n\nAmendment 1 clarifies the compliance statement.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly scoped to its original purpose — preventing flotation bag puncture on specific AS 355 helicopter configurations. Amendment 1 only clarifies the compliance statement without expanding applicability or adding new requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 300 words)","Only 4 defined elements: applicability criteria, requirement reference, compliance deadline, and background","Single conditional logic chain: applies to AS 355 models with raised skid gear AND flotation gear, UNLESS modified per AMS 350 A07-1755","No nested exceptions or cross-references to other legislation","One external technical reference (Aerospatiale Telex Service 32-04A) and one related foreign airworthiness directive (Bureau Veritas AD 86-32-27(B))","Amendment 1 is purely clarificatory with no substantive changes"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific helicopters.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of certain Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) helicopters to remove the rear left and right steps from their aircraft. These steps are part of the raised skid-type landing gear.\n\n**Why the steps must go:** When emergency flotation gear (inflatable bags that help helicopters stay afloat if they land on water) is deployed, the steps can puncture the flotation bags on the left and right sides. This would defeat the purpose of the flotation equipment in an emergency.\n\n**Who it affects:** \n- All AS 355 model helicopters that have **both** raised skid-type landing gear **and** emergency flotation gear installed\n- **Unless** the helicopter has already been modified according to a specific factory modification (Aerospatiale modification AMS 350 A07-1755)\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow the instructions in \"Aerospatiale AS 355 Telex Service 32-04A\" (a technical service bulletin from the manufacturer)\n- Remove the steps before 18 April 1986 if not already done\n- Check and comply with this requirement every time emergency flotation equipment is installed\n\n**What changed in Amendment 1:** The update simply made the compliance instructions clearer — it didn't change the safety requirement itself."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Amendment 1 states it \"clarifies the compliance statement.\" The directive continues to require removal of the rear RH and LH steps for the same applicability set and retains the same required action and timing. Therefore the substantive scope of aircraft covered and the physical requirement have not changed; the amendment only clarifies how the compliance timing/statement is expressed. (Amendment 1; Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)"},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow technical scope — applies only to AS 355 helicopters with raised skid-type gear and emergency flotation installations (Applicability).","Clear, single required action (removal of rear RH & LH steps) specified (Requirement; Background).","Fixed compliance timing and recurring trigger linked to each flotation installation (Compliance).","References to external technical documents (Aerospatiale AS 355 Telex Service 32-04A and Bureau Veritas AD 86-32-27(B)) add minimal procedural complexity.","Exemption for aircraft modified per AMS 350 A07-1755 requires checking modification status."],"plain_english_summary":"Owners/operators and maintenance organisations of Eurocopter/Aerospatiale AS 355 helicopters with raised skid landing gear and emergency flotation gear must remove the rear RH and LH steps (unless modified per AMS 350 A07-1755). Removal is required before 18 April 1986 and each time flotation gear is fitted thereafter to prevent steps from puncturing inflated flotation bags. Compliance follows Aerospatiale AS 355 Telex Service 32-04A and costs are borne by the operator."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-as-355-19-amdt-1-rear-rh-lh-steps","history":"/api/acts/ad-as-355-19-amdt-1-rear-rh-lh-steps/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-as-355-19-amdt-1-rear-rh-lh-steps/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-as-355-19-amdt-1-rear-rh-lh-steps/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-as-355-19-amdt-1-rear-rh-lh-steps/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-as-355-19-amdt-1-rear-rh-lh-steps/documents"}}