{"id":"F2006B03552","name":"AD/BAL/14 - Fast Flow Restrictor Valves","slug":"ad-bal-14-fast-flow-restrictor-valves","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":43119,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03552-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BAL/14 - Fast Flow Restrictor Valves","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)  Hot Air Balloons\n\n \n\nAD/BAL/14 Fast Flow Restrictor Valves 11/95 DM\n\nApplicability: All hot air balloons.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Inspect LP gas cylinders for fitment of fast flow restrictor valves and remove if fitted.\n\n \n\nNote: Inspection of LP cylinders for fitment of restrictor valves may be accomplished by an AS2337- approved gas cylinder test station or by an operational check of each cylinder, with burner alight.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Before further flight. Thereafter, following any maintenance, or inspection for date stamping.\n\n \n\nBackground:  There have been cases reported of fast flow restrictor valves being fitted internally to LP gas cylinders during maintenance. Because a balloon burner uses fuel within the operating range of the fast flow restrictor valve, a serious accident could result.\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":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope remains focused on all hot air balloons and limited to inspection/removal of fast-flow restrictor valves from LP cylinders; compliance timing and permitted inspection methods are unchanged from the instrument's stated requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability: explicitly applies to \"All hot air balloons\" (Applicability).","Single, discrete action required: inspect LP gas cylinders and remove fast-flow restrictor valves if fitted (Requirement).","Immediate and recurring compliance timing: \"Before further flight\" and after any maintenance or inspection/date stamping (Compliance) increases operational scheduling pressure.","Two permitted inspection methods: AS2337-approved gas cylinder test station or operational check with burner alight (Note), creating a small choice burden for operators.","Safety rationale is specific and technical: restrictor valves can operate within burner fuel range, posing an accident risk (Background).","Enforcement and cost fall on owners/operators/maintenance providers: inspection time, possible removal work, and use of test stations if chosen."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires inspection of LP gas cylinders on all hot air balloons and removal of any internally fitted fast-flow restrictor valves. Applies to owners, operators and maintenance personnel; compliance is required before further flight and after maintenance or inspection because burners operate within the restrictor's activation range and could create a serious accident."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical hazard. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of preventing accidents caused by incompatible safety valves in balloon fuel systems."},"complexity_factors":["Single, unambiguous requirement (inspect and remove if found)","Only one defined term of note (AS2337 — an Australian Standard reference)","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations","No conditional logic or exceptions","Extremely short (under 200 words of substantive content)","Clear compliance deadline ('before further flight')"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive orders all hot‑air balloon operators in Australia to inspect LP gas cylinders for \"fast flow restrictor\" valves and remove any found. \n\nThese valves can restrict burner fuel flow mid‑flight, risking loss of lift or control. Compliance must occur before the next flight and after maintenance or when the cylinder date stamp is checked; checks may be done at an AS2337 gas test station or via an operational burner check."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bal-14-fast-flow-restrictor-valves","history":"/api/acts/ad-bal-14-fast-flow-restrictor-valves/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bal-14-fast-flow-restrictor-valves/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bal-14-fast-flow-restrictor-valves/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bal-14-fast-flow-restrictor-valves/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bal-14-fast-flow-restrictor-valves/documents"}}