{"id":"F2006B04882","name":"AD/CASA/25 - SPZ4500 Autopilot Actuators","slug":"ad-casa-25-spz4500-autopilot-actuators","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44689,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04882-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\nCasa 212 Series Aeroplanes","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/CASA/25 SPZ4500 Autopilot Actuators 8","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/CASA/25 SPZ4500 Autopilot Actuators 8/2004","content":"# AD/CASA/25 SPZ4500 Autopilot Actuators 8/2004\n\nApplicability: Model C-212-300 and \\-400 aeroplanes listed in EADS-CASA Service Bulletin (SB) 212-22-15 dated 16 July 2002.\n\nRequirement: Inspect and, if necessary modify, the SM-300 servomotors, installed as part of the SPZ4500 autopilot system, in accordance with SB 212-22-15. Honeywell Alert SB 7002260-22-A0013 (Pub No. A21-2001-024) dated 26 July 2001 also refers.\n\nNote: DGAC Spain AD 01-04 refers.\n\nCompliance: Within two months after the effective date of this Directive.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 5 August 2004.\n\nBackground: Honeywell has identified a series of actuators (servomotors) installed in the SPZ4500 autopilot system with screws in the clutch assembly, which may not be properly retained and might become loose. This could result in potential unsafe flight conditions. This Directive requires the suspect servomotors to be identified and, if necessary, modified.\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nJames Coyne\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 June 2004\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 July 2004.","sortOrder":1}],"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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD remains narrowly focused on the original safety issue identified by Honeywell: potentially loose screws in the clutch assembly of SM-300 servomotors used in the SPZ4500 autopilot on certain C-212 aircraft. It does not broaden obligations beyond inspecting and modifying the specified servomotors in accordance with the cited service bulletins, nor does it add new categories of aircraft, new components, or additional regulatory burdens beyond that corrective action."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-issue AD (one primary requirement: inspect and modify if necessary).","Applicability limited to two aircraft models (C-212-300 and -400) listed in a specific service bulletin.","Four external cross-references: EADS-CASA SB 212-22-15, Honeywell Alert SB 7002260-22-A0013, DGAC Spain AD 01-04, and CASR subregulation 39.1(1).","Single compliance deadline (within two months), no staged deadlines or rolling inspections.","No multiple nested exceptions or alternative compliance paths set out in the AD itself (technical detail is delegated to the service bulletins).","Relies on manufacturer procedures for the technical remedy, which introduces dependency on external documents but not complexity in the AD text."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does**\n\n- This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It orders a safety action for a specific autopilot component on a narrow set of aircraft.\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Operators and owners of EADS-CASA (CASA) 212 Series aeroplanes, specifically Model C-212-300 and C-212-400 aircraft listed in EADS-CASA Service Bulletin 212-22-15.\n- Maintenance organisations and technicians who service those aircraft.\n\n**What you must do (mechanics of the rule)**\n\n- Inspect the SM-300 servomotors that are part of the SPZ4500 autopilot system for a potential defect (loose or improperly retained screws in the clutch assembly).\n- If the inspection finds a problem, modify the servomotors in accordance with the instructions in EADS-CASA Service Bulletin 212-22-15 (and related Honeywell Alert Service Bulletin referenced).\n- Complete the inspection/modification within two months from the AD’s effective date.\n\n**Why CASA issued it (stated safety concern)**\n\n- Honeywell identified that some SM-300 servomotors in the SPZ4500 autopilot may have screws in the clutch assembly that are not properly retained and could come loose. Loose screws in that assembly could create an unsafe condition in flight.\n\n**Legal basis and enforcement mechanics**\n\n- The AD is issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR). That means CASA can require actions it considers necessary to correct an unsafe condition.\n- Failure to comply with an AD normally renders the aircraft non-compliant with airworthiness requirements and may lead to enforcement action, grounding, or prohibition of flight until compliance is achieved.\n\n**Practical effects, costs and operational impacts**\n\n- Who pays: aircraft operators pay for inspections, parts, labour, and any downtime required to carry out the modification.\n- Operational impact: each affected aircraft must be inspected and possibly modified within the two-month window. That creates short-term maintenance workload and aircraft downtime. Availability of qualified maintenance personnel and parts will determine how quickly operators can comply.\n- Dependence on manufacturer materials: the AD requires following the EADS-CASA service bulletin (and references a Honeywell alert). The AD delegates the technical details of the corrective action to those manufacturer documents, so operators must obtain and follow them.\n\n**Trade-offs, incentives and risks**\n\n- Concentrated costs: the direct costs fall on a small group of operators who fly the listed C-212 models; benefits (reduced mechanical failure risk) are concentrated to those same operators and the travelling public.\n- Implementation risk: if parts or skilled maintenance capacity are scarce, meeting the two-month deadline may be difficult and could increase aircraft downtime or scheduling disruption.\n- Enforcement incentive: CASA’s use of an AD creates a legal obligation; operators have a clear compliance trigger (two months) and a prescribed method (service bulletin), reducing ambiguity but also limiting operator flexibility to adopt alternative corrective actions unless approved.\n\n**Cross-references and provenance**\n\n- The AD relies on EADS-CASA Service Bulletin 212-22-15 (dated 16 July 2002) and refers to Honeywell Alert SB 7002260-22-A0013 (dated 26 July 2001). It also notes a related DGAC (Spain) airworthiness directive.\n\nSummary sentence: The directive requires operators of specified CASA 212-300/400 aircraft to inspect and, if required, modify SM-300 servomotors in the SPZ4500 autopilot within two months to address potentially loose clutch screws, with the work to be done in accordance with the cited manufacturer service bulletins."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, narrow Airworthiness Directive addressing a specific identified safety defect in specific aircraft models. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of correcting the unsafe condition described in the background section."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical requirement (inspect/modify specific part)","Only 2 aircraft models affected, clearly identified by reference to external service bulletin","No nested conditions or exceptions — straightforward 'inspect and modify if necessary' instruction","Simple compliance timeframe (within 2 months of effective date)","Minimal cross-referencing: only refers to 2 external technical documents (EADS-CASA SB and Honeywell Alert SB) plus a note about a Spanish aviation authority directive","No defined terms section — uses standard aviation terminology without legal definitions"],"plain_english_summary":"CASA has issued a legally binding Airworthiness Directive for CASA 212-300 and 212-400 aircraft after Honeywell found clutch screws in SM-300 servomotors (used in the SPZ4500 autopilot) may work loose. Owners, operators and maintenance organisations must inspect and, if required, modify the servomotors per Service Bulletin 212-22-15 within two months of 5 August 2004. The measure prevents unpredictable autopilot failure and renders affected aircraft unlawful to operate in Australia if not complied with."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-casa-25-spz4500-autopilot-actuators","history":"/api/acts/ad-casa-25-spz4500-autopilot-actuators/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-casa-25-spz4500-autopilot-actuators/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-casa-25-spz4500-autopilot-actuators/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-casa-25-spz4500-autopilot-actuators/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-casa-25-spz4500-autopilot-actuators/documents"}}