{"id":"F2006B09337","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/26 Amdt 1 - Air Cruisers Emergency Flotation System - Inspection/Modification","slug":"ad-ecureuil-26-amdt-1-air-cruisers-emergency-flotation-system-inspection-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":53532,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09337-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/26 Amdt 1 - Air Cruisers Emergency Flotation System - Inspection/Modification","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/26\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \n\nAir Cruisers Emergency Flotation System \\- Inspection/Modification\n\n  \n4/85\n\nApplicability: All models which have Air Cruisers emergency flotation kits in accordance with FAA STC SH2825SW (Model 350D, D1, C) or STC SH4032SW (Model 350B).\n\nDocument: Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation SB350-18.\n\nNote: FAA AD 83-11-01 R1 Amdt 39-4959 refers.\n\nCompliance: Unless previously accomplished, as detailed in the requirement document.\n\nBackground: In a recent ditching incident, the right hand Air Cruisers emergency float failed to deploy. Such failure in a future ditching incident could lead to loss of the helicopter and to injury to its occupants or loss of life. A further sampling of AS 350 Air Cruisers emergency flotation system revealed several cases of damaged electrical squib harnesses due to chafing on the float bottle valve assembly side plate and its associated hardware. This chafing could lead to similar incidents.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument is an amendment (Amdt 1) that explicitly applies to all AS350 models fitted with Air Cruisers flotation kits under FAA STCs SH2825SW or SH4032SW and directs compliance via Aerospatiale SB350-18. Compared with the prior directive (implied by the amendment notation), it clarifies applicability and ties required action to the referenced service bulletin and the FAA AD."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability is tied to specific FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC SH2825SW and SH4032SW) — requires operators to check installation records.","Mandates compliance 'as detailed in the requirement document' (Aerospatiale SB350-18) rather than setting technical steps in the AD itself — dependency on external service bulletin.","References and alignment with an existing FAA AD (83-11-01 R1) — cross-jurisdictional regulatory linkage.","Safety-critical hardware issue (electrical squib harness chafing on the float bottle valve assembly) — inspections may require disassembly, parts inspection or modification and potential parts replacement.","Issued as an amendment (Amdt 1) which may alter prior obligations or timelines for operators who previously complied with an earlier AD."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of Eurocopter AS350 helicopters fitted with Air Cruisers emergency flotation kits (FAA STCs SH2825SW or SH4032SW) to inspect and, if necessary, modify the flotation system per Aerospatiale SB350-18. The directive responds to a ditching incident and discovered chafing of electrical squib harnesses that can prevent float deployment, creating a risk of helicopter loss or occupant injury."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is an amendment (Amdt 1) to an existing Airworthiness Directive. The scope remains tightly focused on the specific safety issue (flotation system wiring chafing) and has not expanded beyond the original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 2 defined terms implicitly referenced (the FAA STC numbers)","Single compliance pathway: follow the service bulletin","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Cross-references are minimal and clear (one service bulletin, one FAA AD for reference only)","Straightforward cause-and-effect: identified hazard → required action"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of Eurocopter AS350 (Ecureuil) helicopters fitted with Air Cruisers emergency flotation kits (STC SH2825SW or SH4032SW) to inspect and modify the flotation system per manufacturer Service Bulletin SB350-18. It responds to a ditching where wiring chafed and a float failed to inflate; the corrective work prevents wiring damage that could lead to non-deployment and loss of the helicopter and occupants."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-26-amdt-1-air-cruisers-emergency-flotation-system-inspection-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-26-amdt-1-air-cruisers-emergency-flotation-system-inspection-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-26-amdt-1-air-cruisers-emergency-flotation-system-inspection-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-26-amdt-1-air-cruisers-emergency-flotation-system-inspection-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-26-amdt-1-air-cruisers-emergency-flotation-system-inspection-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-26-amdt-1-air-cruisers-emergency-flotation-system-inspection-modification/documents"}}