{"id":"F2006B09331","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/16 Amdt 1 - Tail Rotor Blades, Bonding Separation of Stainless Steel Leading Edge Protectors - Inspection","slug":"ad-ecureuil-16-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades-bonding-separation-of-stainless-steel-leading-edge-protector","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":53508,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09331-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/16 Amdt 1 - Tail Rotor Blades, Bonding Separation of Stainless Steel Leading Edge Protectors - Inspection","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nEurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters\n\nAD/ECUREUIL/16\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nTail Rotor Blades, Bonding Separation of Stainless Steel Leading Edge Protectors - Inspection\n\n  \n10/84\n\nApplicability: All model AS 350 helicopters fitted with tail rotor blades 350A.12.0020 to .10, 350A.12.0030.00 to .05, 350A.08.1011.00.\n\nDocument: Aerospatiale Workcard AS 350 No. 64.10.601.\n\nNote: Consigne de Navigabilite AD 82-24-24B refers.\n\nCompliance: A. For blades between 0 and 100 hours time in service since new or overhaul : Before further flight and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 10 hours time in service until accumulation of 100 hours time in service.\n\nB. For blades with more than 100 hours time in service since new or overhaul : Within 10 hours time in service after 23 March 1982.\n\nBackground: The manufacturer has reported several cases of severe bonding separation of the leading edge stainless steel protectors. The amendment is issued to correct the Aerospatiale Workcard number relating to this inspection.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is an amendment to an existing Airworthiness Directive. The amendment is purely administrative — it corrects the Aerospatiale Workcard number in the original directive. The scope (which helicopters are affected, what defect is being addressed, and what inspections are required) remains identical to the original AD/ECUREUIL/16."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical subject matter (tail rotor blade bonding)","Only 2 compliance pathways based on hours-in-service (simple binary condition)","Minimal cross-referencing (one workcard number, one French regulatory reference)","No defined terms section","Short document (approximately 150 words)","Straightforward temporal compliance deadlines"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates inspections of specific Eurocopter AS350 tail rotor blades (certain serial-number ranges) because stainless-steel leading-edge protectors can debond and separate. It applies to owners and operators of the affected helicopters.\n\nNew or recently overhauled blades (0–100 hours) must be inspected before further flight and every 10 hours until 100 total hours; blades over 100 hours must be inspected within 10 hours of flying after 23 March 1982. Loose protectors can damage the tail rotor, cause vibration, or lead to loss of control. The amendment only corrects the inspection-procedure reference."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The amendment corrects the Aerospatiale workcard number referenced for the inspection. It does not alter the set of affected aircraft, the described defect, or the compliance timing and actions specified under 'Applicability' and 'Compliance'."},"complexity_factors":["Limited technical scope: single failure mode (bonding separation of leading‑edge protectors)","Applicability tied to specific blade part numbers","Two compliance paths based on hours-in-service (<100 hours vs >100 hours)","Short inspection intervals (before flight and 10‑hour checks) increase operational burden","Reference to external Aerospatiale workcard (document dependency and potential for numbering errors)","Amendment limited to correcting the workcard number rather than changing safety requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"Requires immediate and repeated inspections of specified AS 350 tail rotor blades for separation of stainless‑steel leading‑edge protectors, carried out to the referenced Aerospatiale workcard; inspection timing depends on the blade’s hours in service. This affects operators of all AS 350 helicopters fitted with the listed blade part numbers, who must bear the cost and perform pre‑flight and short‑interval (10‑hour) inspections for new blades, or inspect within 10 hours for blades over 100 hours (see “Compliance”)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-16-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades-bonding-separation-of-stainless-steel-leading-edge-protector","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-16-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades-bonding-separation-of-stainless-steel-leading-edge-protector/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-16-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades-bonding-separation-of-stainless-steel-leading-edge-protector/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-16-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades-bonding-separation-of-stainless-steel-leading-edge-protector/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-16-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades-bonding-separation-of-stainless-steel-leading-edge-protector/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-16-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blades-bonding-separation-of-stainless-steel-leading-edge-protector/documents"}}