{"id":"F2006B05294","name":"AD/CESSNA 207/34 Amdt 1 - Horizontal Stabilizer Front Spar","slug":"ad-cessna-207-34-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-front-spar","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":45700,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05294-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/CESSNA 207/34 Amdt 1 - Horizontal Stabilizer Front Spar","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\nOn the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CESSNA 207/34 and issues the following 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\nCessna 207 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/CESSNA 207/34\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nHorizontal Stabilizer Front Spar 9/2004\n\nApplicability: All models of Cessna 207 aircraft.\n\nRequirement: Visually inspect the front and rear faces of horizontal stabilizer front spar assembly centre section for cracks around the cut-out in the front spar web. Refer to Figure 1 below. Any cracks in the front spar web must be repaired before further flight, and a defect report must be submitted.\n\nNote 1: Access can be achieved by the removal of the fillet fairing. The front face of the front spar is easily seen. The rear face may be seen via a hole in the upper surface of the horizontal stabilizer using an inspection mirror and torch.\n\nNote 2: This inspection may require some experimenting with lights and mirrors to obtain some certainty in the results of the inspection. The inspection would be much easier to conduct with the use of a borescope.\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\nFigure 1\n\nCessna 207 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/CESSNA 207/34 Amdt 1 (continued)\n\nCompliance: a. For aircraft with less than 10000 hours time in service, inspect before exceeding 10000 hours total time in service, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 110 hours time in service.\n\nb. For aircraft with 10000 or more hours time in service, inspect before 18 March 2002, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 110 hours time in service.\n\nBackground: Reports have been received of cracking of the horizontal stabilizer front spar on Australian registered Cessna 210s. Both front and rear spars must be serviceable for the horizontal stabilizer to carry ultimate load. The front spar forms part of the horizontal stabilizer’s primary load path, and loss of strength in this area could be catastrophic. As the 207 and 210 have similar horizontal stabilizer design, the same in service cracking may also occur on the Cessna 207 aircraft.\n\nIt should be noted that this Airworthiness Directive mandates an inspection requirement already stated in the manufacturer’s maintenance data.\n\nAmendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive is issued to increase the recurrent compliance interval from 100 hours to 110 hours time in service to allow the inspections required by this Airworthiness Directive to be aligned with scheduled maintenance.\n\n![](image.003.png)  \n\nDavid Villiers\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 July 2004\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 August 2004.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD's applicability remains all Cessna 207 models (Applicability). The substantive obligations — inspect for cracks, repair before flight, and report defects — are unchanged; Amendment 1 only lengthens the recurrent inspection interval from 100 to 110 hours to better align with scheduled maintenance (Background/Amendment)."},"complexity_factors":["Clear, narrow technical requirement limited to a specific structural location (Requirement).","Mandatory repair-before-further-flight plus compulsory defect reporting increases immediate operational impact and administrative burden (Requirement).","Access methods vary and may require equipment or disassembly (Note 1: fillet fairing removal; Note 2: borescope recommendation).","Two compliance triggers based on total time-in-service and a fixed date create bifurcated timing rules (Compliance a & b).","Recurrent interval adjustment from 100 to 110 hours (Background/Amendment) changes maintenance scheduling but not action scope.","Directive revokes the previous AD and is issued under CASR subregulation 39.1(1), creating regulatory force for the inspection (introductory paragraph).","Background links observed cracking on Cessna 210 to potential risk on 207s, supplying the safety rationale without adding new corrective measures beyond inspection (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires all Cessna 207 owners/operators to inspect the front and rear faces of the horizontal stabilizer front-spar centre section for cracks around the cut‑out, repair any cracks before further flight, and submit a defect report. It describes access options (fillet fairing removal, mirror/torch or borescope) and sets initial and recurrent inspection timing. The recurrent interval was increased from 100 to 110 hours to align inspections with scheduled maintenance, so operators and maintenance organisations bear inspection and repair costs."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The amendment makes a minor administrative adjustment (changing 100 to 110 hours) to align with maintenance schedules. The core scope—inspecting Cessna 207 horizontal stabilizers for cracks—remains unchanged from the original directive."},"complexity_factors":["Single, clearly defined applicability (all Cessna 207 models)","One primary requirement with two sub-paragraphs (visual inspection and repair/reporting)","Simple binary compliance structure based on flight hours (under/over 10,000 hours)","Only one amendment changing a single number (100 to 110 hours)","No defined terms section, no cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulation (CASR 1998 subreg 39.1(1))","Straightforward conditional logic (if cracks found → repair before flight + report)","Includes practical guidance notes (Notes 1 and 2) rather than legal caveats"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires Cessna 207 owners/operators to inspect the horizontal stabilizer front spar for cracks in the web area. It responds to similar cracking seen on Cessna 210s and aims to prevent catastrophic tail failure.\n\nInspections must be done regularly (now aligned to 110‑hour maintenance intervals) and any cracks repaired before flight, with defect reports submitted. Access is via fairing removal, mirrors/torches, or preferably a borescope."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-207-34-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-front-spar","history":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-207-34-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-front-spar/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-207-34-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-front-spar/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-207-34-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-front-spar/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-207-34-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-front-spar/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-207-34-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-front-spar/documents"}}