{"id":"F2006B04820","name":"AD/CA21/12 - Rudder Pedal Cable Attachment Lug","slug":"ad-ca21-12-rudder-pedal-cable-attachment-lug","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44619,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04820-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\nSkyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22A Series Aeroplanes","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/CA21/12 Rudder Pedal Cable Attachment","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/CA21/12 Rudder Pedal Cable Attachment Lug 1/2004","content":"# AD/CA21/12 Rudder Pedal Cable Attachment Lug 1/2004\n\nDM\n\nApplicability: Skyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA 21 and CA 22 Series aeroplanes.\n\nRequirement: Carry out a close visual inspection of the rudder cable to rudder pedal attachment lugs of the left and right rudder pedals, in the area where the lug is welded to the rudder pedal. Pay particular attention to the firewall side of the rudder pedal to lug attachment. Pedal assemblies found to be defective as a result of this inspection must be removed from service or repaired before further flight.\n\nNote 1: ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS NOTICE 15/10/2003 Refers.\n\nNote 2: Repairs to rudder pedal assemblies must be in accordance with an approved repair scheme.\n\nCompliance: Within ten flying hours after the effective date of this directive, and at each 100 hour scheduled inspection thereafter.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 26 November 2003.\n\nBackground: Operators report complete detachment of the rudder cable from the rudder pedal, and cracking in the metal in the areas adjacent to the welds where the rudder cable lug attaches to the pedal.\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nNeville Probert\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 20 November 2003\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 November 2003.","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope. It addresses a specific reported safety defect in a particular aircraft type with targeted inspection requirements. There is no evidence of scope creep; the directive remains focused on the original unsafe condition (rudder pedal lug weld failures)."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical defect addressed (rudder pedal weld cracking)","Only one applicability category (two specific aircraft models)","Straightforward compliance timeline (10 hours + recurring 100-hour intervals)","Minimal cross-referencing (one Ultralight Aircraft Airworthiness Notice mentioned in a note)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — inspection required for all affected aircraft","Short document (approximately 250 words of substantive text)","Only one defined term implied ('close visual inspection' — standard aviation maintenance term)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of Skyfox CA21 and CA22A aeroplanes to inspect the rudder-pedal cable attachment lugs for cracking or failure at the weld where they join the pedal. Cracked or detached lugs can cause complete loss of rudder control. Inspections must be done within 10 flying hours after 26 November 2003 and at every 100‑hour check thereafter; any defective pedal assembly must be removed or repaired with an approved scheme before further flight."},"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":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD remains narrowly corrective and focused on the original safety issue (weld cracking and possible detachment of the rudder cable lug). It does not broaden the types of aircraft affected, expand regulatory powers, or add unrelated obligations. The directive prescribes inspections and repair/removal before flight, consistent with the stated intent to correct the unsafe condition; it does not change scope beyond that safety objective."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-issue directive focused on one component (rudder pedal cable attachment lug)","Clear applicability limited to Skyfox (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22 series","Simple, bounded compliance times (within 10 flying hours; then at each 100-hour inspection)","Few conditional branches: inspect → if defective then remove/repair before further flight","One external reference to an \"approved repair scheme\" which creates a dependency on external approval processes","Reference to ULTRALIGHT AIRWORTHINESS NOTICE 15/10/2003 (Note 1) and CASR subregulation 39.1(1) (authority), introducing minor cross-references"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does (mechanically)**\n\n- This Airworthiness Directive (AD) requires operators of Skyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22 series aeroplanes to inspect the rudder cable attachment lugs on both left and right rudder pedals. The inspection must be a close visual check of the area where the lug is welded to the pedal, with special attention to the firewall side of the attachment.\n- If the inspection finds any defect (including cracking or separation around the weld), the pedal assembly must be removed from service or repaired before the next flight. Repairs must follow an approved repair scheme.\n- The inspection must be done within 10 flying hours after the AD becomes effective, and then at each 100-hour scheduled inspection thereafter. (Headings: \"Applicability\", \"Requirement\", \"Compliance\", \"Note 2\".)\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Aircraft owners, operators and maintenance organisations responsible for Skyfox CA21 and CA22 series aeroplanes. Maintenance personnel performing the inspections and repairs are affected because they must follow the AD and any applicable approved repair scheme.\n\n**Why it matters (stated safety problem and corrective logic)**\n\n- The AD responds to reports of complete detachment of the rudder cable from the rudder pedal and cracking in metal adjacent to the weld where the rudder cable lug attaches to the pedal (\"Background\"). The mechanical effect of those failures is loss of rudder control input from the pedals. The AD’s corrective logic is to detect cracking or weld failure early by repeated close visual inspections and to remove or repair defective pedal assemblies before further flight.\n\n**Who pays and who decides**\n\n- The cost of inspections, parts and any repairs is borne by the aircraft owner/operator. If repairs must be authorised under an \"approved repair scheme\", the operator may also incur time and administrative costs to obtain or use that scheme.\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate issued the AD under CASR subregulation 39.1(1) (referenced in the AD cover). CASA enforces compliance with the AD.\n\n**Behavioural changes required**\n\n- Operators must add a close visual inspection of the rudder pedal lug welds to the aircraft maintenance routine within 10 flying hours and at each 100‑hour check thereafter.\n- If defects are found, operators must ground the affected pedal assembly until it is repaired or replaced under an approved repair scheme.\n\n**Costs, incentives and trade-offs**\n\n- Direct costs: time for additional inspections, potential replacement or repair costs, and aircraft downtime while repairs are carried out.\n- Incentives: early detection reduces the risk of in-flight loss of rudder control, which can avoid more severe and costlier incidents. Operators have an incentive to perform the inspection promptly to avoid unexpected in-service failures.\n- Opportunity cost: aircraft out of service for inspection/repair reduces availability for revenue flights or personal use during that downtime.\n- Administrative burden: the requirement that repairs follow an approved repair scheme could delay return to service if the scheme or authorised repair facilities are not immediately accessible.\n\n**Implementation risk and compliance burden**\n\n- Implementation is straightforward for qualified maintenance personnel (close visual inspection). The primary compliance friction points are (a) identifying subtle cracking in the weld area during visual inspection, which depends on inspection quality, and (b) arranging repairs that conform to an approved repair scheme if defects are found.\n\n**Scope and limits of the measure**\n\n- The AD applies narrowly to Skyfox CA21 and CA22 series aircraft and specifically to the rudder cable‑to‑pedal attachment lug weld area. It does not mandate redesign, fleet grounding beyond affected assemblies, or changes to other aircraft types.\n\n(References in the AD: \"Applicability\", \"Requirement\", \"Compliance\", \"Background\", and Notes 1–2.)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ca21-12-rudder-pedal-cable-attachment-lug","history":"/api/acts/ad-ca21-12-rudder-pedal-cable-attachment-lug/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ca21-12-rudder-pedal-cable-attachment-lug/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ca21-12-rudder-pedal-cable-attachment-lug/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ca21-12-rudder-pedal-cable-attachment-lug/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ca21-12-rudder-pedal-cable-attachment-lug/documents"}}