{"id":"F2006B08739","name":"AD/DAUPHIN/28 - Front Passenger Door","slug":"ad-dauphin-28-front-passenger-door","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":51980,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B08739-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/DAUPHIN/28 - Front Passenger Door","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nEurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters\n\nAD/DAUPHIN/28 Front Passenger Door 4/91\n\nApplicability: Model SA 365N and N1 helicopters S/N 6220, 6229, 6306, 6310, 6315, 6324, 6340 and 6346 equipped with a partition between the cockpit and the VIP lounge.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of DGAC AD 91-022-029 (B).\n\nNote: Aerospatiale SA 365 SB 52-11 refers.\n\nCompliance: As specified in the Requirement Document but with a revised effectivity date of 18 April 1991 for Australian registered helicopters.\n\nBackground: The DGAC requires this directive to prevent the possible jettisoning of the front passenger door due to loading in the jettison linkage; caused by interference between the door covering and the partition. Effective date required by the DGAC is extended by 10 weeks.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical interference issue on a small fleet of helicopters. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of preventing door jettison failures on VIP-configured Dauphins."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 8 specific serial numbers affected — extremely narrow applicability","Single technical requirement: comply with external document DGAC AD 91-022-029(B)","No defined terms section — all language is operational/technical","No conditional logic or nested exceptions","Single compliance date with simple 10-week extension from original French deadline","Cross-reference to only two external documents (French DGAC directive and manufacturer service bulletin)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety order for aircraft. It applies to specific **Eurocopter Dauphin helicopters** (models SA 365N and N1 with serial numbers 6220, 6229, 6306, 6310, 6315, 6324, 6340 and 6346) that have a **partition wall between the cockpit and a VIP lounge**.\n\n**What the problem is:** The front passenger door on these helicopters has a design flaw. The partition can interfere with the door covering, which puts unexpected load on the emergency jettison (quick-release) linkage. This could cause the door to **accidentally detach in flight** — obviously catastrophic.\n\n**What must be done:** Operators must follow the technical instructions in a French aviation safety document (DGAC AD 91-022-029(B)), which is referenced rather than reproduced here. There's also a manufacturer service bulletin (Aerospatiale SB 52-11) that provides guidance.\n\n**When it must be done:** By **18 April 1991** for Australian-registered helicopters. This is 10 weeks later than the French authority originally required, giving Australian operators extra time to comply.\n\n**Who this affects:** Owners and operators of these specific Dauphin helicopters in Australia — likely charter services, emergency services, or VIP transport operators using these particular VIP-configured aircraft.\n\n**Why it matters:** An uncommanded door jettison at altitude could cause explosive decompression, damage to rotor systems, or injury to occupants. This AD prevents that by mandating a design fix before the door fails."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Australian directive adopts the DGAC technical requirements but changes the compliance timing: it sets an Australian effectivity date of 18 April 1991, which extends the DGAC’s required effective date by 10 weeks for Australian-registered helicopters. Otherwise the technical scope (models, serial numbers, and the requirement to address interference between door covering and partition) is adopted from the DGAC AD. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background)"},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to an external regulator’s technical directive (DGAC AD 91-022-029 (B)) rather than containing full technical steps internally (Requirement)","Applicability limited to specific serial numbers and a specific equipment fit (partition between cockpit and VIP lounge), requiring careful aircraft-by-aircraft applicability checks (Applicability)","Modification of the effective date for Australian-registered helicopters, creating a timing difference from the foreign authority’s directive (Compliance; Background)","No technical details or quantified compliance timelines in this text—implementers must obtain and interpret the referenced DGAC document (Requirement)","Reference note to an Aerospatiale service bulletin increases the number of documents practitioners must consult (Note)"],"plain_english_summary":"CASA requires specific Australian-registered Eurocopter SA 365N/N1 helicopters with a cockpit–VIP partition to follow DGAC AD 91-022-029(B) to remove an interference that can load the door jettison linkage and risk loss of the front passenger door. Owners/operators must obtain and implement the DGAC technical actions; the Australian compliance date is 18 April 1991, ten weeks later than the DGAC’s."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-28-front-passenger-door","history":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-28-front-passenger-door/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-28-front-passenger-door/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-28-front-passenger-door/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-28-front-passenger-door/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-28-front-passenger-door/documents"}}