{"id":"F2014L01088","name":"AD/DH 82/18 — Inspection of Wooden Structure","slug":"ad-dh-82-18-inspection-of-wooden-structure","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":92169,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2014L01088-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes","content":"### DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/DH 82/18 | Inspection of Wooden Structure | 17/2014 |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------ | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | This AD applies to all variants of DH 82 and DH 82A aircraft.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Definitions:   | In this AD:DHSL means de Havilland Support Ltd.TNS means DHSL Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 32, Issue 3, dated 1 December 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Suspend all aerobatic flight.2. Unless previously accomplished:(a) install all inspection rings and drainage provisions in accordance with the provisions of Figure 3 of Appendix G of the TNS;(b) gain access to the internal structure by removing all ‘pop-in’ panels, or otherwise cut away the fabric from inside inspection rings to facilitate access to the entire internal wooden structure;(c) perform a detailed inspection of the internal wooden structure in accordance with the inspection criteria provided at Appendix B, paragraph 6 ‘Inspection Content’ of the TNS;(d) remove all unserviceable wooden structure from service, or conduct repairs in accordance with approved data.3. Report all defects discovered to CASA via the Service Difficulty Reporting System. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. The action in Requirement 1 must be taken within two weeks of the effective date of this AD. Aerobatic flight can only recommence once the airworthiness of the wooden structure of the wings and empennage has been established in accordance with Requirement 2 of this AD.2. The actions in Requirement 2 must be taken:(a) for aircraft used for commercial purposes prescribed in regulation 206 of CAR 1988 – by 30 October 2014,(b) for all other aircraft – by the end of 31 December 2015.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |\n\n|             | The actions in Requirement 2 must be repeated at the earlier of the following:(i) every 200 hours;(ii) within 36 months of the previous inspection;(iii) in the event of a ground strike, birdstrike or any other wing strike of sufficient magnitude to leave witness marks on the fabric covering, or otherwise obvious damage to a wing. In the case of such an event, both the top and bottom wings are to be inspected on the side of the aircraft where the impact occurred.3. The action in Requirement 3 must be taken in accordance with Part 4B – Defect Reporting of CAR 1988. |\n| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n|             | The effective date of this AD is 14 August 2014.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |\n| Background: | This AD ensures the requirement to conduct visual inspections of the entire internal wooden structure of the aircraft’s flying surfaces to ensure the continued airworthiness of all variants of DH 82 and DH 82A aircraft.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nNicholas Ward  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n11 August 2014","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/DH 82/18","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/DH 82/18","content":"## AD/DH 82/18","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Inspection of Wooden Structure","sectionType":"part","heading":"Inspection of Wooden Structure","content":"## Inspection of Wooden Structure","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"17/2014","sectionType":"part","heading":"17/2014","content":"## 17/2014","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — mandating specific inspections for a single aircraft type (DH 82 Tiger Moth). It has not expanded beyond its initial safety purpose of ensuring wooden structural integrity in these vintage aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 defined terms (DHSL and TNS)","Single-purpose document with clear sequential requirements (Requirements 1, 2, 3)","Simple conditional logic limited to two compliance deadlines based on commercial vs non-commercial use","Cross-reference to external technical document (TNS) rather than embedding all technical specifications","Repetition requirements use straightforward 'earlier of' formula with three clear triggers","No nested exceptions or complex definitional chains","Length is approximately 1 page of substantive content"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD orders owners and operators of DH 82/DH 82A Tiger Moth aircraft in Australia to inspect the wooden internal structure of wings and tails for damage or decay, stop aerobatic manoeuvres until inspections are done, and remove/repair and report any rotten or damaged wood. It also requires recurring checks and inspections after hard landings or impacts.\n\nIt matters because these vintage fabric-covered, wooden airframes can hide rot that risks in-flight structural failure, so the rule preserves safety while enabling continued operation."},"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD enforces and specifies inspection, access, repair and reporting requirements for internal wooden flying surfaces of all DH 82/82A aircraft, consistent with the Background statement that it ensures visual inspection of internal wooden structure. It does not broaden applicability beyond those variants; it sets procedural and timing requirements rather than altering the class of affected aircraft (Applicability; Background; Requirements; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple, staggered compliance deadlines: immediate 2‑week action for aerobatics suspension (Requirement 1 & Compliance 1), earlier date for commercial operators and later date for others (Compliance 2(a),(b)).","Recurring inspection triggers and intervals: every 200 flight hours OR within 36 months OR after ground/bird/wing strikes that leave witness marks (Compliance continuation).","Technical access and modification work required: installation of inspection rings and drainage, removal of 'pop‑in' panels or cutting fabric to expose internal wooden structure (Requirement 2(a),(b)).","Detailed inspection criteria and repair standardised to external technical document (DHSL TNS Appendix B) — inspections and repairs must follow that approved data (Requirement 2(c),(d)).","Mandatory defect reporting and regulatory linkage: all defects must be reported to CASA via Service Difficulty Reporting System and in accordance with CAR 1988 Part 4B (Requirement 3 & Compliance 3).","Operational restriction conditional on inspection outcome: aerobatic flight may only recommence after airworthiness of wooden structures is established (Requirement 1 & Compliance 1).","Ambiguity/administrative discretion risk: repairs permitted 'in accordance with approved data' creates dependence on availability and interpretation of approved repair data and DHSL TNS guidance (Requirement 2(d)).","Wide applicability increases administrative reach: applies to all variants of DH 82 and DH 82A (Applicability)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires immediate suspension of aerobatic flight for all DH 82 and DH 82A Tiger Moth aircraft and mandates installation of inspection rings/drainage, removal of fabric to access internal wooden wing and empennage structure, detailed inspections to DHSL TNS criteria, repair or removal of unserviceable wooden parts, and mandatory reporting of defects to CASA. Owners/operators pay for inspections, installations and repairs; commercial operators face earlier deadlines. Inspections must be repeated by hours, time, or after impact; aerobatics may resume only after airworthiness is confirmed."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-dh-82-18-inspection-of-wooden-structure","history":"/api/acts/ad-dh-82-18-inspection-of-wooden-structure/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-dh-82-18-inspection-of-wooden-structure/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-dh-82-18-inspection-of-wooden-structure/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-dh-82-18-inspection-of-wooden-structure/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-dh-82-18-inspection-of-wooden-structure/documents"}}