{"id":"F2005L00090","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/74 Amdt 2 - Tail Servo Control Rod Eye End Fitting","slug":"ad-ecureuil-74-amdt-2-tail-servo-control-rod-eye-end-fitting","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":33460,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L00090-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","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/74 Amdt 2 | Tail Servo Control Rod Eye End Fitting | 2/2005 |\n| --------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All Model AS 350 B, BA, B1, B2, B3, BB and D helicopters, equipped with tail servocontrols not incorporating Mod 073139 or Eurocopter AS 350 Service Bulletin No. 67.00.22.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Inspect the eye end fitting to servocontrol rod coupling for correct locking in accordance with instructions in Paragraph 2.A of Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 05.00.37.R1 or later DGAC approved revisions.2. If play is found and/or the lockwasher is not correctly positioned carry out the maintenance procedure in paragraph 2B of Eurocopter AS 350 ASB 05.00.37.R1 or later DGAC approved revisions.Note: DGAC AD F-2001-580-085R2 EASA reference No. 2004-11502 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | For Requirement 1:For helicopters that have logged more than 500 flight hours, unless previously accomplished, within 50 flight hours, thereafter repeat at intervals not to exceed 550 flight hours.For helicopters that have logged less than 500 flight hours, unless previously accomplished, inspect prior to 550 flight hours thereafter repeat at intervals not to exceed 550 flight hours.For Requirement 2:Prior to further flight.                                                         |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 17 February 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |\n\n| Background: | Eurocopter received a report of the tail servo control rod eye end fitting disconnecting during flight. This condition led to the progressive reduction of the yaw control range and finally to the loss of servocontrol assistance. This Directive therefore requires an initial inspection followed by the repetitive inspections. Maintenance on the servocontrol rod eye end fitting will also need to be carried out should defects be found during the inspection.This amendment incorporates MOD 073205 as part of the amendment to the reference ASB that is now at revision 1.Amendment 1 of this Directive became effective on 3 October 2002.The original issue of this Directive became effective on 20 February 2002. |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nJames Coyne  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n23 December 2004\n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 January 2005.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/74 Amdt 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/74 Amdt 2","content":"## AD/ECUREUIL/74 Amdt 2","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Tail Servo Control Rod Eye End Fitting","sectionType":"part","heading":"Tail Servo Control Rod Eye End Fitting","content":"## Tail Servo Control Rod Eye End Fitting","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"2/2005","content":"## 2/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment does not broaden the Directive’s safety objective. It updates the maintenance reference by incorporating MOD 073205 into the referenced Alert Service Bulletin (ASB 05.00.37.R1) and reconfirms repetitive inspection and repair requirements that were already the AD’s purpose. In short, the amendment refines the technical reference and instructions rather than expanding the class of affected aircraft or adding new regulatory policy objectives."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to external technical document Eurocopter ASB 05.00.37.R1 (or later DGAC approved revisions)","Applicability carve‑outs (excludes helicopters with Mod 073139 or SB No. 67.00.22)","Two core requirements (inspect; repair) with different timing rules","Conditional compliance intervals based on whether helicopter has logged more or less than 500 flight hours","Immediate mandatory action for defects (repair prior to further flight)","Reference to multiple regulatory authorities/ documents (DGAC AD F‑2001‑580‑085R2 and EASA reference No. 2004‑11502)","Multiple helicopter models listed (AS350 B, BA, B1, B2, B3, BB, D)"],"plain_english_summary":"Owners/operators and maintenance organisations of Eurocopter AS350 B/BA/B1/B2/B3/BB/D helicopters (unless modified by Mod 073139 or SB 67.00.22) must inspect the tail servocontrol rod eye‑end fitting per Eurocopter ASB 05.00.37.R1 and carry out mandated repairs before further flight if play or incorrect lockwasher positioning is found, with repeat inspections at specified flight‑hour intervals.\n\nThis prevents reported in‑flight disconnects that degrade yaw control; operators pay inspection/repair costs or may install the mod/SB to remove the obligation."},"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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This remains a targeted airworthiness directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in a defined helicopter fleet. The amendment updates the referenced service bulletin to revision 1 and incorporates a new modification (MOD 073205) as an acceptable compliance path, but does not expand beyond the original safety purpose of preventing tail servo control rod disconnections."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple conditional compliance paths based on flight hours (over/under 500 hours)","Cross-reference to external technical documents (Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 05.00.37.R1) without reproducing their content","Reference to French aviation authority (DGAC) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) documents","Exclusion criteria based on specific modification numbers and service bulletins that must be verified against aircraft records","Amendment history incorporated into background (original 2002, Amendment 1 2002, Amendment 2 2005)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's aviation regulator (CASA) that requires owners and operators of specific Eurocopter AS 350 helicopters to inspect a critical part of the tail rotor control system.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires inspection of the **tail servo control rod eye end fitting** — a metal connector that links the tail rotor's hydraulic servo control to the control rod. If this fitting disconnects or loosens, the pilot gradually loses yaw control (ability to steer left/right), which can lead to loss of control of the helicopter.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of **Eurocopter AS 350 B, BA, B1, B2, B3, BB and D model helicopters**\n- Only applies to helicopters **without** a specific factory modification (Mod 073139) or that haven't had a particular service bulletin applied\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **Initial inspection:** Check that the eye end fitting is properly locked in place, following Eurocopter's Alert Service Bulletin 05.00.37.R1\n  - If the helicopter has flown more than 500 hours: inspect within 50 flight hours\n  - If under 500 hours: inspect before reaching 550 total flight hours\n- **Repeat inspections:** Every 550 flight hours thereafter\n- **If problems found:** If there's play (looseness) or the lockwasher is out of position, repairs must be done **before the next flight**\n\n**Why it matters:**\nEurocopter received a report of this fitting disconnecting during flight, causing progressive loss of yaw control. This directive prevents potentially catastrophic loss of helicopter control through mandatory, repetitive inspections."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-74-amdt-2-tail-servo-control-rod-eye-end-fitting","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-74-amdt-2-tail-servo-control-rod-eye-end-fitting/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-74-amdt-2-tail-servo-control-rod-eye-end-fitting/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-74-amdt-2-tail-servo-control-rod-eye-end-fitting/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-74-amdt-2-tail-servo-control-rod-eye-end-fitting/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-74-amdt-2-tail-servo-control-rod-eye-end-fitting/documents"}}