{"id":"F2006B09374","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/68 - Ancillary Systems Unit - Printed Circuit Board No.2","slug":"ad-ecureuil-68-ancillary-systems-unit-printed-circuit-board-no-2","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":53664,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09374-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/68 - Ancillary Systems Unit - Printed Circuit Board No.2","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)  \n![](image.002.png)  \nEurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters\n\nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\n![](image.002.png)  \nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.\n\nAD/ECUREUIL/68 Ancillary Systems Unit \\- Printed\n\nCircuit Board No.2\n\n  \n10/2001\n\nDM\n\nApplicability: AS 350 B3 helicopters equipped with Ancillary Systems Unit (ASU) printed circuit boards (PCB) No. 2 Part Number (P/N) SE 03022 (704A47720110).\n\nRequirement: 1. Inspect ASU PCB No. 2, in accordance with the instructions in Eurocopter AS 350 Service Bulletin 77.00.07 date code 00-15, to determine whether resistor R8 is installed.\n\n    2. If the Requirement 1 inspection determines that resistor R8 is not installed, replace the PCB with a PCB that has R8 installed.\n\n    3. ASU PCB P/N SE 03022 (704A47720110) without resistor R8 installed may not be fitted to any helicopter.\n\nNote: DGAC AD 2001-319-083(A) refers.\n\nCompliance: For Requirement 1 \\- Within 25 hours time in service from the effective date of this Directive.\n\nFor Requirement 2 \\- Within 50 hours time in service from the Requirement 1 inspection.\n\nFor Requirement 3 \\- As of the effective date of this Directive.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 15 August 2001.\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\nBackground: This Directive requires inspection of ASU PCB No. 2 to ensure resistor R8 is installed. The absence of resistor R8 can lead to a malfunction of the electrical circuits supplying the BATT TEMP red warning light, the ENGINE CHIP amber caution light and the rotor RPM signal output to the Vehicle Engine Management Display (VEMD).\n\n![Signature of Eugene Paul Holzapfel, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.](image.003.png)  \n\nEugene Paul Holzapfel\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 August 2001\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 15 August 2001.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Airworthiness Directive maintains its original narrow scope. It addresses a specific unsafe condition in a specific helicopter model's electrical system. There is no evidence of scope creep; the directive targets exactly the problem identified in the background (missing resistor R8) and mandates precisely the corrective actions required."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific aircraft model and part number targeted","Only three requirements with clear sequential logic","No defined terms section or complex cross-referencing","Simple conditional: 'if R8 not installed, then replace'","Clear compliance deadlines (25 hours, 50 hours, immediate)","Total length is approximately one page","References only one external document (Eurocopter Service Bulletin) and one related foreign directive"],"plain_english_summary":"CASA has issued a mandatory repair order for Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters because a printed circuit board may be missing resistor R8, risking failure of the battery temperature warning, engine chip detector light, and rotor speed signal. Owners/operators of helicopters with the affected board part numbers must inspect promptly, replace any boards lacking R8 within the required timeframe, and stop installing boards without R8. This fix restores critical cockpit warnings and prevents undetected engine or battery faults."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD is narrowly focused on a single, specific hardware omission (missing resistor R8 on ASU PCB No.2) and prescribes inspection and replacement. It does not broaden the regulatory scope beyond that original safety purpose: it does not add unrelated compliance obligations, expand to other aircraft types, or create ongoing regulatory programmes. The instrument enforces a corrective action targeted at the identified unsafe condition and retains the original, limited scope."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-page directive with three clear requirements","One defined applicability (AS 350 B3 with ASU PCB P/N SE 03022 (704A47720110))","Three compliance time windows (25 hours, 50 hours, immediate prohibition) but no nested conditional exceptions","References an external Eurocopter Service Bulletin (77.00.07) for the inspection procedure","Cross-reference to a foreign DGAC AD (DGAC AD 2001-319-083(A))","No lengthy definitions section, no multiple parts or amended schedules"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- Applies to: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 helicopters that have an Ancillary Systems Unit (ASU) printed circuit board (PCB) No. 2, part number SE 03022 (704A47720110) (Applicability).\n\n- Mandatory actions (Requirement):\n  - Inspect the ASU PCB No. 2 to check whether resistor R8 is installed, following the instructions in Eurocopter AS 350 Service Bulletin 77.00.07 (Requirement 1).\n  - If R8 is missing, replace the PCB with one that has R8 installed (Requirement 2).\n  - After the effective date, you may not fit an ASU PCB P/N SE 03022 without R8 installed to any helicopter (Requirement 3).\n\n- Timing (Compliance):\n  - The inspection must be done within 25 hours time-in-service from the directive's effective date.\n  - If replacement is required, that must be done within 50 hours time-in-service from the inspection.\n  - The prohibition on fitting a PCB without R8 applies from the effective date.\n\n- Reason given (Background):\n  - The directive explains the safety concern: absence of resistor R8 can make the electrical circuits supplying the BATT TEMP red warning light, the ENGINE CHIP amber caution light, and the rotor RPM signal output to the VEMD (Vehicle Engine Management Display) malfunction. The directive cites a related French DGAC AD and the Eurocopter service bulletin.\n\nWho it affects and who pays\n\n- Who is affected: Owners/operators of AS 350 B3 helicopters fitted with the specified ASU PCB (P/N SE 03022), and maintenance organisations that perform the inspection/repair.\n- Who pays: The helicopter owner/operator pays for the inspection and, if needed, the replacement PCB and the labour to fit it.\n- Who decides: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate issued the directive; the operator must follow it. The Eurocopter service bulletin provides the step-by-step inspection instructions to be followed.\n\nWhy it matters (practical effect)\n\n- The rule is preventative: it requires operators to check and, if necessary, correct a specific hardware omission (missing resistor R8) that CASA identifies as creating failure modes for certain warning/caution lights and the rotor RPM signal to the VEMD.\n- Mechanically, compliance changes operator behaviour from routine maintenance to a mandatory inspection and possible hardware replacement on a short timetable (25–50 hours). It also forbids installing the non-conforming PCB going forward.\n\nPractical costs, incentives, and trade-offs\n\n- Direct costs: time for inspection (short, counted in hours-in-service), and cost of replacement PCB and labour if R8 is missing. The directive does not provide parts or pay for them.\n- Incentives: Operators are incentivised to inspect promptly to meet the short compliance windows and avoid operating with degraded warning/monitoring signals. Maintenance providers may profit from replacement work; operators may prefer to stock compliant PCBs to minimise downtime.\n- Trade-offs and opportunity costs: Short compliance windows can create scheduling pressure (possible short-term increased maintenance activity). The action imposes a compliance cost but reduces the risk of missing cockpit warnings or a faulty RPM signal.\n- Implementation risks: The directive relies on the service bulletin for inspection method. If service bulletin instructions are ambiguous or parts supply is constrained, operators could face delays or inconsistent inspections.\n\nOther operational notes\n\n- Cross-reference: The AD explicitly directs the inspection to follow Eurocopter Service Bulletin 77.00.07 (date code 00-15) and notes a corresponding DGAC (French authority) AD. That makes the AD dependent on an external manufacturer's procedure and a foreign AD for context.\n- Behavioural change: Maintenance records will need to show compliance within the stated hours-in-service windows; operators must not install the non-conforming PCB after the effective date.\n\nSource citations (where the statements above come from): Applicability; Requirement paragraphs 1–3; Compliance times; Background.\n\nAnalyst's cautionary note\n\n- The directive states the safety rationale (malfunction of specific warning/caution lights and RPM signal) as its justification. The concrete mechanism by which missing R8 causes those malfunctions is asserted in the Background; the AD implements an inspection-and-replace remedy rather than prescribing an alternative electrical test. The costs are borne by aircraft operators and maintenance organisations; CASA enforces compliance under CAR Part 39.1(1)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-68-ancillary-systems-unit-printed-circuit-board-no-2","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-68-ancillary-systems-unit-printed-circuit-board-no-2/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-68-ancillary-systems-unit-printed-circuit-board-no-2/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-68-ancillary-systems-unit-printed-circuit-board-no-2/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-68-ancillary-systems-unit-printed-circuit-board-no-2/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-68-ancillary-systems-unit-printed-circuit-board-no-2/documents"}}