{"id":"F2006L02290","name":"AD/ECUREUIL/95 Amdt 1 - Engine Controls - Twist Grip Solenoid","slug":"ad-ecureuil-95-amdt-1-engine-controls-twist-grip-solenoid","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":117615,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L02290-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","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/95 Amdt 1 | Engine Controls - Twist Grip Solenoid | 9/2006 TX |\n| --------------------- | ------------------------------------- | --------- |\n\n| Applicability: | AS 350 B3 helicopters fitted with twist grip post MOD 073084 and not modified per MOD 073222 (new solenoid).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n|                | Note 1: Helicopters modified per MOD 073261, which is only embodied on helicopters equipped with Arriel 2B1 engine, are not affected by this Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Remove the Before Flight Check procedures inserted into Section 4 - Normal Procedures of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) in accordance with the Original Issue of this Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n|                | 2. Operate the helicopter in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AS 350 05.00.44 issued 23 June 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |\n|                | 3. Replace the solenoid in accordance with paragraph 2.B.3 of the ASB AS 350 05.00.44 if, at any time, the operating time of the solenoid (AUTO/MAN governing mode selector set to MAN) exceeds 15 consecutive minutes or if a waiting time of at least 15 minutes was not observed between two consecutive operations (even if the solenoid has only operated for a few seconds). |\n|                | Note 2: EASA Emergency AD 2006-0183-E refers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| Compliance:    | For Requirement 1 - Before 12 July 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n|                | For Requirement 2 - With effect from 12 July 2006 until MOD 07322 is incorporated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n|                | For Requirement 3 - Before further flight, following each occasion the operating times are exceeded, until MOD 07322 is incorporated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 10 July 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |\n| Background:    | The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive followed advice from the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile of France that during prolonged application of electrical power to the twist grip solenoid resulted in locking pin seizure due to overheating of the solenoid. The seizure could result in loss of the emergency governing function.                           |\n\n|     | The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive required a temporary addition to the AFM Normal procedures until a modification is developed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n|     | This Amendment follows further advice from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that consecutive operation of the solenoid should be limited and that a minimum waiting period between two operations of the solenoid should also be observed. The Amendment removes the AFM supplement inserted in accordance with the original Directive, requires the helicopter be operated in accordance with the Eurocopter ASB and requires that the solenoid be replaced if certain operating times of are exceeded. |\n|     | The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 7 April 2004.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nJames Coyne  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n7 July 2006","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ECUREUIL/95 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ECUREUIL/95 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/ECUREUIL/95 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Engine Controls - Twist Grip Solenoid","sectionType":"part","heading":"Engine Controls - Twist Grip Solenoid","content":"## Engine Controls - Twist Grip Solenoid","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"9/2006 TX","sectionType":"part","heading":"9/2006 TX","content":"## 9/2006 TX","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose: addressing the twist grip solenoid overheating issue in AS 350 helicopters. While it adds new operational limitations and replacement requirements compared to the 2004 original, these are refinements to the same safety problem rather than scope creep. The directive has not expanded to cover other aircraft systems or unrelated safety concerns."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple modification numbers (MOD 073084, MOD 073222, MOD 073261) create conditional applicability that requires cross-referencing aircraft records","Nested conditions for Requirement 3: replacement triggered by either 15+ consecutive minutes OR insufficient waiting time between operations, with both conditions applying only until MOD 073222 is incorporated","Three separate compliance deadlines with different triggers (calendar date vs. flight cycles vs. modification status)","References to external documents (Eurocopter ASB AS 350 05.00.44, EASA Emergency AD 2006-0183-E) that are not reproduced in the text","Technical aviation terminology (twist grip solenoid, AUTO/MAN governing mode, locking pin seizure) assumes specialized knowledge"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD updates mandatory safety measures for Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters addressing overheating of the twist grip solenoid, which can seize and disable emergency manual throttle control. It targets helicopters with MOD 073084 that haven’t received MOD 073222 (except Arriel 2B1 engines with MOD 073261).\n\nAffected operators must remove the old temporary flight manual supplement, follow Eurocopter’s June 2006 operating limits on solenoid use, and replace solenoids used over 15 minutes continuous or used twice without a 15‑minute cooldown."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment replaces the temporary AFM supplement imposed by the original AD with a requirement to operate per Eurocopter ASB AS 350 05.00.44 and adds explicit limits on consecutive solenoid operating time and minimum waiting time, plus a mandatory replacement rule if those limits are breached. These interim measures remain in force until MOD 073222 is incorporated (Background; Requirement 1–3; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, specific applicability limited to AS350 B3 helicopters fitted post MOD 073084 and excluding those modified per MOD 073222 (Applicability).","Three discrete operational requirements: removal of AFM supplement, follow the manufacturer ASB, and mandatory replacement if time/wait thresholds exceeded (Requirement 1–3).","Numeric operating thresholds and minimum waiting times (15 consecutive minutes; 15 minutes between operations) create binary compliance triggers (Requirement 3).","Temporal compliance windows and dependency on incorporation of a modification (MOD 073222) to end interim measures (Compliance).","Cross-reference to external documents: Eurocopter ASB AS 350 05.00.44 and EASA Emergency AD 2006-0183-E require operators to consult other sources (Requirement 2; Note 2).","Immediate operational consequence: replacement 'before further flight' after threshold breaches, producing potential grounding and direct cost to operators (Requirement 3; Compliance)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD changes how operators of certain Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters must manage the twist‑grip solenoid: it removes a temporary AFM before‑flight check, requires operating the helicopter in line with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin AS 350 05.00.44, and mandates solenoid replacement if specified operating‑time or waiting‑time limits are exceeded (Applicability; Requirement 2–3; Compliance).\n\nIt applies to AS350 B3s fitted with the twist grip post MOD 073084 but not modified per MOD 073222; owners/operators must follow the ASB, bear replacement and downtime costs, and observe the prescribed operating/waiting intervals to avoid solenoid overheating and possible loss of emergency governing."},"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-95-amdt-1-engine-controls-twist-grip-solenoid","history":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-95-amdt-1-engine-controls-twist-grip-solenoid/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-95-amdt-1-engine-controls-twist-grip-solenoid/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-95-amdt-1-engine-controls-twist-grip-solenoid/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-95-amdt-1-engine-controls-twist-grip-solenoid/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ecureuil-95-amdt-1-engine-controls-twist-grip-solenoid/documents"}}