{"id":"F2006L03412","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/78 Amdt 2 - Sliding Door","slug":"ad-ecureuil-78-amdt-2-sliding-door","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":60864,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L03412-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/78 Amdt 2 | Sliding Door | 11/2006 |\n| --------------------- | ------------ | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | AS 350 helicopters, versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D, equipped with sliding doors; and without MOD 073287 and/or MOD 073290 or Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 52.00.29 incorporated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Check the diameter of the sliding door roller and the dimension of the front end opening of the middle rail, in accordance with paragraph 2.B.1 of EurocopterAS 350 Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.41 Revision 2.2. As a result of the Requirement 1 check, action paragraph 2.B.2 of the Requirement document:a. If criterion C1 is equal to or greater than 5mm, and criterion C2 is equal to or greater than 1.5mm, door operation in flight is allowed.b. If criterion C1 is less than 5mm and/or criterion C2 is less than 1.5mm, door operation in flight is prohibited. A placard specifying this restriction is to be affixed to the instrument panel of the helicopter.Note: EASA AD 2006-0249 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | Before further flight after 3 July 2002; and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 flight hours.The initial compliance time remains unchanged by this issue of the Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 26 October 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n| Background:    | The DGAC received a report of sliding door aft roller dislodgement in flight due to severe wear on the rail. If this deficiency is evident and not corrected, loss of the sliding door could occur during flight.Amendment 1 converted the previous Alert Telex to an Alert Service Bulletin, with no change in technical content; but introduced an additional check criterion in order to prevent the risk of the aft guide roller coming out of the middle rail when the door is opened in flight.                                                                                                                                                                                                                |\n\n|     | Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new EASA AD, which introduces a revision of the Requirement document, and limits applicability to unmodified aircraft. |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n13 September 2006","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/78 Amdt 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/78 Amdt 2","content":"## AD/ECUREUIL/78 Amdt 2","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Sliding Door","sectionType":"part","heading":"Sliding Door","content":"## Sliding Door","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"11/2006","sectionType":"part","heading":"11/2006","content":"## 11/2006","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 2 narrows the pool of affected aircraft by limiting applicability to unmodified AS 350 helicopters (those without MOD 073287 and/or MOD 073290 or without incorporation of Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 52.00.29). The Amendment also issues a revision of the Requirement document in response to a new EASA AD; earlier Amendment 1 had converted an Alert Telex to an Alert Service Bulletin and introduced an additional check criterion. (Applicability; Background)"},"complexity_factors":["Specified numeric measurement criteria (C1 and C2) that require precise technical inspection","Applicability limited by presence/absence of specific modifications or incorporation of a Service Bulletin (MOD 073287, MOD 073290, Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 52.00.29)","Recurring compliance interval (every 100 flight hours) creates ongoing maintenance scheduling and record-keeping","Requirement to affix a placard when prohibition applies (simple administrative action tied to inspection outcome)","Cross-references to external technical documents (Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin and EASA AD) which operators must consult for the detailed procedure"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument mandates physical measurements of sliding-door rollers and the middle-rail opening on certain Eurocopter AS350 (B/B A/BB/B1/B2/B3/D) helicopters (unless specific mods/service bulletin have been incorporated). If measured C1 ≥ 5 mm and C2 ≥ 1.5 mm, in‑flight door use is allowed; if either is below threshold, in‑flight door use is prohibited and a placard must be fitted.\n\nInspections are required before further flight after 3 July 2002 and every 100 flight hours thereafter, imposing recurring maintenance and potential repair costs on affected operators."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original directive (pre-Amendment 1) was a simple safety notice about door roller wear. Amendment 1 added a second measurement criterion. Amendment 2 has narrowed the scope significantly by limiting applicability to only unmodified aircraft — those without specific factory modifications. This represents a scope shift from universal application to targeted application, though the core safety purpose (preventing door loss) remains unchanged."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple nested conditions: Two measurement criteria (C1 and C2) with combined logic (AND/OR) determining operational restrictions","Cross-references to external technical documents: Requires access to Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.41 Revision 2.2 for actual inspection procedures","Applicability exclusions: Complex negative applicability clause ('without MOD...') requiring operators to verify modification status","Version-specific applicability: Covers 7 different helicopter variants (B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, D)","Amendment layering: This is Amendment 2, building on Amendment 1 and original AD/ECUREUIL/78, with cumulative background context"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's aviation regulator (CASA) requiring specific inspections or fixes on aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain Eurocopter AS 350 helicopters (nicknamed \"Ecureuil\" or \"Squirrel\") to inspect the sliding door mechanism. Specifically, they must measure the door roller diameter and check the front opening of the middle rail that guides the door.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nOperators of AS 350 helicopters (versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D) that have sliding doors AND haven't had specific factory modifications installed (MOD 073287, MOD 073290, or Service Bulletin 52.00.29).\n\n**What the inspection decides:**\n- **If measurements meet safety thresholds** (5mm and 1.5mm respectively): The door can still be opened and closed during flight.\n- **If measurements fall below these thresholds**: The door cannot be operated in flight. A warning placard must be installed on the instrument panel telling pilots this restriction.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nA sliding door roller can wear down and pop out of its track mid-flight, potentially causing the entire door to fall off. This directive prevents that catastrophic failure by catching wear before it becomes dangerous.\n\n**When to comply:**\nThe inspection had to be done before flying after 3 July 2002, and then repeated every 100 flight hours. This particular amendment took effect on 26 October 2006 and simply updated the paperwork to match a European safety directive, while narrowing the rule to only apply to unmodified helicopters."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-78-amdt-2-sliding-door","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-78-amdt-2-sliding-door/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-78-amdt-2-sliding-door/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-78-amdt-2-sliding-door/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-78-amdt-2-sliding-door/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-78-amdt-2-sliding-door/documents"}}