{"id":"F2005L01039","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/105 Amdt 1 - BREEZE Hoist Hooks","slug":"ad-ecureuil-105-amdt-1-breeze-hoist-hooks","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":34578,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L01039-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Heli","sectionType":"division","heading":"Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters","content":"### Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters\n\n| AD/ECUREUIL/105 Amdt 1 | BREEZE Hoist Hooks | 6/2005 |\n| ---------------------- | ------------------ | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Model AS 350 B, BA, B1, B2, B3, BB, and D helicopters, equipped with Breeze hoists fitted with hook assembly part number BL-7520-01; with hook part number BL-7520.Note: The affected hook is not fitted with a tongue locking system.                                                                                                                                                               |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Accomplish the operational procedure, and the restriction prohibiting the use of straps, in accordance with the instructions specified in paragraph 2.A. of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.56.2. Accomplish the instructions specified in paragraph 2.B. of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.56.Note: DGAC AD F-2004-170 R1 refers.                                       |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Before each hoisting operation.2. Within 2 months after 10 November 2004.The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 9 June 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n| Background:    | This Directive was prompted by a case of incorrect positioning of the strap on the hoist hook during a hoisting operation, which led to distortion of the tongue and resulted in the release of the stretcher.Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD, which converts the Requirement document to an Alert Service Bulletin; with no change to the technical content. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n27 April 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/105 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/105 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/ECUREUIL/105 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"BREEZE Hoist Hooks","sectionType":"part","heading":"BREEZE Hoist Hooks","content":"## BREEZE Hoist Hooks","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"6/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"6/2005","content":"## 6/2005","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":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Amendment 1 does not broaden the Directive's substantive scope. It updates the form of the Requirement to cite Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin material (converting the requirement document to an ASB reference) in line with a related DGAC AD revision, but states explicitly that there is no change to the technical content. The safety population and required actions remain the same (Applicability; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrow applicability: specific helicopter models and a single hoist assembly/hook part number.","One main operational requirement (perform procedure and prohibit straps) referenced to two Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins (paragraphs 2.A and 2.B).","Two compliance timings (before each hoisting operation; within 2 months after 10 November 2004).","Minimal technical content change in Amendment (conversion to Alert Service Bulletin reference).","No extensive defined-terms section, no layered exceptions, and limited cross-references (only to Eurocopter ASB and DGAC AD)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically):**\n\n- Requires operators of certain Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil helicopters to follow a specific operational procedure and to stop using straps on a particular Breeze hoist hook assembly (hook PN BL-7520 fitted via assembly PN BL-7520-01). (Requirement)\n- Requires the checks and the prohibition on using straps to be done before each hoisting operation; and required that the procedure also be accomplished within two months after 10 November 2004. The Amendment took effect on 9 June 2005. (Compliance)\n\n**Who is affected:**\n\n- Owners and operators of Eurocopter AS 350 B, BA, B1, B2, B3, BB and D helicopters that are fitted with the Breeze hoist assembly PN BL-7520-01 and the associated hook PN BL-7520. The hook specified does not have a tongue locking system (Applicability).\n- Pilots, hoist crew and maintenance personnel who prepare and carry out hoisting operations on those helicopters.\n\n**Why it matters (stated reason and technical change):**\n\n- The directive was prompted by an incident in which a strap was positioned incorrectly on the hoist hook, distorting the hook tongue and causing a stretcher to be released during a hoisting operation. The rule implements an operational procedure and bans the use of straps on the affected hook to reduce the chance of this happening again. (Background)\n\n**How it works in practice (who pays, who decides, what changes):**\n\n- Who pays: helicopter operators bear the cost — time for training, pre-hoist checks and any procedural documentation or oversight required to ensure compliance. If operators need to modify equipment based on the referenced Alert Service Bulletin (ASB), there could be additional maintenance costs. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Who decides: the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (via its delegate) issued the Directive; the detailed steps to comply are taken from Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.56.2 (paragraph 2.A) and No. 01.00.56 (paragraph 2.B). Operators must follow those ASB procedures to meet the AD. (Requirement)\n- Behaviour changes required: crews must perform the specified operational checks before each hoist, stop using straps on the specified hook, and apply any other actions in the referenced ASB.\n\n**Implementation and compliance considerations:**\n\n- Compliance is procedural rather than a mandatory hardware retrofit in this Amendment: the AD converts the referenced requirement into an Alert Service Bulletin citation without changing technical content. Operators must document and enforce the pre-hoist check and the ban on straps (Background; Requirement).\n- Implementation risk centers on human factors: the AD targets incorrect strap positioning. Ensuring consistent compliance requires training, checklists, supervision and possibly changes to standard operating procedures for hoist operations.\n- Compliance burden is likely modest if no parts replacement is needed: mostly recurrent time and training costs for operators and crew. If the ASB requires hardware modifications for some fleets, material and maintenance costs could be incurred (the AD text itself does not mandate new hardware for this Amendment). (Requirement; Background)\n\n**Effects on private enterprise and service provision:**\n\n- Independent hoist operators, air ambulance services and private/operators running hoist operations with the specified hooks must comply. The rule restricts a particular operational practice (using straps on that hook) but does not prohibit operators from offering hoist services generally.\n- There is little direct effect on competition or ownership; the main impact is operational (procedures and possible minor costs), not structural.\n\n**Trade-offs and opportunity costs:**\n\n- The Directive reduces the risk of load release by requiring a safer procedure and banning straps on the affected hook. The trade-off is operator time and possible minor costs to implement and police the new procedure. If an operator replaces the hook with a different design (e.g., with a tongue locking system), there are equipment cost and downtime trade-offs versus ongoing procedural controls.\n\n**Source summary:**\n- Applicability, Requirement and Compliance sections set the mechanical obligations (see above). The Background explains the incident that prompted the AD and states that Amendment 1 only converts the Requirement to reference an Alert Service Bulletin without changing technical content.\n\n(References: Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background of AD/ECUREUIL/105 Amdt 1.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is an amendment to an existing Airworthiness Directive, but the scope remains unchanged. The amendment only updates the reference document (converting from a French DGAC AD to a Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin) while explicitly stating there is 'no change to the technical content.' The original purpose was to address a specific hoist hook safety defect, and this amendment maintains that narrow, safety-critical focus."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 250 words)","Only 2 substantive requirements with clear compliance deadlines","Single cross-reference to an external technical document (Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin)","Limited applicability defined by specific part numbers and model variants","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Minimal defined terms (only standard aviation terminology like 'AD' and 'DGAC')"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific helicopters.\n\n**What it does:**\nIt requires owners and operators of certain Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) helicopters to follow new safety procedures for their Breeze hoist hooks. These hooks are used to lift people or equipment (like stretchers) during rescue or other hoisting operations.\n\n**The safety problem:**\nA strap was incorrectly positioned on a hoist hook during a rescue operation. This bent the hook's tongue (the moving part that keeps the load attached) and caused a stretcher to fall. This could kill someone.\n\n**Who must act:**\nAnyone operating these specific helicopter models equipped with Breeze hoist hooks that **don't** have a tongue locking system:\n- AS 350 B, BA, B1, B2, B3, BB, and D models\n- Specifically those with hook assembly part number BL-7520-01 or hook part number BL-7520\n\n**What they must do:**\n1. **Before every hoisting operation:** Follow a specific operational procedure and stop using straps with these hooks (as instructed in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 01.00.56, paragraph 2.A)\n2. **Within 2 months after 10 November 2004:** Complete additional instructions in paragraph 2.B of that same bulletin\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis prevents loads from accidentally dropping during helicopter rescue operations, protecting rescue crews, patients, and people on the ground. The amendment simply updates the paperwork reference (from a French aviation authority document to a manufacturer bulletin) without changing the actual safety requirements."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-105-amdt-1-breeze-hoist-hooks","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-105-amdt-1-breeze-hoist-hooks/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-105-amdt-1-breeze-hoist-hooks/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-105-amdt-1-breeze-hoist-hooks/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-105-amdt-1-breeze-hoist-hooks/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-105-amdt-1-breeze-hoist-hooks/documents"}}