{"id":"F2006B09062","name":"AD/DHC-3/14 - Tailplane Fork Attachment Fitting","slug":"ad-dhc-3-14-tailplane-fork-attachment-fitting","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":52814,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09062-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/DHC-3/14 - Tailplane Fork Attachment Fitting","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  DHC-3 (Otter) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/DHC-3/14 Tailplane Fork Attachment Fitting NK\n\nApplicability: All models with S/Nos 2 to 253.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with De H Canada EB “O” No 47 Issue 2.\n\n \n\nNote: Canadian AD 58-4 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Forthwith.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, purpose-built Airworthiness Directive. It has not expanded beyond its original intent: to mandate a specific safety action for a defined aircraft fleet. The scope remains tightly focused on the tailplane fork attachment fitting issue for the specified serial numbers."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — only 6 substantive lines","No defined terms section; relies entirely on external technical references","Single, unambiguous compliance requirement ('Action in accordance with...')","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Cross-references only to external manufacturer bulletin and Canadian AD — no internal legislative cross-referencing"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners and operators of specific De Havilland Canada DHC-3 \"Otter\" aircraft to inspect or fix a problem with the **tailplane fork attachment fitting** — a critical structural component that connects the horizontal stabiliser (the small wings at the tail) to the aircraft fuselage.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All DHC-3 Otter aircraft with **serial numbers 2 through 253** — this covers most of this aircraft type ever built.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Operators must follow the instructions in **De Havilland Canada Engineering Bulletin \"O\" No. 47, Issue 2** — a technical document from the manufacturer specifying exactly what inspection or repair work is required.\n- The directive also references **Canadian AD 58-4**, indicating this requirement aligns with a similar safety order issued by Canadian aviation authorities.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- **\"Forthwith\"** means **immediately** — there is no grace period. This suggests a serious safety risk: if the tailplane attachment fails, the pilot could lose control of the aircraft.\n- This type of directive typically follows incidents, accidents, or discovery of structural fatigue/cracking that could lead to catastrophic failure.\n\n**In short:** If you own or operate one of these Otter aircraft, you must ground it or complete this specific safety inspection/repair right now before it can fly again."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The supplied text sets a targeted requirement for DHC-3 aircraft with serial numbers 2–253 and directs operators to the specified De H Canada Engineering Bulletin for required actions. The document itself contains no language indicating a change to that scope or a repeal/amendment of earlier applicability. Therefore, based on the text provided, there is no indication the scope has changed from the directive's apparent original intent (Applicability; Requirement)."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive with narrow applicability (Applicability: S/Nos 2–253).","Critical technical steps are not included in the text and are delegated to an external document (De H Canada EB \"O\" No 47 Issue 2) (Requirement), increasing practical complexity for operators who must locate and interpret the EB.","Immediate compliance requirement (Compliance: Forthwith) compresses time for operators to arrange inspections/repairs and to source parts or specialist labour.","Cross-reference to a foreign AD (Canadian AD 58-4) creates an additional documentary trail to follow (Note).","Lack of stated alternative compliance options or timelines in the AD text increases compliance rigidity (Compliance: Forthwith)."],"plain_english_summary":"The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued a mandatory airworthiness directive requiring owners/operators of De Havilland Canada DHC‑3 (Otter) aircraft serial numbers 2–253 to comply forthwith with the actions in De Havilland Canada Engineering Bulletin “O” No 47 Issue 2.  \n\nAffected operators bear the cost and must obtain and implement the EB immediately; the AD references Canadian AD 58‑4 for related context."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-3-14-tailplane-fork-attachment-fitting","history":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-3-14-tailplane-fork-attachment-fitting/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-3-14-tailplane-fork-attachment-fitting/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-3-14-tailplane-fork-attachment-fitting/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-3-14-tailplane-fork-attachment-fitting/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-3-14-tailplane-fork-attachment-fitting/documents"}}