{"id":"F2009L02801","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/30 Amdt 3 - Main Rotor Sleeve Beams","slug":"ad-ecureuil-30-amdt-3-main-rotor-sleeve-beams","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":80019,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L02801-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/30 Amdt 3 | Main Rotor Sleeve Beams | 8/2009 |\n| --------------------- | ----------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All model AS 350 helicopters with main rotor head roving sleeve, upper and lower beams part numbers:350A31.1830.00 and .01; 350A31.1831.00, .01, .04, .05, .06 and .07.                                                                                                                                                                           |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Remove main rotor blades and visually check that sleeve bushes are not separated. If any bush separation is found, remove and replace the sleeve beams concerned. Requirement document is French AD 86-57-44 (B), paragraph C; or USA AD86-19-15, paragraph C.Note: Aerospatiale Telex Service Bulletin No. 01.16 refers (no longer distributed.) |\n| Compliance:    | Before further flight in the event of a sudden or repeated occurrence of a severe tracking defect.Compliance with Amendment 2 of this directive constitutes compliance with this Amendment.                                                                                                                                                       |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 30 July 2009.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n| Background:    | The manufacturer reports cracking in the blade attachment area of the main rotor sleeve beams of a Dauphin SA 365C helicopter. The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective in May 1986.                                                                                                                                   |\n|                | Amendment 1 varied the applicability to refer to specific sleeve attach beam part numbers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |\n|                | Amendment 2 corrected the requirement document reference number.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |\n|                | This Amendment is issued to reduce reliance on Service Bulletin No. 01.16 which is no longer distributed; and to identify French and USA Airworthiness Directives.                                                                                                                                                                                |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n18 June 2009","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/30 Amdt 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/30 Amdt 3","content":"## AD/ECUREUIL/30 Amdt 3","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Main Rotor Sleeve Beams","sectionType":"part","heading":"Main Rotor Sleeve Beams","content":"## Main Rotor Sleeve Beams","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"8/2009","sectionType":"part","heading":"8/2009","content":"## 8/2009","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 3 does not add new inspection or replacement actions but changes references and clarifies sources: it removes reliance on Aerospatiale Service Bulletin No. 01.16 (no longer distributed) and explicitly identifies the French and US airworthiness directives as the requirement documents. Earlier amendments adjusted applicability and corrected a reference number; the substantive technical obligation (inspect and replace if bush separation is found) remains the same."},"complexity_factors":["Conditional timing: compliance is required 'before further flight' only after a sudden or repeated severe tracking defect (affects when action is triggered).","Narrow, part-number-specific applicability (explicit beam part numbers listed).","Operational disruption: inspection requires removal of main rotor blades for visual checks.","Replacement obligation if separation found — creates parts, labour and grounding costs for owners/operators.","Cross-references to foreign ADs (French AD 86-57-44(B) para C; US AD86-19-15 para C) and removal of the obsolete service bulletin reference — regulatory clarity but requires consultation of other instruments.","Enforcement and compliance oversight by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (regulatory monitoring and decision authority).","Legacy amendment history (previous amendments adjusted applicability and corrected reference numbers), which may complicate tracing original intent and compliance history."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of certain Eurocopter AS350 helicopters with specified main rotor sleeve beam part numbers to remove main rotor blades, visually inspect sleeve bushes for separation, and replace any sleeve beam with separated bushes. Operators bear inspection and replacement costs; the Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires compliance before further flight after a sudden or repeated severe tracking defect. The amendment removes reliance on a withdrawn service bulletin and points to French and US airworthiness directives as the requirement sources."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Amendment 3 maintains the original 1986 safety purpose (preventing rotor sleeve beam failures). The amendments have been administrative: Amendment 1 refined part numbers, Amendment 2 corrected document references, and Amendment 3 removed reliance on a discontinued service bulletin. The core safety mandate — inspect and replace if bushing separation found — remains unchanged since 1986."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical component targeted (main rotor sleeve beams)","Only 2 defined part number ranges in applicability","Simple conditional trigger: 'sudden or repeated severe tracking defect'","Binary compliance action: visual check, then replace if failed","Minimal cross-referencing (two foreign ADs cited, one obsolete SB noted)","No nested exceptions or layered conditional logic","Total length: approximately 250 words of substantive content"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD orders immediate inspection and, if needed, replacement of specific main-rotor sleeve beams on Eurocopter AS350 (Ecureuil) helicopters when pilots observe sudden or repeated severe rotor tracking defects. It requires removing blades to inspect sleeve bushings for separation and replacing affected beams.\n\nIt affects owners, operators, and maintenance personnel and aims to prevent catastrophic rotor failure by catching bushing separation early; this is the July 2009 amendment clarifying applicable foreign safety guidance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-30-amdt-3-main-rotor-sleeve-beams","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-30-amdt-3-main-rotor-sleeve-beams/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-30-amdt-3-main-rotor-sleeve-beams/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-30-amdt-3-main-rotor-sleeve-beams/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-30-amdt-3-main-rotor-sleeve-beams/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-30-amdt-3-main-rotor-sleeve-beams/documents"}}