{"id":"F2006B09357","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/51 Amdt 1 - Engine Bay Fire Detection","slug":"ad-ecureuil-51-amdt-1-engine-bay-fire-detection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":53609,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09357-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/51 Amdt 1 - Engine Bay Fire Detection","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/51\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nEngine Bay Fire Detection 2/93\n\nApplicability: Model AS350 B1 and B2 Helicopters.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of Eurocopter France Service Bulletin 26.01\n\nNote: DGAC Airworthiness Directive 92-159-063 (B) Revision 2 refers.\n\nCompliance: By 22 March 1993.\n\nBackground: The initial AD introduced a requirement to inspect the engine bay to ensure there were no leaks in the fuel and oil systems and to ensure cleanliness of the engine, accessories and the compartment itself. The Flight Manual was revised to introduce new procedures in the event of engine chip warning light illumination or evidence of overheat or fire. This was necessary because of a discrepancy discovered in the engine bay fire detection system.\n\nAmendment 1 incorporates Revision 2 of the French AD which mandates the Eurocopter Service Bulletin (26.01) providing closing action for the AD requirement.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Amendment 1 did not broaden which aircraft are affected. It incorporated Revision 2 of the French AD and mandated the Eurocopter Service Bulletin as the closing action, specifying how to meet the original inspection and flight manual requirements rather than extending the AD's scope (Amendment 1; Requirement)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability to specific models (AS350 B1 and B2) (Applicability)","Reliance on an external manufacturer Service Bulletin for technical instructions (Requirement: Eurocopter Service Bulletin 26.01)","Incorporation of a foreign airworthiness directive revision (DGAC Revision 2) into the AD (Amendment 1)","Fixed compliance deadline that requires scheduling maintenance (Compliance: By 22 March 1993)","Work scope includes inspections and flight manual amendment, which require qualified maintenance personnel and record updates (Background; Requirement)"],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of Eurocopter AS350 B1 and B2 helicopters to carry out the technical actions in Eurocopter Service Bulletin 26.01 — inspections of the engine bay for fuel/oil leaks and cleanliness, and flight manual revisions — to address a fault in the engine-bay fire detection system. Compliance was required by 22 March 1993. It affects aircraft owners/operators and maintenance organisations, who bear the cost, scheduling and record-keeping to meet the AD (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose: addressing the engine bay fire detection deficiency in specific Eurocopter models. Amendment 1 simply incorporates the manufacturer's final technical solution (the Service Bulletin) to complete the safety action initiated by the original AD. There is no scope creep — it does not expand to other helicopter models, systems, or operational requirements beyond the specific fire detection issue."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 200 words)","Only 2 defined applicability criteria (specific helicopter models)","Single technical requirement referencing an external document (Eurocopter Service Bulletin 26.01)","No nested conditional logic or exceptions","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single note about the French AD","Straightforward compliance deadline with no alternative methods or phased implementation"],"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:**\n- Requires owners and operators of **Eurocopter AS350 B1 and B2 helicopters** (also known as 'Ecureuil' or 'Squirrel' helicopters) to follow specific technical instructions from the manufacturer (Eurocopter France Service Bulletin 26.01).\n- The directive addresses a **fire safety problem** in the engine bay. The original directive required inspections for fuel and oil leaks and keeping the engine compartment clean. It also required updates to the Flight Manual for how pilots should respond to warning signs like chip lights or overheating.\n- This amendment (**Amendment 1**) updates the original directive to incorporate the latest French aviation safety requirements (Revision 2 of DGAC Airworthiness Directive 92-159-063), which provide the final solution ('closing action') to the fire detection problem.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Operators of AS350 B1 and B2 helicopters in Australia\n- Maintenance organisations servicing these aircraft\n- Pilots flying these models\n\n**Why it matters:**\nEngine bay fires in helicopters are extremely dangerous. This directive ensures that a known defect in the fire detection system is properly addressed, reducing the risk of undetected fires that could lead to catastrophic failure or loss of life. The compliance deadline was **22 March 1993**, meaning this was an urgent safety fix required over 30 years ago."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-51-amdt-1-engine-bay-fire-detection","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-51-amdt-1-engine-bay-fire-detection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-51-amdt-1-engine-bay-fire-detection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-51-amdt-1-engine-bay-fire-detection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-51-amdt-1-engine-bay-fire-detection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-51-amdt-1-engine-bay-fire-detection/documents"}}