{"id":"F2006B09332","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/18 - Upper Fin Attachment Fitting - Inspection","slug":"ad-ecureuil-18-upper-fin-attachment-fitting-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":53512,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09332-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/18 - Upper Fin Attachment Fitting - Inspection","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)  Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/ECUREUIL/18 Upper Fin Attachment Fitting - Inspection 10/82\n\nApplicability: All model AS350 not modified in accordance with AMS 350A07.1047 (SB No.\n\n55.03).\n\n \n\nDocument: Aerospatiale SB No. 05.09.\n\n \n\nNote: Bureau Veritas AD 82-98-26(B) refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 1 September 1982, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 10 hours time in service.\n\n \n\nBackground: Modification in accordance with SB 55.03 provides terminating action for the mandatory repeat inspection.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD's scope is limited to AS350 helicopters that have not been modified per AMS 350A07.1047 (SB No. 55.03). The directive sets a short inspection interval until that modification is carried out, and the Background explicitly states the modification \"provides terminating action for the mandatory repeat inspection.\" The text therefore aligns the scope (inspections for unmodified aircraft) with the stated objective (terminate inspections once modification is done). There is no material indication in the source text that the scope has changed from that stated purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, specific applicability condition (applies only to AS350 helicopters not modified in accordance with AMS 350A07.1047 / SB No. 55.03).","Very short recurring interval (inspection every 10 hours time in service) increases operational and administrative burden.","Dependence on external technical documents (Aerospatiale SB No. 05.09 and SB No. 55.03 / AMS 350A07.1047) for procedure and terminating action.","Cross-reference to another AD (Bureau Veritas AD 82-98-26(B)) which may add requirements or interpretation steps.","Clear mandatory requirement with limited regulatory discretion, but technical implementation relies on maintenance judgement under the referenced service materials."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires AS350 (Écureuil) helicopters not modified by AMS 350A07.1047 (SB No. 55.03) to have the upper fin attachment fitting inspected using Aerospatiale SB No. 05.09 within 10 hours TIS after 1 Sept 1982 and every 10 hours thereafter. \n\nOperators, owners and maintenance organisations must either perform frequent inspections (with attendant cost and downtime) or adopt SB 55.03, which terminates the repeat-inspection requirement."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive focused on a specific airframe component. Airworthiness Directives are inherently narrow in scope — they address particular safety defects in specific aircraft types. There is no evidence of scope creep; the document maintains its original purpose of mandating inspection of the upper fin attachment fitting."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical requirement (one inspection task)","Only one defined applicability criterion (unmodified aircraft)","Simple compliance structure: initial deadline + recurring interval","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Clear terminating action specified (modification per SB 55.03)","Short document length (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Single cross-reference to manufacturer service bulletin"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific helicopters.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) series helicopters to inspect the **upper fin attachment fitting** — a structural component that connects the vertical tail fin to the helicopter's body.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All AS 350 model helicopters that **haven't** been modified according to a specific service bulletin (AMS 350A07.1047, also known as SB No. 55.03)\n- This covers civilian helicopter operators, maintenance organisations, and owners in Australia\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **Initial inspection:** Within 10 hours of flying time after 1 September 1982\n- **Repeat inspections:** Every 10 hours of flying time thereafter (ongoing requirement)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe upper fin attachment fitting is critical for flight safety. This directive was issued because of a known safety issue with this component. The only way to stop doing these frequent inspections is to modify the helicopter according to the specified service bulletin (SB 55.03), which provides a permanent fix.\n\n**Key point:** This is a **repetitive inspection** — it doesn't go away until the helicopter is modified. The 10-hour interval is very frequent, reflecting a serious safety concern."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-18-upper-fin-attachment-fitting-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-18-upper-fin-attachment-fitting-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-18-upper-fin-attachment-fitting-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-18-upper-fin-attachment-fitting-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-18-upper-fin-attachment-fitting-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-18-upper-fin-attachment-fitting-inspection/documents"}}