{"id":"F2006B04639","name":"AD/BELL 407/26 - Landing Gear Cross Tubes","slug":"ad-bell-407-26-landing-gear-cross-tubes","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44391,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04639-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","sectionType":"part","heading":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","content":"# AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nBell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 407 Series Helicopters","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/BELL 407/26 Landing Gear Cross Tubes ","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/BELL 407/26 Landing Gear Cross Tubes 5/2004","content":"# AD/BELL 407/26 Landing Gear Cross Tubes 5/2004\n\nApplicability: All Model 407 helicopters.\n\nNote: This Directive applies to both Bell Helicopter cross tube assemblies and BHT’s approved production and spare alternate cross tube assemblies from Aeronautical Accessories Incorporated (AAI) that are listed in Chapter 4 of the Maintenance Manual.\n\nRequirement: Create a historical service record for each identified cross tube assembly indicating the new airworthiness life of 5,000 RIN, and assign a RIN to each existing and new cross tube assembly, in accordance with BHTC Alert Service Bulletin 407-03-59, dated 15 October 2003.\n\nNote: Transport Canada AD CF-2004-03 refers.\n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 13 May 2004 or before 30 June 2004, whichever occurs first, unless already accomplished.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 13 May 2004.\n\nBackground: The manufacturer has determined that run-on landings impose a high stress on landing gear cross tubes. A run-on landing is defined by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) as one where the forward ground travel after ground contact of the helicopter is greater than three (3) feet with weight on the skids. To prevent possible cross tube failure BHTC has introduced the life limitation of 5,000 RIN (Retirement Index Number).\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nDavid Villiers\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004\n\n![](image.001.png)","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD implements the manufacturer's introduced life limitation (5,000 RIN) for cross tubes and makes it mandatory for all Model 407 helicopters and approved alternate assemblies listed in the Maintenance Manual (Requirement; Applicability; Background). It does not expand the technical limit or introduce additional operational restrictions beyond mandatory record-keeping, RIN assignment, and retirement at the specified life, though it does convert the manufacturer's recommendation into a regulatory requirement enforceable by CASA."},"complexity_factors":["Single, focused technical requirement: create historical service records and assign RINs with a fixed life limit of 5,000 RIN (Requirement; Background).","Narrow applicability but inclusive of alternate supplier parts listed in the Maintenance Manual, so operators must audit parts provenance (Applicability; Note).","Dependency on an external document for implementation details: BHTC Alert Service Bulletin 407-03-59 dated 15 Oct 2003 (Requirement).","Short compliance window: within 100 hours TIS after 13 May 2004 or before 30 June 2004, whichever is earlier, creating immediate administrative pressure (Compliance).","Regulatory provenance and enforcement: issued by a CASA delegate under CASR 1998 subregulation 39.1(1), linking operator obligations to statutory AD power (intro).","Operational implication: operators must track usage (RIN accounting) and remove parts at the specified retirement index, creating recurring replacement and record-keeping costs (Background; Requirement).","Cross-reference to foreign regulator action (Transport Canada AD CF-2004-03) introduces potential coordination or interpretation issues for multi-jurisdiction fleets (Requirement note)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Bell 407 helicopters to record and assign a Retirement Index Number (RIN) to each landing-gear cross tube and limit its life to 5,000 RIN, following BHTC Alert Service Bulletin 407-03-59. It applies to all Model 407 helicopters and approved alternate cross tubes. CASA (the delegate under CASR subregulation 39.1(1)) enforces compliance within a short window, so operators must track RINs, retire parts at the life limit, and bear the administrative and replacement costs."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard airworthiness directive with narrow, targeted scope. It addresses a specific safety issue identified by the manufacturer without expanding beyond the original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical component targeted (landing gear cross tubes)","Only one substantive requirement: create service records and assign RINs","Clear, fixed compliance deadline with simple alternative ('whichever occurs first')","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Minimal cross-referencing (one Alert Service Bulletin and one Canadian AD mentioned in notes only)","Short document (~250 words excluding headers and signatures)"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA safety order requires owners/operators of all Bell 407 helicopters (including AAI-approved spare cross tubes) to limit landing gear cross-tube life to 5,000 RIN, establish service history and RIN tracking, and comply within 100 flight hours after 13 May 2004 or by 30 June 2004, whichever is first. It responds to manufacturer findings that run-on landings can overstress these tubes and risk gear collapse."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-407-26-landing-gear-cross-tubes","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-407-26-landing-gear-cross-tubes/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-407-26-landing-gear-cross-tubes/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-407-26-landing-gear-cross-tubes/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-407-26-landing-gear-cross-tubes/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-407-26-landing-gear-cross-tubes/documents"}}