{"id":"F2007L00335","name":"AD/CAP 232/12 Amdt 1 - Return to Flight - Modification/Reinforcement","slug":"ad-cap-232-12-amdt-1-return-to-flight-modification-reinforcement","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":63329,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L00335-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"CAP Aviation (Akrotech and Mudry) CAP 23","sectionType":"division","heading":"CAP Aviation (Akrotech and Mudry) CAP 232 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### CAP Aviation (Akrotech and Mudry) CAP 232 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/CAP 232/12 Amdt 1 | Return to Flight - Modification/Reinforcement | 3/2007 |\n| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All CAP 232 aircraft.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Insert the relevant Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) supplement modifying sections 1.4 and 2.2 and 2.16 of the AFM and install a limitation placard in the cockpit as indicated in Annex A of AMICALE de VOLTIGE AERIENNE (AVA) Service Bulletin No. 2006-01 Ed. 1.2. After possible repairs and after reinforcement of bulkheads No. 2 and No. 3 by implementation of AVA-STC-2006-01 Rev 01, performed by AIR MENUISERIE (the sole approved organisation), proceed with the reinforcement of bulkhead No. 1 as instructed in paragraph A of AVA Service Bulletin No. 2006-01 Ed. 1.3. Modify the approved operator’s maintenance program by inserting the repetitive inspection requirements of paragraph B of AVA Service Bulletin No. 2006-01 Ed. 1.After accomplishment of the above requirements of this Directive, perform a new weighing and balancing of the aircraft as mentioned in AVA Service Bulletin No. 2006-01 Ed. 1.Note: EASA AD 2006-0211R1-E refers. |\n| Compliance:    | Before further flight.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 15 March 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |\n| Background:    | A CAP 232 aircraft suffered an in-flight wing separation during a French Aerobatics Championship. Until the investigation was completed, and pending the results, further flight was prohibited.Investigations by BEAD-Air have now suggested two possible causes that may have led to the in-flight wing separation. In order to have the aircraft back in service, EASA requested Apex Aircraft to design the reinforcement of bulkhead No. 1 and 2 to address both possible causes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n\n|     | The return to flight of CAP 232 aircraft is dependent upon corrective design changes through an STC from AVA.Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related EASA AD, which requires accomplishment of certain actions before affected aircraft return to flight. |\n| --- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n1 February 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/CAP 232/12 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/CAP 232/12 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/CAP 232/12 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Return to Flight - Modification/Reinforc","sectionType":"part","heading":"Return to Flight - Modification/Reinforcement","content":"## Return to Flight - Modification/Reinforcement","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"3/2007","content":"## 3/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Applicability remains to all CAP 232 aircraft. Amendment 1 updates required corrective actions and references a revised EASA AD but does not expand the set of affected aircraft; it refines return‑to‑flight conditions rather than changing the original applicability."},"complexity_factors":["Technical structural work (bulkhead reinforcements) requiring STC-level design and specialised repair.","Dependency on a single approved organisation (AIR MENUISERIE) to perform certain reinforcements, concentrating supply and costs.","Multiple concurrent actions before flight: AFM changes, placard installation, structural reinforcement, maintenance-program amendment, and re‑weighing/ balancing.","References to external documents and specific editions (AVA Service Bulletin Ed.1.2/1.3, AVA-STC-2006-01 Rev 01, EASA AD 2006-0211R1-E) creating document-version risk and cross-jurisdictional dependence.","Immediate compliance deadline ('before further flight') increasing operational disruption and scheduling pressure.","Introduction of repetitive inspections into approved maintenance programs increases ongoing compliance burden and operator recordkeeping.","Potential for differing interpretations of repair/reinforcement scope pending investigation findings, requiring engineering judgement.","Interplay between regulatory direction (AD) and operator-level maintenance program amendments creates administrative complexity for operators and regulators."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this AD requires every CAP 232 aircraft to receive specific AFM supplement updates, a cockpit limitation placard, structural reinforcements to bulkheads (installed under an AVA STC by the sole approved organisation), repetitive inspections added to the maintenance program, and a new weighing and balancing before any further flight. It affects aircraft owners/operators (who pay for repairs, STC work and inspections), assigns exclusive approval to AIR MENUISERIE for certain reinforcements, and implements measures prompted by an investigation and a related EASA AD to address in‑flight wing separation risk."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose: returning grounded CAP 232 aircraft to safe flight after a fatal structural failure. Amendment 1 simply updates the requirements to match a revised European directive (EASA AD), without expanding beyond the specific airworthiness issue (wing attachment bulkhead reinforcement)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to external technical documents (AVA Service Bulletin No. 2006-01 Ed. 1, Ed. 1.2, Ed. 1.3; AVA-STC-2006-01 Rev 01; EASA AD 2006-0211R1-E)","Specific technical requirements requiring specialist aviation engineering knowledge (bulkhead reinforcement, weighing and balancing, AFM supplements)","Single-source supplier restriction (AIR MENUISERIE as sole approved organisation)","Conditional sequencing of tasks (repairs 'after' reinforcement, weighing 'after' accomplishment of above requirements)","Mixture of one-time modifications and ongoing repetitive inspection requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"This mandatory CASA Airworthiness Directive grounds all CAP 232 aerobatic aircraft until specified safety actions are completed. Owners/operators must update the flight manual, install a cockpit warning placard, reinforce bulkheads No.1–3 using approved kits and repair stations, add recurring inspections, and re-weigh/re-balance the aeroplane. \n\nIssued after a catastrophic in‑flight wing separation in France, the AD affects anyone who owns, operates, or maintains CAP 232s in Australia and ensures structural weaknesses are fixed before return to flight."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-cap-232-12-amdt-1-return-to-flight-modification-reinforcement","history":"/api/acts/ad-cap-232-12-amdt-1-return-to-flight-modification-reinforcement/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-cap-232-12-amdt-1-return-to-flight-modification-reinforcement/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-cap-232-12-amdt-1-return-to-flight-modification-reinforcement/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-cap-232-12-amdt-1-return-to-flight-modification-reinforcement/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-cap-232-12-amdt-1-return-to-flight-modification-reinforcement/documents"}}