{"id":"F2014L01167","name":"AD/DH 60/9 Amdt 1 - Lateral Fuselage Tie Rods - Removal and Replacement","slug":"ad-dh-60-9-amdt-1-lateral-fuselage-tie-rods-removal-and-replacement","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":92229,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2014L01167-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"DH 60 (Moth) Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"DH 60 (Moth) Series Aeroplanes","content":"### DH 60 (Moth) Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/DH 60/9 Amdt 1 | Lateral Fuselage Tie Rods - Removaland Replacement | 18/2014 |\n| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to all variants of DH 60 series aircraft. |\n| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Definitions | In this AD acceptable tie rods in relation to lateral tie rods and nuts, means one of the following:(a) manufactured for DHSL. These tie rods are identified by the Part Number H 25487 marked on the rod in ink, with DHSL engraved on one exposed end of the rod and a serial number engraved on the other end. The Part Number for the tie rod nuts is H 25486;(b) original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tie rods and nuts manufactured by de Havilland, Morris Motors or de Havilland (Australia);(c) manufactured by Bruntons Aero Products Ltd of the United Kingdom (UK);(d) produced by HG Aerospace Engineering Ltd of the UK.DHSL means de Havilland Support Ltd. |\n| Requirements: | 1. Suspend all aerobatic flight.2. Confirm provenance of lateral tie rods fitted to the aircraft.(a) If the lateral tie rods are acceptable, no further action is required by this AD.(b) If the lateral tie rods and attaching nuts were produced by J&R Aerospace or are not acceptable, remove and destroy the tie rods. Replace with tie rods and nuts that are acceptable in accordance with the accomplishment instructions in British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3 or later approved revision. Replacement lateral tie rods and nuts, especially part-life items previously removed from an aircraft, must be substantiated with relevant Authorised Release Certificates and details of previous life consumed. |\n\n| Compliance: | 1. The action in Requirement 1 must be taken on the effective date of this AD. Aerobatic flight can only recommence once acceptable lateral tie rods are confirmed to be fitted to the aircraft.2. The action in Requirement 2 must be taken within 10 flight hours of the effective date of this AD. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| | The effective date of this AD is 28 August 2014. |\n| Background: | A recent in-flight break-up of a Tiger Moth DH 82A aircraft off South Stradbroke Island on 16 December 2013 has highlighted the risk associated with fatigue cracking leading to failure of lateral tie rods. The lateral fuselage tie rods on a Tiger Moth are a safety-critical component. The accident report revealed that both tie rods were Australian-manufactured J&R Aerospace JRA-776-1 parts.The JRA-776-4 parts that are authorised for the DH 60M series aircraft had been subject to the same manufacturing process as the JRA-776-1 parts.All Moth variant aircraft lateral tie rods currently have a retirement life of 2,000 flight hours or 18 years, whichever occurs first, as detailed in British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 and mandated by CASA AD/DH60/4.The lateral tie rods fitted to the accident aircraft were fitted as newly-manufactured items in 2006 and had accumulated 1,300 hours in service at the time of the accident.In addition to the design and manufacturing aspects, the initiation and propagation of lateral tie rod fatigue cracking can be strongly influenced by aircraft utilisation and operational events that generate elevated rod loads. Aerobatic flight, flight in turbulent or adverse weather, heavy or rough landings and other undercarriage trauma could all prove contributory. The accident aircraft had been frequently used for aerobatic activities since the JRA-776-1 lateral tie rods were fitted.This AD is issued to mandate the removal from service of lateral tie rods and nuts that are not defined as acceptable.This AD is reissued due to an administrative problem with the tabling of the earlier version and to correct an error in the relevant company’s title name. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nNicholas Ward \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n28 August 2014","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/DH 60/9 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/DH 60/9 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/DH 60/9 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Lateral Fuselage Tie Rods - Removaland R","sectionType":"part","heading":"Lateral Fuselage Tie Rods - Removaland Replacement","content":"## Lateral Fuselage Tie Rods - Removal \nand Replacement","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"18/2014","sectionType":"part","heading":"18/2014","content":"## 18/2014","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The reissue corrects administrative/tabling matters and a company-name error but does not alter the AD's substantive measures. The directive still applies to all DH 60 variants, suspends aerobatics until acceptable lateral tie rods are fitted, and mandates removal/replacement of non-acceptable rods per CT (Moth) No.29 (Background; Requirements; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Immediate suspension of aerobatic flight effective on the AD date — creates time pressure (Requirements; Compliance).","Provenance verification requirement — must identify part numbers, serials and manufacturer marks (Definitions).","Multiple acceptable manufacturers listed, requiring owners to compare parts against a defined list (Definitions).","Replacement standard ties to a separate technical document (British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No.29) — cross-reference dependency (Requirements).","Short compliance window (within 10 flight hours) increases logistical burden on operators (Compliance).","Requirement to destroy unacceptable parts and to substantiate re-used part-life with Authorised Release Certificates — recordkeeping and certification burden (Requirements).","Applicability to all DH 60 variants widens scope of affected aircraft (Applicability).","Safety-critical nature tied to an accident investigation increases enforcement priority and operational constraints (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, the AD immediately suspends aerobatic flight and requires owners/operators of all DH 60 Moth variants to confirm the provenance of lateral fuselage tie rods, removing and destroying any not listed as “acceptable” and replacing them per British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No.29 (Requirements; Compliance; Definitions). The AD says this follows an in‑flight break‑up linked to fatigue cracking of J&R-manufactured rods (Background). Owners pay for inspection, replacement and certification, must comply within 10 flight hours, and provide Authorised Release Certificates for replacements."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original scope as a targeted airworthiness directive responding to a specific safety-of-flight issue with J&R Aerospace manufactured tie rods. The amendment corrects only administrative errors (tabling issues and company name) without expanding the substantive requirements or applicability."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical component addressed (lateral fuselage tie rods)","Only 4 defined terms in the interpretation section ('acceptable tie rods', 'DHSL', plus implicit OEM references)","Clear binary decision tree: check provenance → if unacceptable, remove and replace","Two simple compliance deadlines: immediate (Requirement 1) and 10 flight hours (Requirement 2)","Cross-reference to one external technical document (British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3)","No nested exceptions or conditional sub-clauses beyond the acceptable/unacceptable distinction","Administrative reissue noted but does not affect substantive requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA safety order immediately bans aerobatic flying in DH 60 Moth series aircraft until operators confirm their lateral fuselage tie rods are safe. Owners must inspect markings and paperwork within 10 flight hours and remove and destroy any tie rods made by J&R Aerospace or other non‑approved sources, fitting approved replacements. Prompted by a 2013 fatal in‑flight breakup caused by fatigue failure of Australian-made tie rods, the directive affects vintage Moth owners, warbird operators and training schools."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-dh-60-9-amdt-1-lateral-fuselage-tie-rods-removal-and-replacement","history":"/api/acts/ad-dh-60-9-amdt-1-lateral-fuselage-tie-rods-removal-and-replacement/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-dh-60-9-amdt-1-lateral-fuselage-tie-rods-removal-and-replacement/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-dh-60-9-amdt-1-lateral-fuselage-tie-rods-removal-and-replacement/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-dh-60-9-amdt-1-lateral-fuselage-tie-rods-removal-and-replacement/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-dh-60-9-amdt-1-lateral-fuselage-tie-rods-removal-and-replacement/documents"}}