{"id":"F2006B02567","name":"AD/AUS/16 Amdt 1 - Strengthened Actuator Lever Assemblies on Flap Control Torque Shaft","slug":"ad-aus-16-amdt-1-strengthened-actuator-lever-assemblies-on-flap-control-torque-shaft","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":41823,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B02567-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/AUS/16 Amdt 1 - Strengthened Actuator Lever Assemblies on Flap Control Torque Shaft","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Auster/Beagle A.61 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/AUS/16\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nStrengthened Actuator Lever Assemblies on Flap Control Torque Shaft\n\n\n9/85\n\n \n\nApplicability: (a) Models: Mk4, Mk5, Mk5C, Mk5D;\n\n \n\n(b)     Models: J1, J1B, J1N, J1U;\n\n \n\n(c)      Models: J5, J5B, J5F, J5G, J5H, J5K, J5L, J5P, J5Q, J5R, J5V. Requirement: Action in accordance with Auster S.B. Issue 48, Mod. 3663. Compliance:              Forthwith.\n\nBackground: Amendment issued to incorporate reference to applicable aircraft models.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment explicitly incorporated references to the applicable aircraft models (Background). As drafted, the AD now names the specific models to which the requirement applies (Applicability (a)–(c)), thereby clarifying and altering the instrument's scope of application compared with the prior text that required amendment to \"incorporate reference to applicable aircraft models.\""},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-subject directive (AD) — keeps substantive complexity low.","External technical dependence: the AD delegates detailed work to Auster S.B. Issue 48, Mod. 3663 (Requirement), which requires operators to obtain and follow another document.","Immediate timing: compliance is required \"Forthwith,\" which raises operational and scheduling complexity for affected operators (Compliance).","Multiple affected types: the AD explicitly lists many model variants across three sublists (Applicability (a)–(c)), requiring owners/operators to check applicability carefully.","Limited procedural detail in the AD (no alternative-method provisions or enforcement mechanics stated), which shifts practical complexity into interactions with the regulator or the manufacturer (Absence of alternative-method text)."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument requires\n\n- This Airworthiness Directive (AD/AUS/16 Amdt 1) mandates that specified Auster/Beagle A.61 series aeroplanes must have strengthened actuator lever assemblies fitted to the flap-control torque shaft. The AD requires operators to carry out the work \"in accordance with Auster S.B. Issue 48, Mod. 3663\" (Requirement). The time for compliance is stated as \"Forthwith\" (Compliance).\n\nWho this affects\n\n- The AD applies to the listed aircraft models: Mk4, Mk5, Mk5C, Mk5D; J1, J1B, J1N, J1U; and J5, J5B, J5F, J5G, J5H, J5K, J5L, J5P, J5Q, J5R, J5V (Applicability (a)–(c)).\n- Owners and operators of those aircraft are the parties required to arrange and pay for compliance (Requirement; Compliance).\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the issuing regulator; the AD appears in the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (header).\n\nHow it works mechanically\n\n- The AD does not describe the modification steps in full; it directs operators to a manufacturer's service bulletin (Auster S.B. Issue 48, Mod. 3663) for the required work (Requirement). That external document is therefore the operative technical specification for the modification.\n- The compliance obligation is immediate: the AD sets the action to be taken \"Forthwith\" rather than on a set calendar deadline (Compliance).\n- The Background entry records that this amendment was issued to incorporate references to the applicable aircraft models (Background).\n\nCosts, incentives and trade-offs (mechanical effects, not policy conclusions)\n\n- Who pays: the owners/operators of the affected aircraft pay for parts, installation labour and any associated maintenance or downtime because the AD makes compliance their responsibility (Requirement; Applicability).\n- Timing constraint: the \"Forthwith\" compliance instruction reduces the operator's ability to schedule the work at long convenience and may force near-term aircraft downtime (Compliance).\n- Reliance on external document: the AD delegates the detailed technical method to Auster S.B. Issue 48, Mod. 3663, so operators must obtain and follow that service bulletin; the AD itself does not set alternative methods or detailed steps (Requirement).\n- Administrative/discretionary space: the AD text does not include provisions in this instrument for alternative methods of compliance or for approvals of deviations; any such processes would have to be found elsewhere or sought from the regulator (Absence of alternative-method text).\n- Concentrated effect on suppliers: because the AD prescribes a specific modification by reference to the manufacturer’s bulletin, demand for the particular parts, kits or specialist labour the bulletin specifies is likely to increase; operators bear those costs (Requirement).\n\nImplementation risks and practical points\n\n- The AD is short and delegates technical detail to the manufacturer’s service bulletin, so timely access to that bulletin and the required parts/skills will determine how quickly operators can comply (Requirement).\n- The Background line shows the amendment purpose was to incorporate model references; the amendment therefore changes which aircraft the AD explicitly covers (Background).\n\nSource pointers (where to look in the AD text)\n\n- Applicability: the listed models are shown under \"Applicability\" (a)–(c).\n- What to do: see \"Requirement: Action in accordance with Auster S.B. Issue 48, Mod. 3663.\"\n- When to do it: see \"Compliance: Forthwith.\"\n- Why this amendment: see the \"Background\" line stating the amendment incorporated reference to applicable aircraft models.\n"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original AD/AUS/16 apparently applied to a narrower range of Auster models. Amendment 1 explicitly expands the scope to incorporate additional aircraft models (the J-series variants). However, the core safety purpose — mandating strengthened actuator lever assemblies — remains unchanged. This is a horizontal expansion of coverage rather than a vertical expansion of regulatory requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 3 defined elements: applicability (aircraft models), requirement (reference to external service bulletin), and compliance deadline","No nested conditional logic or exceptions","Single cross-reference to external technical document (Auster S.B. Issue 48, Mod. 3663)","Straightforward command structure: identify affected aircraft → specify required action → set deadline","Amendment 1 serves only to expand model applicability list, not to add procedural complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it like a compulsory recall notice, but for aircraft parts.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of specific **Auster/Beagle A.61 series aeroplanes** to install **strengthened actuator lever assemblies** on the flap control torque shaft. The flap control torque shaft is the mechanical component that helps move the aircraft's flaps (the hinged surfaces on the wings that help with takeoff and landing). The \"actuator lever assemblies\" are the parts that transfer force to move these flaps. The original parts were apparently not strong enough, creating a safety risk.\n\n**Who must comply:** Anyone who owns or operates the following Auster aircraft models:\n- Mk4, Mk5, Mk5C, Mk5D\n- J1, J1B, J1N, J1U  \n- J5, J5B, J5F, J5G, J5H, J5K, J5L, J5P, J5Q, J5R, J5V\n\n**What they must do:** Follow the instructions in **Auster Service Bulletin Issue 48, Modification 3663** — essentially, a technical instruction manual from the manufacturer detailing how to install the stronger parts.\n\n**When:** **Forthwith** — meaning immediately, without delay.\n\n**Why it matters:** This amendment expands the original directive to cover additional aircraft models that were discovered to have the same vulnerability. Without this fix, the flap control mechanism could fail, potentially causing loss of control during critical phases of flight like landing."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-aus-16-amdt-1-strengthened-actuator-lever-assemblies-on-flap-control-torque-shaft","history":"/api/acts/ad-aus-16-amdt-1-strengthened-actuator-lever-assemblies-on-flap-control-torque-shaft/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-aus-16-amdt-1-strengthened-actuator-lever-assemblies-on-flap-control-torque-shaft/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-aus-16-amdt-1-strengthened-actuator-lever-assemblies-on-flap-control-torque-shaft/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-aus-16-amdt-1-strengthened-actuator-lever-assemblies-on-flap-control-torque-shaft/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-aus-16-amdt-1-strengthened-actuator-lever-assemblies-on-flap-control-torque-shaft/documents"}}