{"id":"F2006B08763","name":"AD/DAUPHIN/51 - Ferry Fuel Tanks","slug":"ad-dauphin-51-ferry-fuel-tanks","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":52040,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B08763-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.002.png)\n\n![](image.002.png)  \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 CAR 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.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/DAUPHIN/51 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/DAUPHIN/51 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM","content":"# AD/DAUPHIN/51 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM\n\nApplicability: SA 360 C, SA 365 C, C1, C2 ,C3, AS 365 N, N1, N2 and N3 helicopters, metal ferry fuel tanks, part number 330A 871310.00, .01, .02, .03 and .04.\n\nRequirement: 1. For installed metal ferry fuel tanks \\- Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex SA 360 C/365 C No\n\n28.07 and AS 365 N No 28.00.28 both dated 6 June 2000 as applicable.\n\n2. For metal ferry fuel tanks that are not installed \\- Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex SA 360 C/365 C No 28.07 and AS 365 N No 28.00.28 both dated 6 June 2000 as applicable.\n\nNote: DGAC AD 2000-302(A).\n\nCompliance: For Requirement 1 \\- Before the next refuelling of the ferry fuel tank after the effective date of this Directive.\n\nFor Requirement 2 - Before installation of the ferry fuel tank. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 26 July 2000.\n\nBackground: The French Direction Generale de L’Aviation Civile has advised that an electrostatic ground connector on several ferry fuel tanks was not electrically bonded to its support. During refuelling of a tank, the absence of this electrical bonding could generate an electrical arc between the refuelling nozzle of the tanker and the fuel tank causing the fuel tank to explode.\n\n![Signature of Eugene Paul Holzapfel Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority](image.003.png)  \n\nEugene Paul Holzapfel\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 18 July 2000\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 July 2000.","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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Airworthiness Directive maintains its original narrow scope—addressing a specific safety defect in specific helicopter fuel tanks. There is no evidence of scope creep; it targets exactly the unsafe condition described in the background (electrical bonding failure) with precisely defined applicability."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 300 words)","Only 4 defined applicability criteria (helicopter models and part numbers)","Simple two-part requirement structure (installed vs. not installed)","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulation (CAR 1998 subreg 39.1(1))","Single compliance deadline with clear trigger events","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Straightforward technical reference to Eurocopter Service Telex documents"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA safety order requires owners/operators of certain Eurocopter Dauphin helicopters using specific metal ferry fuel tanks (part numbers ending .310.00–.04) to correct a faulty electrostatic ground connector so the tank is properly bonded to its support. \n\nIf the tank is installed it must be fixed before the next refuelling after 26 July 2000; if not installed, it must be fixed before installation. The fix prevents static-discharge explosions during refuelling."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD addresses a narrowly defined unsafe condition (missing electrical bonding of a specific electrostatic ground connector on certain metal ferry fuel tanks). It does not broaden the regulatory scope beyond that safety fix: the directive prescribes a single corrective action (electrical bonding per manufacturer telex) for specifically listed part numbers and aircraft types. There is no evidence in this text that the AD expanded into unrelated matters or beyond the original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-issue directive focused on one corrective action (electrical bonding).","Narrow applicability: specific helicopter models and five specific tank part numbers listed in the Applicability section.","Two near-identical requirements (installed vs not installed) with different compliance triggers.","Dependence on external technical documents: references to paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex SA 360 C/365 C No 28.07 and AS 365 N No 28.00.28 (both dated 6 June 2000).","Simple compliance timing rules (before next refuelling for installed tanks; before installation for spare tanks).","Minimal cross-references (only a note to DGAC AD 2000-302(A))."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does (mechanically)**\n\n- Requires that certain metal ferry fuel tanks for specified Eurocopter helicopter models be electrically bonded (i.e. electrically connected to their support structure so they cannot carry a different static charge).  (See \"Applicability\" and \"Requirement\".)\n- For tanks already installed on an aircraft: the bonding must be done in accordance with paragraph C.C of the referenced Eurocopter Service Telex (SA 360 C/365 C No 28.07 or AS 365 N No 28.00.28) before the tank is next refuelled after the directive’s effective date. (Requirement 1; Compliance.)\n- For spare tanks that are not yet installed: the bonding must be done in accordance with the same paragraph of the Service Telex before the tank is installed. (Requirement 2; Compliance.)\n- The instruction points maintenance staff to the manufacturer’s Service Telex for the technical bonding procedure. (Requirement 1 and 2.)\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Owners, operators and maintenance organisations of the following helicopters fitted with the specified metal ferry fuel tanks (part numbers 330A871310.00/.01/.02/.03/.04): SA 360 C; SA 365 C, C1, C2, C3; AS 365 N, N1, N2, N3. (Applicability.)\n- Aircraft maintainers and certifying staff who must carry out or supervise the electrical bonding and record compliance.\n\n**Why it matters (official rationale and safety mechanism)**\n\n- The French aviation authority reported that the electrostatic ground connector on several ferry fuel tanks was not electrically bonded to its support. Without this bond, refuelling can allow charge build-up and an electrical arc between the tanker nozzle and the tank; an arc could ignite fuel vapour and cause an explosion. The directive’s stated purpose is to eliminate that unsafe condition by ensuring the bonding is present. (Background.)\n\n**Practical effects, costs and who decides**\n\n- Who pays: the aircraft owner/operator pays for the inspection and bonding work, plus any associated labour and aircraft downtime. If a third-party maintainer does the work, their labour charge applies.\n- Who decides how it’s done: the directive mandates compliance with the manufacturer’s Service Telex paragraph C.C; maintenance organisations must follow that technical procedure. If clarification is needed, maintainers would normally contact the aircraft manufacturer or certifying authority.\n- Behavioural change required: operators must not refuel a ferry tank after the effective date until the tank is electrically bonded (installed tanks), and maintainers must bond any spare tanks before installing them. Maintenance records should reflect compliance.\n\n**Costs, incentives and trade-offs**\n\n- Direct costs are primarily labour and minimal materials to make the electrical bond, plus possible brief aircraft out-of-service time (compliance is required before next refuelling or before installation). The directive does not require tank removal unless the Service Telex procedure calls for it.\n- The directive reduces the risk of catastrophic fuel-tank ignition at the expense of a small, one-off maintenance cost and scheduling impact. For operators with many ferry tanks or frequent ferry operations, cumulative labour and scheduling costs are larger.\n- There is little scope for private choice to ignore the directive if the operator wants to maintain airworthiness certification: compliance is a condition of continuing to operate the affected tanks legally.\n\n**Implementation and compliance risk**\n\n- The AD depends on an external technical document (Eurocopter Service Telex). If that telex is unclear or unavailable, maintainers may need manufacturer clarification; that can delay compliance or create inconsistent practices unless resolved.\n- Verification typically occurs through maintenance entries and release-to-service procedures; incorrect bonding or incomplete records would be detectable in maintenance audits.\n\n**Scope and limits**\n\n- The directive applies only to the listed helicopter models and the listed metal ferry fuel tank part numbers. It does not impose broader changes to fuel system design or to non-metal tanks or tanks with different part numbers."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-51-ferry-fuel-tanks","history":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-51-ferry-fuel-tanks/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-51-ferry-fuel-tanks/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-51-ferry-fuel-tanks/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-51-ferry-fuel-tanks/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-51-ferry-fuel-tanks/documents"}}