{"id":"F2006B09379","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/76 - Electrical Power","slug":"ad-ecureuil-76-electrical-power","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":53680,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09379-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","sectionType":"part","heading":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","content":"# AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n![](image.001.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\nEurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/76 Electrical Power 6/2002","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/76 Electrical Power 6/2002","content":"# AD/ECUREUIL/76 Electrical Power 6/2002\n\nApplicability: AS 350 version B3 helicopters without Modification 073146 embodied and with the following serial numbers:\n\n| 3461 | 3463 | 3464 | 3467 | 3469 |\n| ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- |\n| 3471 | 3472 | 3473 | 3475 | 3477 |\n| 3478 | 3479 | 3484 | 3485 | 3486 |\n| 3493 | 3494 | 3511 | 3522 |      |\n\nRequirement: Remove the shunt from connector 38 Delta b in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 24.00.09 dated 18 March 2002.\n\nNote: DGAC AD 2002-187-090(A) refers.\n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after the effective date of this Directive.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 13 June 2002.\n\nBackground: The French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile has advised that helicopters using the basic 150 Amp electrical power generating system may be fitted with a cable loom designed for the optional 200 Amp system. This wiring anomaly may induce an overload of the electrical power generating system and can result in disconnection of the generator.\n\nThis directive requires the correction of the wiring error at connector 38 Delta b.\n\n![Signature of James Coyne, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.](image.002.png)  \n\nJames Coyne\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 3 May 2002\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 May 2002.","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive remains narrowly focused on correcting a specific wiring anomaly that risks overloading the electrical generating system on certain AS350 B3 helicopters. It does not broaden the regulatory reach beyond that technical fix: applicability is limited to specific serial numbers and aircraft without Modification 073146, the required action is a single wiring change, and the compliance time is a single, short interval. There is no substantive expansion beyond the original safety purpose described in the Background section."},"complexity_factors":["Short document (one required action, one compliance period)","Single technical task specified: remove the shunt from connector 38 Delta b","Applicability limited to a specific model variant (AS350 B3) and a finite list of serial numbers","Single cross-reference to an external Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (24.00.09 dated 18 March 2002)","One exclusion condition (aircraft with Modification 073146 embodied)","Minor dependence on locating and following an external manufacturer document (service bulletin)","No nested exceptions, no multiple compliance options, no complex monitoring or reporting regime"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does**\n\n- Requires a specific electrical wiring change on certain Eurocopter AS350 (Ecureuil) B3 helicopters.  The action is to remove a shunt from connector 38 Delta b, following the instructions in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 24.00.09 (18 March 2002). (See \"Requirement\".)\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Owners/operators and maintenance organisations responsible for the listed AS350 B3 serial numbers that have NOT had Modification 073146 fitted. (See \"Applicability\".)\n\n**When it must be done**\n\n- The work must be completed within 100 hours time in service after the directive became effective. (See \"Compliance\".)\n\n**Why it matters (mechanically)**\n\n- The French civil aviation authority reported that some helicopters built with the 150 Amp generator system were fitted with a cable loom intended for the 200 Amp system. That mismatch can overload the electrical generation system and may cause the generator to disconnect. The directive corrects the wiring error at connector 38 Delta b to remove that overload risk. (See \"Background\".)\n\n**How it works in practice**\n\n- The regulator (the CASA delegate) mandates the corrective action and ties compliance to the manufacturer's alert service bulletin. Operators must either have their maintenance organisation remove the shunt exactly as the bulletin describes or show they already comply (for example if Modification 073146 is already embodied).\n\n**Practical implications, trade-offs and costs**\n\n- Who pays: the aircraft owner/operator pays for the maintenance work (labour, any parts and downtime). The directive does not itself fund the work. (Requirement & Compliance.)\n- Compliance burden: a defined, one-off electrical modification or inspection procedure. It requires access to the Eurocopter service bulletin and a qualified maintenance provider authorised to work on the helicopter electrical system.\n- Operational cost: short-term aircraft downtime to carry out the work; potential inspection time to confirm the correct wiring and to record the work in maintenance logs.\n- Safety benefit vs opportunity cost: the intended safety outcome is to reduce the risk of generator overload and disconnection. The opportunity cost is the maintenance resources and aircraft out-of-service hours used to implement the fix rather than other maintenance or operations.\n- Incentives and behaviour: operators have a clear incentive to carry out the work promptly to restore legal airworthiness and avoid operational restrictions. Maintenance providers have an incentive to perform the required work; there is no new ongoing regulatory charge beyond the one-off corrective action.\n- Implementation risk: if the service bulletin is not followed precisely, the wiring might remain unsafe. Conversely, misapplication could introduce other wiring errors; reliance on the manufacturer bulletin is meant to limit that risk.\n- Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: the safety benefit (reduced generator-failure risk) accrues to aircraft occupants and operators of the affected serial numbers (concentrated), while the costs (maintenance time, parts) fall on those same operators (also concentrated). There is no broad economy‑wide redistribution of costs.\n\n**Reference points in the directive**\n- Applicability: lists affected serial numbers and excludes aircraft with Modification 073146 embodied.\n- Requirement: specifies removal of the shunt at connector 38 Delta b per Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 24.00.09 (18 March 2002).\n- Compliance: completion within 100 hours time in service after the effective date.\n- Background: explains the wiring mismatch risk and the hazard it creates.\n- Note: refers to the corresponding French (DGAC) AD for the same issue.\n\n**Bottom line**\n- This is a targeted, time‑limited airworthiness directive requiring a single corrective electrical action on specific AS350 B3 helicopters to eliminate a wiring mismatch that can overload the generator. The operator bears the cost and must use the manufacturer's service bulletin to perform the work within the stated compliance window."},"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, identified safety defect in a limited production run of helicopters. There is no evidence of scope creep; the directive remains tightly focused on correcting the identified wiring anomaly in the specified aircraft serial numbers only."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical action required (removal of one component)","Narrow applicability: only 19 specific aircraft serial numbers affected","Clear, unambiguous compliance deadline (100 hours time in service)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic—only one exclusion criterion (Modification 073146)","Minimal cross-referencing: only references one external technical document (Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin) and one related French aviation directive","No defined terms section; technical terms used are standard aviation maintenance terminology"],"plain_english_summary":"This safety order directs owners/operators of 19 specified Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters (listed by serial number) that have not received factory Modification 073146 to remove an incorrect shunt from connector \"38 Delta b\" per Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 24.00.09. It corrects a factory wiring mistake that can overload and trip the generator in flight, risking loss of critical electrical systems, and must be done within 100 flight hours of the directive."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-76-electrical-power","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-76-electrical-power/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-76-electrical-power/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-76-electrical-power/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-76-electrical-power/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-76-electrical-power/documents"}}