{"id":"F2009L03204","name":"AD/EMB-120/49 Amdt 1 - Fuel Quantity Indication System","slug":"ad-emb-120-49-amdt-1-fuel-quantity-indication-system","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":140527,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L03204-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Embraer EMB-120 (Brasilia) Series Aeropl","sectionType":"division","heading":"Embraer EMB-120 (Brasilia) Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Embraer EMB-120 (Brasilia) Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/EMB-120/49 Amdt 1 | Fuel Quantity Indication System | 10/2009 DM |\n| -------------------- | ------------------------------- | ---------- |\n\n```html\n

Applicability:

EMB-120, EMB-120RT, EMB-120ER, EMB-120FC and EMB-120QC model aeroplanes.

Requirement:

1. With at least 400 kg (882 lb) of fuel in each tank perform task number 28-42-00, from one of the EMB-120 AMM listed in Table 1 below, to determine the real fuel quantity on each tank using the dripless measuring sticks. Compare the results of the fuel quantity measured with the master indicator and repeater indicator readings for each tank. If the difference of the indicated fuel quantity is 60 kg (132 lb) or less, no further action is necessary.

2. If the difference of the indicated fuel quantity is greater than 60 kg (132 lb), accomplish the following:

a. If the difference is greater than 60 kg (132 lb) on both tanks, correct the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) indication.

b. If the difference is greater than 60 kg (132 lb) on only one tank, correct the FQIS indication.

3. If the conditions listed in the compliance statement for Requirement 2.b. are not met, correct the FQIS indication.

Table 1 - EMB 120 AMM Task Reference

Task Reference Number

Maintenance Manual Publication Number

Task Title

Task Revision Date

28-42-00/001

MM120/1459
MM120BAS/718
MM120CAL/921
MM120DLT/724
MM120TEX/880

Fuel Quantity Measuring Sticks Assembly - Description and Operation

30 July 2004

OTFN 1VC97-2

Sistema Mecânico
de Indicação
de Quantidade
de Combustível - Descrição e Operação

Page 1 -
23 October 1986

Page 2 and on -
8 October 1987

\n```\n\n| | Note 1: ANAC AD 2009-07-04 refers. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Compliance: | For Requirement 1 - Within the next 600 hours time in service (TIS) or 180 days after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive, whichever occurs first and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 600 hours TIS or 180 days, whichever occurs first. |\n| | Note 2: If the initial inspection was accomplished in accordance with Requirement 1 of the original issue of this Directive then the timing for the repetitive inspections starts on the date when the initial inspection was completed. |\n| | For Requirement 2.a. - Before the next flight after the Requirement 1 functional check. |\n| | For Requirement 2.b. - Within 10 days after the Requirement 1 functional check, provided that condition a. b. and c. below are met. |\n| | a. After each refuelling, determine the real fuel quantity in the tank with the inoperative indicator in accordance with the procedure in Requirement 1; and |\n| | b. Both fuel flow indicators are operating properly; and |\n| | c. Fuel used or fuel remaining functions of the totalizer are operating properly. |\n| | For Requirement 3 - Before the next flight after the Requirement 1 functional check. |\n| | This Amendment becomes effective on 27 August 2009. |\n| Background: | The Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) has advised it has been found that some fuel quantity probes may fail during the aeroplane life leading to an erroneous fuel quantity indication to the crew. This erroneous indication may lead to the aeroplane being operated with less fuel than indicated which may lead to an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of one or both engines due to fuel starvation. |\n| | This amendment corrects a typographical error in the numbering of the Compliance statements. |\n| | The original issue of this Directive became effective on 27 August 2009. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nJames Coyne \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n12 August 2009","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/EMB-120/49 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/EMB-120/49 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/EMB-120/49 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Fuel Quantity Indication System","sectionType":"part","heading":"Fuel Quantity Indication System","content":"## Fuel Quantity Indication System","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"10/2009 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"10/2009 DM","content":"## 10/2009 DM","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is an amendment to an existing Airworthiness Directive. The amendment is explicitly limited to correcting a typographical error in compliance statement numbering. The substantive safety requirements remain unchanged from the original directive."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple conditional compliance pathways (Requirements 1, 2.a, 2.b, and 3) with different deadlines","Cross-references to external technical documents (EMB-120 Aircraft Maintenance Manual task 28-42-00)","Nested conditional logic in Requirement 2.b requiring three simultaneous conditions (a, b, and c) to be met for extended compliance timeframe","Specific technical thresholds (60 kg/132 lb difference, 400 kg minimum fuel for testing)","Reference to Brazilian aviation authority (ANAC) source material","Amendment structure requiring understanding of 'original issue' vs amended version"],"plain_english_summary":"Operators of Embraer EMB-120 series aircraft in Australia must regularly verify that the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) accurately reflects tank levels after reports of faulty probes giving false high readings. \n\nEvery 600 flight hours or 180 days, crews must physically measure tanks and compare to cockpit gauges; discrepancies over 60 kg require correction before flight (with limited relief where only one tank is affected). This prevents fuel-starvation and engine failure."},"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":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"No substantive scope change. The amendment states it corrects a typographical error in the numbering of the compliance statements; the inspection, threshold (60 kg), corrective requirements and timing remain those set out in the original Directive (Background: 'This amendment corrects a typographical error...'; Compliance; Requirement 1–3)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical measurement procedure tied to AMM task 28‑42‑00 and specific AMM publication numbers (Table 1).","Requires minimum fuel condition for testing (at least 400 kg in each tank) which affects when checks can be done (Requirement 1).","Simple numeric decision rule (≤60 kg no action; >60 kg correction) but multiple branches for single‑tank vs both‑tank discrepancies (Requirement 1–2).","Several timing rules and recurrence: initial check within 600 flight hours or 180 days, then recurring at same interval; corrective actions required either before next flight or within 10 days depending on conditions (Compliance; Requirement 2.a/2.b; For Requirement 1).","Conditional relief for a 10‑day corrective window depends on three operational verifications after each refuelling (Compliance: 2.b a–c), adding procedural and record‑keeping burden.","Applicability across multiple EMB‑120 variants increases scope of affected operators (Applicability).","References an external safety AD (ANAC AD 2009‑07‑04) and gives a safety rationale linking probe failure to in‑flight shutdown (Background).","This Amendment states it only corrects a typographical error in compliance numbering, so substantive duties remain (Background: 'This amendment corrects a typographical error...').","Operational costs and downtime fall on operators/maintenance who must perform measurements, comparisons and FQIS corrections within prescribed timeframes (Requirement 1–3; Compliance)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators and maintenance staff of Embraer EMB‑120 series aeroplanes to measure the real fuel in each tank with dripless measuring sticks (AMM task 28‑42‑00) and compare those quantities with cockpit master and repeater indicators. If the difference exceeds 60 kg the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) must be corrected under the Directive’s specified time limits. The measure responds to Brazilian safety advice that probe failures can give misleading fuel readings and risk engine shutdown due to fuel starvation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-49-amdt-1-fuel-quantity-indication-system","history":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-49-amdt-1-fuel-quantity-indication-system/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-49-amdt-1-fuel-quantity-indication-system/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-49-amdt-1-fuel-quantity-indication-system/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-49-amdt-1-fuel-quantity-indication-system/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-emb-120-49-amdt-1-fuel-quantity-indication-system/documents"}}