{"id":"F2006B04750","name":"AD/BN-2/38 - Flight Compartment Seat Back - Inspection and Modification","slug":"ad-bn-2-38-flight-compartment-seat-back-inspection-and-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44514,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04750-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BN-2/38 - Flight Compartment Seat Back - Inspection and Modification","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)  Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/BN-2/38 Flight Compartment Seat Back - Inspection NK\n\nand Modification\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models with flight compartment seats: P/N NB-99-H-007 manufactured by “ALAR” or P/N JS 114 S/Nos. prior to No. 239/9 manufactured by “JETSEATS”.\n\n \n\nDocument: Britten Norman SB No. BN-2/SB.69.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Inspect within 100 hours time in service after 30 November 1976 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until modified. Modify within 300 hours time in service after 30 November 1976.\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":false,"description":"The directive applies only to the specific seat part numbers and serial-number range listed and prescribes inspection and modification per the referenced service bulletin. There is no indication in the text that it expands or narrows scope beyond that original specification."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, part-number and serial-number limited applicability (specific P/Ns and S/N cutoff).","References an external technical document (Britten Norman SB No. BN-2/SB.69) for the detailed inspection/modification procedures.","Time-based compliance regime with two deadlines: recurring 100-hour inspections until modification and a 300-hour modification deadline.","Operational tracking requirement (accurate hours-in-service accounting) to meet inspection and modification windows."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- Requires owners/operators of Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 series aeroplanes fitted with the specific flight compartment seats listed to inspect and then modify those seat backs according to the manufacturer document cited. (See \"Applicability\" and \"Document\".)\n- The inspection must be carried out within 100 hours time in service after 30 November 1976 and repeated at intervals not exceeding 100 hours until the seat back has been modified. (See \"Compliance\".)\n- The modification must be completed within 300 hours time in service after 30 November 1976. (See \"Compliance\".)\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Aircraft owners/operators whose BN-2 aeroplanes have flight compartment seats with part number NB-99-H-007 manufactured by \"ALAR\" or part number JS 114 with serial numbers prior to No. 239/9 manufactured by \"JETSEATS\". (See \"Applicability\".)\n- Maintenance organisations and mechanics who perform the inspections and modifications specified by the referenced service bulletin. (See \"Document\".)\n\nWho decides and who pays\n\n- The directive is issued under the Civil Aviation regulatory framework (Part 39 / Schedule of Airworthiness Directives). Compliance is mandatory for affected operators. (Header and Schedule of Airworthiness Directives.)\n- The operator/owner is responsible for arranging and paying for the inspections and the modification work (labour, parts, aircraft downtime), and for scheduling the actions to meet the hour-based deadlines in the directive. (Implied by the time-in-service compliance requirements under \"Compliance\".)\n\nPractical effects, incentives and trade-offs (grounded in the directive text)\n\n- Recurring inspection cost and operational impact: Until the modification is completed, operators must inspect the seat backs every 100 hours TIS after the 30 November 1976 benchmark; that produces repeated maintenance work and associated aircraft downtime and cost. (\"Inspect within 100 hours ... and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours until modified.\")\n- Incentive to modify: Completing the mandated modification (within 300 hours TIS after 30 November 1976) removes the need for further 100-hour inspections under this directive, so operators face a trade-off between repeated inspections and a one-off modification cost. (Compare the inspection and modification deadlines in \"Compliance\".)\n- Dependence on referenced service bulletin: The directive implements the actions described in Britten Norman Service Bulletin BN-2/SB.69; the technical content and the exact inspection/modification procedures are contained in that document. Operators must follow that bulletin to satisfy the AD. (See \"Document: Britten Norman SB No. BN-2/SB.69.\")\n\nCompliance burden and implementation risks\n\n- Burden: The primary compliance burdens are labour, spare parts (if the SB requires parts), maintenance time and scheduling the aircraft out of service to meet the hour-based deadlines. (Inferred from the inspection and modification requirements under \"Compliance\" and the reference to the service bulletin in \"Document\".)\n- Risk factors: Availability of the specific replacement/modification parts or qualified maintenance resources can affect the ability to meet the 300-hour modification deadline; until modified, the operator must reliably track hours-in-service to meet the 100-hour inspection intervals. (Inferred from the hour-based compliance regime in \"Compliance\" and the dependency on the SB in \"Document\".)\n\nDocument references\n\n- Applicability: specific part numbers and serial-number-limited items (NB-99-H-007 by ALAR; JS 114 S/Ns prior to No. 239/9 by JETSEATS).\n- Document required for the work: Britten Norman SB No. BN-2/SB.69.\n- Compliance timings: inspections within 100 hours after 30 Nov 1976 and every 100 hours until modified; modification required within 300 hours after 30 Nov 1976.\n\nSummary statement\n\nThis airworthiness directive mandates time-limited inspections and a mandated modification for specific flight compartment seat backs on BN-2 aeroplanes, as described in the referenced service bulletin. The operator bears the direct costs and scheduling burden: repeated inspections until modification, or the one-off modification within the 300-hour deadline that ends the inspection cycle. (See \"Applicability\", \"Document\", and \"Compliance\".)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aircraft seat models. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring flight compartment seat integrity."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 2 defined part/serial number combinations in applicability section","Single compliance pathway with clear timeframes (100 hours inspection / 300 hours modification)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Single external reference to manufacturer service bulletin","Straightforward applicability test (specific manufacturer part numbers and serial number ranges)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain **Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 series aeroplanes** (small twin-engine aircraft commonly used for regional transport and island hopping) to inspect and modify the pilot and co-pilot seat backs.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nAnyone operating BN-2 aircraft fitted with specific seat models:\n- Seats made by \"ALAR\" with part number NB-99-H-007, **or**\n- Seats made by \"JETSEATS\" with part number JS 114 and serial numbers before 239/9\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **Inspection:** Check the seat backs within 100 hours of flying time after 30 November 1976, then re-check every 100 hours of flying time until the modification is done\n- **Modification:** Permanently fix the seats within 300 hours of flying time after 30 November 1976\n\n**Why it matters:**\nSeat backs in the flight compartment (cockpit) can fail or break under stress, potentially interfering with flight controls or injuring crew during turbulence or hard landings. This directive prevents accidents by ensuring seats are structurally sound.\n\n**Key terms explained:**\n- **Time in service:** Actual flying hours (not calendar time)\n- **Airworthiness Directive (AD):** A legally binding safety instruction that must be followed to keep an aircraft certified to fly\n- **SB (Service Bulletin):** Manufacturer's technical notice referenced for how to do the work (Britten Norman SB No. BN-2/SB.69)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bn-2-38-flight-compartment-seat-back-inspection-and-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-bn-2-38-flight-compartment-seat-back-inspection-and-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bn-2-38-flight-compartment-seat-back-inspection-and-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bn-2-38-flight-compartment-seat-back-inspection-and-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bn-2-38-flight-compartment-seat-back-inspection-and-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bn-2-38-flight-compartment-seat-back-inspection-and-modification/documents"}}