{"id":"F2006B09504","name":"AD/EMB-120/15 Amdt 1 - Propeller Ground Operation - Limitations","slug":"ad-emb-120-15-amdt-1-propeller-ground-operation-limitations","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":54055,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09504-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/EMB-120/15 Amdt 1 - Propeller Ground Operation - Limitations","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n![](image.002.png)  \nEmbraer EMB-120 (Brasilia) Series Aeroplanes\n\nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\n![](image.002.png)  \nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/EMB 120/15 and issues the following 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\nAD/EMB 120/15\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nPropeller Ground Operation \\- Limitations 13/2000\n\nApplicability: All model Embraer 120 series aircraft.\n\nRequirement: 1. During ground operations do not operate propellers above 60% Np unless;\n\n    Wind speed is less than 10 knots, or\n\n    b. The aircraft is headed into the wind +/- 45 degrees.\n\nNote: Monitor wind direction at run-up site.\n\n    2. Remove placard P/N 120-30915-001 from the cockpit instrument panel.\n\n    3. Install new placard P/N 120-61757-001 to cockpit instrument panel.\n\n    4. Develop a change to the aircraft approved System of Maintenance that includes the requirements of FAA AD 95-25-11 Amendment 39-9457, paragraph (d). CAR 42M and CAR 42P refer.\n\nNote: FAA AD 95-25-11 refers.\n\nCompliance: Unless previously accomplished, no later than 12 January 2001.\n\nThis Amendment becomes effective on 28 December 2000.\n\nBackground: The FAA has advised that high vibration stresses can develop in the propeller during ground running when tail or cross wind conditions are encountered and the propeller is operated at or near 73% of the nominal propeller revolutions.\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\nThis amendment to the Directive deletes reference to a CASA green page amendment to the aircraft flight manual (AFM). This requirement is no longer necessary because the manufacturer has revised the AFM to reflect the intent of the green page amendment.\n\nThe original issue of this Directive became effective 22 March 1996.\n\n![Signature of Eugene Paul Holzapfel, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.](image.003.png)  \n\nEugene Paul Holzapfel\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 November 2000\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 November 2000.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment revokes the earlier AD and modifies obligations: it retains the ground-run RPM limitation and adds placard swap and maintenance-system update, but deletes the prior requirement to issue a CASA green-page amendment to the AFM because the manufacturer revised the AFM to reflect that intent (Background). In effect the scope was adjusted by removing the AFM-action requirement while keeping and clarifying operational and maintenance duties (Applicability; Requirements 1–4)."},"complexity_factors":["Operational limit tied to measured wind speed and heading (Requirement 1) — requires monitoring wind at run-up site and judgement whether conditions meet exceptions.","Specific RPM threshold (60% Np) that crews must observe during ground operations (Requirement 1) — enforces an operational constraint on normal ground checks.","Mandatory placard removal and installation in cockpit (Requirements 2 and 3) — physical modification and inventory control for operators.","Obligation to amend the aircraft approved System of Maintenance to include FAA AD 95-25-11 paragraph (d) (Requirement 4) — cross-jurisdictional regulatory import and procedural change (see Compliance/CAR 42M & 42P references).","Applicability to all Embraer 120 series aircraft (Applicability) — broad fleet coverage increases administrative burden for operators.","Compliance deadline and effective date (Compliance/Effective date) — fixed implementation timeline that may require scheduling maintenance and placard changes.","Removal of an earlier AFM amendment requirement (Background) — an amendment that narrows one prior obligation adds a reconciliation step for records and AFM versions."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD imposes operational limits on propeller RPM during ground runs for all Embraer EMB-120 aircraft: do not run propellers above 60% Np on the ground unless wind is under 10 knots or the aircraft is within ±45° of headwind. It also requires swapping one cockpit placard for another and updating the approved maintenance system to include the referenced FAA AD. The rule aims to reduce propeller vibration damage caused by tail or crosswinds during ground running."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment narrows and clarifies the original 1996 directive rather than expanding it. It removes the temporary flight manual amendment requirement (green page) because the manufacturer incorporated those changes into the official manual. The core safety purpose — preventing propeller stress during ground operations — remains unchanged from the original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive (4 specific requirements)","Minimal defined terms (only standard aviation abbreviations like Np, P/N, AFM)","Simple conditional logic (wind speed OR heading requirement)","One cross-reference to US FAA regulation (FAA AD 95-25-11)","References to Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR 42M, CAR 42P) without requiring detailed parsing","Clear compliance date and applicability","Background section provides plain English explanation of safety rationale"],"plain_english_summary":"CASA issued an AD updating the earlier order for Embraer EMB‑120 Brasilia aircraft that makes new ground propeller speed limits permanent, requires replacing the cockpit warning placard with an updated one, and mandates incorporating a related FAA maintenance requirement into the approved maintenance program. It affects owners, operators and maintenance personnel because high‑power propeller runs on the ground in tail or crosswinds can induce dangerous vibration and potential propeller failure, so the AD changes procedures and labeling to mitigate that risk."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-15-amdt-1-propeller-ground-operation-limitations","history":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-15-amdt-1-propeller-ground-operation-limitations/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-15-amdt-1-propeller-ground-operation-limitations/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-15-amdt-1-propeller-ground-operation-limitations/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-15-amdt-1-propeller-ground-operation-limitations/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-15-amdt-1-propeller-ground-operation-limitations/documents"}}