{"id":"F2008L03864","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/132 - Emergency Floatation Gear","slug":"ad-ecureuil-132-emergency-floatation-gear","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":75497,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L03864-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","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/132 | Emergency Floatation Gear | 13/2008 DM |\n| --------------- | ------------------------- | ---------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Model AS350 BA helicopters, all serial numbers, fitted with emergency floatation gear including the container assemblies listed below, and for which an operating time limit extension has not been already granted by the equipment manufacturer AERAZUR:- Left hand container assembly part number 158170 or 158210-1; and,- Right hand container assembly part number 158171 or 158215-1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Replace container assemblies in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 25.01.02 Revision 0, dated 24 September 2008, or later EASA approved revision, at the times specified in the Compliance section:A possible non-recurring extension to the operating time limit of the container assemblies installed on a helicopter can be obtained, by returning them to the equipment manufacturer for examination.From the effective date of this Directive, no person shall install container assemblies manufactured 10 or more years ago on a helicopter, unless they are returned to the equipment manufacturer for examination and have obtained a non-recurring extension to the operating time limit.From the effective date of this Directive, no person shall either continue operation or install on a helicopter, container assemblies with operating time limit extensions granted by the equipment manufacturer if the extension time limit has already expired.Note: EASA AD 2008-0189 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. If the container assemblies were manufactured 12 or more years ago, within 30 days after 24 October 2008.2. If the container assemblies were manufactured between 10 and 12 years ago, within 60 days after 24 October 2008, without exceeding 12 years and 1 month since the equipment date of manufacture, whichever occurs first.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |\n\n|             | 3. If the container assemblies were manufactured between 9 and 10 years ago, no later than 10 years and two months since the equipment date of manufacture.4. If the container assemblies were manufactured less than 9 years ago, no later than 10 years since the equipment date of manufacture.                                                                                     |\n| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n|             | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 October 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n| Background: | The emergency floatation gear container assemblies listed in the Applicability section of this Directive have an operating time limit of 10 years from the date of manufacture. From June 2006 this limit was no longer recorded in the Maintenance Program (PRE), and therefore post June 2006, container assemblies that have exceeded the 10-year limit may not have been replaced. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n16 October 2008","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/132","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/132","content":"## AD/ECUREUIL/132","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Emergency Floatation Gear","sectionType":"part","heading":"Emergency Floatation Gear","content":"## Emergency Floatation Gear","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"13/2008 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"13/2008 DM","content":"## 13/2008 DM","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, targeted airworthiness directive addressing a specific safety-of-flight issue with defined equipment. The scope remains tightly focused on emergency flotation container replacement for a specific helicopter model and part number series. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cascading compliance deadlines based on manufacturing date (4 separate age brackets with different timelines)","Cross-reference to external technical document (Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 25.01.02 Revision 0)","Conditional logic for time limit extensions requiring manufacturer examination","Specific part number identification required for applicability (4 different part numbers across left/right assemblies)","Dual reference to EASA AD 2008-0189 (European equivalent directive)","Nested prohibitions: bans on installation of old containers AND bans on use of expired extensions"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates replacement of specified AERAZUR emergency flotation containers on Eurocopter AS350 BA helicopters because the parts have a 10‑year service life that ceased being tracked after June 2006. It affects owners, operators and maintenance personnel who fitted the listed left/right container part numbers. The order enforces a strict age‑based replacement timetable and bans installation of containers aged 10+ years unless a valid one‑time manufacturer extension is documented."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Directive is narrowly targeted to address the stated safety gap: container assemblies that may have exceeded their 10‑year life because that limit was not recorded post‑June 2006. The measures (replacement or manufacturer inspection for a one‑off extension, and prohibitions on installing/operating beyond the life or extension) are consistent with that original purpose. The AD does not broaden the affected hardware beyond the listed part numbers or add unrelated obligations, so it has not materially changed scope beyond addressing the recording and service‑life gap described in the Background."},"complexity_factors":["Single narrow applicability (AS350 BA helicopters fitted with four specific container assembly part numbers).","One primary mandatory action: replace containers per a single Alert Service Bulletin (few action types).","Four staged compliance windows tied to equipment manufacture age (conditional timing rules).","Cross‑reference to external documents: Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 25.01.02 Rev 0 and any later EASA‑approved revision; EASA AD referenced.","Manufacturer discretion: non‑recurring extensions require return to manufacturer (creates an external dependency).","No large number of defined terms or nested exceptions; straightforward prohibitions (installing or operating expired items)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (short):**\n\n- It orders owners/operators of certain Eurocopter AS350 BA helicopters to remove or have inspected the emergency flotation container assemblies listed below before they reach or shortly after they pass a 10‑year service life. The work must follow the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 25.01.02 Rev 0 (or a later EASA‑approved revision). (See: Requirement, Compliance.)\n\n**Which helicopters and parts are affected:**\n\n- Model: Eurocopter AS350 BA helicopters, all serial numbers, that are fitted with the specified emergency floatation *container assemblies* (Applicability). The part numbers are:\n  - Left hand container assembly: 158170 or 158210‑1\n  - Right hand container assembly: 158171 or 158215‑1\n\n**Main actions required (how it works mechanically):**\n\n- Replace the listed container assemblies according to Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 25.01.02 Rev 0 (or later EASA‑approved revision). (Requirement.)\n- Alternatively, a one‑off extension of a container’s 10‑year operating time can be obtained by returning that container to the equipment manufacturer for examination. The manufacturer decides whether to grant that non‑recurring extension. (Requirement.)\n- From the effective date (24 October 2008):\n  - You must not install any container assembly that was manufactured 10 or more years ago unless it has been returned to the manufacturer and an extension has been granted. (Requirement.)\n  - You must not operate or install a container assembly for which a manufacturer extension was previously granted if that extension period has already expired. (Requirement.)\n\n**Deadlines for compliance (timing rules):**\n\n- If a container was manufactured 12 or more years ago: replace within 30 days after 24 October 2008. (Compliance point 1.)\n- If it was manufactured between 10 and 12 years ago: replace within 60 days after 24 October 2008, but in no case later than 12 years and 1 month after manufacture (whichever is sooner). (Compliance point 2.)\n- If it was manufactured between 9 and 10 years ago: comply no later than 10 years and 2 months after manufacture. (Compliance point 3.)\n- If it was manufactured less than 9 years ago: comply no later than 10 years after manufacture. (Compliance point 4.)\n\n**Why the regulator did this (stated rationale):**\n\n- The flotation container assemblies have a 10‑year operating life. After June 2006 that life limit was not consistently recorded in the Maintenance Program, so some containers may have stayed in service past their 10‑year limit without being replaced. The AD addresses that gap by forcing inspection/replacement or a manufacturer‑granted extension. (Background.)\n\n**Who pays and who decides:**\n\n- Owners/operators pay for removal, replacement, shipping and any inspection or testing by the equipment manufacturer (Requirement; Compliance). The equipment manufacturer inspects and may grant a one‑off extension (Requirement). The regulator (Civil Aviation Safety Authority, via this AD) enforces the deadlines. (Requirement, Compliance.)\n\n**Practical effects, incentives and trade‑offs:**\n\n- Direct costs and downtime: operators incur procurement and installation costs for replacement containers and potential helicopter downtime to carry out the work. (Requirement; Compliance.)\n- Vendor dependence: the only path to extend a container’s life is to return it to the equipment manufacturer for examination, creating reliance on that manufacturer for any life‑extension decisions (Requirement). This can concentrate service demand and may cause scheduling delays or extra fees.\n- Compliance administration: owners must track dates of manufacture for affected part numbers and schedule replacements or returns within the staged deadlines (Compliance). The staged deadlines front‑load older items into near‑term work windows.\n- Limited substitution: because the AD mandates replacement or manufacturer inspection/extension and references a specific service bulletin, operators have limited alternative compliance paths unless the manufacturer or EASA issues alternative approved instructions (Requirement). This centralises the technical remedy through published service instructions.\n- Safety aim vs. opportunity cost: the measure reduces the risk of expired flotation gear remaining in service (stated purpose). The opportunity cost is expenditure of operator time and money and possible short‑term capacity effects for maintenance providers and manufacturers handling inspections.\n\n**Implementation risks and compliance burden:**\n\n- Recordkeeping risk: because the issue arose from record omission, operators must ensure manufacture dates are accurately recorded and retrievable to meet the staged timelines (Background; Compliance).\n- Capacity bottleneck risk: if many operators return units to the manufacturer for extension at once, inspection turnaround time could delay compliance or operations (Requirement).\n\n"},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-132-emergency-floatation-gear","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-132-emergency-floatation-gear/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-132-emergency-floatation-gear/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-132-emergency-floatation-gear/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-132-emergency-floatation-gear/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-132-emergency-floatation-gear/documents"}}