{"id":"F2006B08767","name":"AD/DAUPHIN/55 Amdt 1 - Tail Rotor Pitch Change Control Rods","slug":"ad-dauphin-55-amdt-1-tail-rotor-pitch-change-control-rods","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":52049,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B08767-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/DAUPHIN/55 Amdt 1 - Tail Rotor Pitch Change Control Rods","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/DAUPHIN/55 and issues the following 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.\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nEurocopter SA-360 & SA-365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters\n\nAD/DAUPHIN/55\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nTail Rotor Pitch Change Control Rods 11/2002\n\nDM\n\nApplicability: Model AS 365 N3 helicopters equipped with tail rotor pitch change control rods, part number 365A33-6161-21, installed on a “quiet” fenestron (post MOD 0764B39 or in compliance with Eurocopter AS 365 Service Bulletin No. 64.00.21).\n\nRequirement: 1. The service life of affected tail rotor pitch change control rods (control rods) is limited to 300 total flight hours, with the following temporary actions to be taken for in-service control rods.\n\n    Control rods with 700 total flight hours or more must be discarded before further flight.\n\n    b. Control rods with 500 total flight hours or more must be discarded within the next 20 flight hours.\n\n    c. Control rods with 270 total flight hours or more must be discarded within the next 30 flight hours.\n\n2. Retire from service, affected pitch change rods part number 365A33-6161-21 in accordance with paragraph 2.B. of Eurocopter AS365 N Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.55.\n\nNote: DGAC AD 2002-472-057(A) refers.\n\nCompliance: For Requirements 1.a., 1.b., and 1.c.: Effective from 3 October 2001.\n\nFor Requirement 2: Effective from 31 October 2002.\n\nThe compliance times remain unchanged for Requirements 1.a., 1.b., and 1.c; (previously Requirements 1, 2, and 3 at original AD issue).\n\nThis Amendment becomes effective on 25 September 2002.\n\nBackground: This Directive is issued in response to a DGAC AD which was prompted by a tail rotor pitch change control rod failure that occurred on a prototype helicopter.\n\nEurocopter SA-360 & SA-365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters\n\nAD/DAUPHIN/55 Amdt 1 (continued)\n\nAmendment 1 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which introduces a retirement time for affected tail rotor pitch change rods.\n\nThe original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 3 October 2001.\n\n![Signature of David Charles Punshon Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority](image.002.png)  \n\nDavid Charles Punshon\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 19 September 2002\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 September 2002.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 adds a formal retirement time for affected tail rotor pitch change control rods and a mandatory retire-from-service action (Requirement 2, effective 31 October 2002). The amendment revokes the original AD and keeps the earlier staged discard timings unchanged (Requirements 1.a–1.c; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical applicability — limited to AS365 N3 helicopters with control rods part number 365A33-6161-21 installed on a “quiet” fenestron (Applicability).","Time-based retirement and staged discard schedule with multiple hour brackets (Requirements 1.a–1.c) creating operational tracking and maintenance planning burdens.","Cross-reference to manufacturer instructions — mandatory retirement in accordance with Eurocopter AS365 N Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.55 (Requirement 2).","Multiple effective/compliance dates (Compliance) and an amendment that revokes the prior AD, requiring operators to reconcile earlier actions with the amendment.","Safety-critical part replacement implies direct costs to operators and potential aircraft downtime (Requirement/Compliance).","Regulatory provenance and enforcement under CAR 1998 subregulation 39.1(1) — administrative discretion in issuing and revoking the AD is central to implementation."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of Eurocopter AS365 N3 helicopters fitted with specific tail rotor pitch change control rods (p/n 365A33-6161-21 on a “quiet” fenestron) to retire those rods at 300 total flight hours and to follow a staged discard timetable for in-service rods; it also mandates removal in accordance with a Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin. Operators pay for replacements and must meet specified compliance dates (Requirements 1–2; Compliance). The AD revokes the earlier directive."},"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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose — addressing unsafe tail rotor pitch change control rods on specific Dauphin helicopter models. Amendment 1 adds a permanent retirement requirement (Requirement 2) to the existing flight-hour limits, but this is a natural evolution of the same safety issue rather than scope creep. The directive has not expanded to cover additional aircraft types, parts, or unrelated safety concerns."},"complexity_factors":["Single, clearly defined applicability (one helicopter model, one part number, specific modification status)","Straightforward conditional logic based on flight hours (three clear thresholds with corresponding actions)","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to Eurocopter service bulletin and French DGAC AD for background)","Short document (approximately 400 words) with clear section headers","Two distinct effective dates for different requirements, but clearly labeled","No nested exceptions or complex defined terms"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates owners/operators of Eurocopter SA-360/SA-365 (notably AS 365 N3) with tail rotor pitch control rod P/N 365A33-6161-21 on \"quiet\" fenestron tails to limit those rods to 300 total flight hours and to remove rods immediately or within short hour windows if already beyond 700, 500, or 270 hours. It requires permanent retirement per Eurocopter service instructions. The AD responds to a prototype rod failure that could cause loss of tail-rotor control and a catastrophic accident."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-55-amdt-1-tail-rotor-pitch-change-control-rods","history":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-55-amdt-1-tail-rotor-pitch-change-control-rods/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-55-amdt-1-tail-rotor-pitch-change-control-rods/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-55-amdt-1-tail-rotor-pitch-change-control-rods/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-55-amdt-1-tail-rotor-pitch-change-control-rods/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-dauphin-55-amdt-1-tail-rotor-pitch-change-control-rods/documents"}}