{"id":"F2005L01040","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/88 Amdt 1 - Collective Pitch Lever Friction Mechanism","slug":"ad-ecureuil-88-amdt-1-collective-pitch-lever-friction-mechanism","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":34582,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L01040-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/88 Amdt 1 | Collective Pitch Lever Friction Mechanism | 6/2005 |\n| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Model EC 130 B4 helicopters, without Mod. 07 3791 incorporated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Operation of the collective pitch lever friction mechanism by helicopter crews:a. Only slightly tighten the collective pitch lever friction.b. If stiff operation is felt in flight with the collective pitch lever, loosen the collective pitch lever friction immediately.2. Action in accordance with the instructions described in paragraph 2.B.2.a. of Eurocopter EC 130 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 67A003.3. Action in accordance with the instructions described in paragraph 2.B.2.b. of ASB No. 67A003.Note: DGAC AD F-2002-607 R1 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. As from the next flight after 4 June 2003, and each flight thereafter; until compliance with Requirement 2.2. Within 110 flight hours or 3 months after 4 June 2003, whichever occurs first; and each time a replacement friction mechanism is installed on a helicopter.3. Within 110 flight hours or 13 months, whichever occurs first, following compliance with Requirement 2.The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue.                                                                                                                     |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 9 June 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n| Background:    | A report was received of collective pitch lever stiffness during flight. Investigation revealed an increased pad friction factor due to local unevenness of the pad material.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n\n|     | Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD, which converts the Requirement document to an Alert Service Bulletin; with no change to the technical content. |\n| --- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n27 April 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/88 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/88 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/ECUREUIL/88 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Collective Pitch Lever Friction Mechanis","sectionType":"part","heading":"Collective Pitch Lever Friction Mechanism","content":"## Collective Pitch Lever Friction Mechanism","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"6/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"6/2005","content":"## 6/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Amendment converts the Requirement reference into an Alert Service Bulletin (Eurocopter ASB No. 67A003) but explicitly states no change to the technical content; affected helicopters, crew actions and compliance windows remain the same (Amendment; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability to a specific model and modification status (Applicability).","Operational crew action required each flight until ASB action is completed, creating recurring compliance burden (Requirement; Compliance).","Technical corrective actions are delegated to a manufacturer Alert Service Bulletin (ASB No. 67A003), adding dependence on external instructions (Requirement).","Multiple overlapping compliance timeframes (110 flight hours/3 months; 110 flight hours/13 months) and trigger on replacement of friction mechanism (Compliance).","Amendment alters the reference document format (Requirement → ASB) but keeps technical content, requiring readers to consult the ASB (Amendment).","Potential parts replacement and inspection logistics affect operators' maintenance planning and costs (Background; Requirement)."],"plain_english_summary":"This airworthiness directive tells crews of Eurocopter EC 130 B4 helicopters (without Mod. 07 3791) to keep the collective‑pitch lever friction only slightly tightened, to loosen it immediately if stiffness is felt in flight, and to follow the inspection/rectification steps set out in Eurocopter ASB No. 67A003 (Requirement, Applicability). Operators must perform per‑flight checks until the ASB action is done and meet specified compliance windows (110 flight hours/3 months and 110 flight hours/13 months); operators bear the time, inspection and replacement costs (Compliance)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is Amendment 1 to an existing directive. The amendment explicitly states it makes 'no change to the technical content' — it merely updates the reference from a French DGAC AD to an Alert Service Bulletin format. The scope remains limited to the specific friction mechanism issue in EC 130 B4 helicopters."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping compliance deadlines (immediate, 3 months/110 hours, 13 months/110 hours)","Cross-reference to external technical document (Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 67A003) without reproducing its contents","Applicability limited by specific model and modification status (Mod. 07 3791)","Nested requirements: Requirement 3's timing depends on completion of Requirement 2","Reference to foreign aviation authority document (DGAC AD F-2002-607 R1)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's aviation regulator (CASA) requiring specific actions to keep aircraft safe to fly.\n\n**What it does:**\nThis directive applies to **Eurocopter EC 130 B4 helicopters** that haven't had a specific modification installed (Mod. 07 3791). It addresses a safety problem with the **collective pitch lever friction mechanism** — the control that adjusts how stiff or loose the main lever feels when pilots raise or lower the helicopter.\n\n**The safety issue:**\nInvestigators found that friction pads in this mechanism can develop uneven wear, causing the lever to become unexpectedly stiff during flight. This could make the helicopter harder to control.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **Immediately (from June 2003):** Pilots must only lightly tighten the friction setting, and loosen it immediately if they feel stiffness in flight\n- **Within 110 flight hours or 3 months:** Inspect and take action per Eurocopter's Alert Service Bulletin 67A003 (paragraph 2.B.2.a)\n- **Within 110 flight hours or 13 months:** Complete additional actions per the same bulletin (paragraph 2.B.2.b)\n\n**Who it affects:**\nOwners and operators of these specific helicopter models, plus the pilots who fly them.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nUnexpected control stiffness during flight is a serious safety risk. This directive ensures the problem is identified and fixed before it causes an accident."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-88-amdt-1-collective-pitch-lever-friction-mechanism","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-88-amdt-1-collective-pitch-lever-friction-mechanism/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-88-amdt-1-collective-pitch-lever-friction-mechanism/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-88-amdt-1-collective-pitch-lever-friction-mechanism/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-88-amdt-1-collective-pitch-lever-friction-mechanism/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-88-amdt-1-collective-pitch-lever-friction-mechanism/documents"}}