{"id":"F2006B09963","name":"AD/FPE/15 - Overland Aviation Services Fire Extinguisher Cartridges","slug":"ad-fpe-15-overland-aviation-services-fire-extinguisher-cartridges","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":55232,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09963-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/FPE/15 - Overland Aviation Services Fire Extinguisher Cartridges","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\n![](image.001.png) \nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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\n![](image.001.png)\n\nFire Protection Equipment\n\nAD/FPE/15 Overland Aviation Services Fire Extinguisher\n\nCartridges\n\n \n4/2002\n\nApplicability: Overland Aviation Services (OAS) fire extinguisher system bottle cartridges that were distributed from 1 April 1996 to 15 September 1997 that are installed on, but not limited to, aircraft listed in the chart below.\n\nNote: For the purpose of this Airworthiness Directive “ distributed from 1 April, 1996, to 15 September, 1997” means: that the cartridges were distributed between 1 April 1996 to 15 September 1997 by Overland Aviation Services (the manufacturer) to parts brokers, FAA approved repair stations and aircraft operators.\n\nThe following chart presents the extinguisher system bottle cartridge part number, the fire extinguisher system bottle assembly basic part number, the make/model aircraft that the system could be installed on, and the cartridge lot number.\n\n| Overland Aviation Services cartridge part numbers | Walter Kidde Aerospace (WKA) fire extinguishing system (Firex) bottle assembly basic part number | Make/model of applicable aircraft | Cartridge lot number |\n| ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------- |\n| OA472001 | 472073, 472420,472467, 897878,897885, 899170 | Aerospatiale ATR72 Series ATR42-200, -300,-320; Embraer EMB-120 Series | SBI 1-1 SBI 1-2 |\n| OA841155 | 890532, 890598,890599, 891070,891147, 891814,892308, 893675,898768 | Boeing 707-100, -100B Series, -300 Series, 720B; McDonnell Douglas DC-8 and DC-8F Series; Lockheed 382, 382E, 382F, 382G;Sabreliner NA-265 Series; Bell 204B | SBI 1-3, OAS 1-2 |\n\n| Overland Aviation Services cartridge part numbers | Walter Kidde Aerospace (WKA) fire extinguishing system (Firex) bottle assembly basic part number | Make/model of applicable aircraft | Cartridge lot number |\n| ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- |\n| OA873571 | 892807, 892857,893244, 899827,899927 | Boeing 707-100, -100B Series, -300 Series, 720B; McDonnell Douglas DC-8,DC-8F Series; DC- 9 Series; Lockheed382, 382E, 382F,382G | SBI 2-2 |\n| OA876296 | 472602, 472603,473598, 895240,895564, 895678,895683, 895877,896054, 898150 | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81, DC-9-82, DC-9-83,DC-10 Series; Airbus A300 Series | SBI 1-1, OAS 1-1 |\n| OA876299 | 472268, 895656, | Lockheed L-1011 | SBI 1-1 |\n| | 895752, 895848, | Series | |\n| | 896165, 896166, | | |\n| | 897785, 897797, | | |\n| | 897798 | | |\n| OA897776 | 472258, 472428, | Canadair CL-600- | SBI 1-4, SBI 1-15, |\n| | 897775, 897869, | 1A11, CL-600 - | SBI 1-16, OAS 1-1 |\n| | 897885, 897899, | 2A12, CL-600- | |\n| | 899066, 899074, | 2B16; Embraer | |\n| | 899170, 899486 | EMB-120, EMB | |\n| | | 120RT; Sikorsky | |\n| | | S-76A; SAAB 340 | |\n| | | Series | |\n\nRequirement: 1. Check the maintenance records of the aircraft to determine whether an extinguishing system bottle cartridge referenced in the above chart is installed.\n\n 2. Remove from service any fire extinguishing system bottle cartridge referenced in the above chart.\n\n 3. Check the maintenance records of the aircraft to determine whether an extinguishing system bottle cartridge referenced in the above chart had previously been installed and operated to discharge a fire bottle. If such a cartridge has been identified, while carrying out requirement 1 of this Airworthiness Directive, inspect the discharge tube(s) of the fire extinguisher system for debris that may have exited the discharge valve.\n\n 4. Replace cartridges removed at Requirement 2 with one’s that do not have OAS part numbers, referenced in the above chart, that were distributed from 1 April 1996, to 15 September, 1997.\n\n 5. From the effective date of this Airworthiness Directive, no person may install, on any aircraft, any OAS fire extinguishing system bottle cartridge listed in the above chart that was distributed from 1 April, 1996, to 15 September, 1997.\n\nNote: FAA AD 2001-22-14 amendment 39-12493 and Overland Aviation Services Service Bulletin (SB) 22-09-97 refers.\n\nCompliance: For requirements 1, 2, 3 and 4: Within 120 days from the effective date of this Airworthiness Directive.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 18 April 2002.\n\nBackground: OAS received reports of incidents where inspections of the fire extinguisher assemblies after a bottle discharge revealed damage to the associated discharge valve. This was caused by the release of excessive energy during functioning. OAS investigation indicates that although steel filter screens appear to absorb most of the released energy, aluminium screens may fracture during functioning and allow debris from the discharge valve to be discharged into the distribution tube. To prevent a fire extinguishing system not operating properly, this Airworthiness Directive requires removal and replacement of fire extinguisher bottle cartridges distributed by OAS during a particular period, and an inspection of the aircraft’s fire extinguisher system should records indicate that a discharge of a fire extinguisher bottle has taken place using a suspect cartridge.\n\n![](image.002.png) \n\nEugene Paul Holzapfel\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 March 2002\n\n![](image.001.png) \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 March 2002.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument is a standalone airworthiness directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988; it imposes safety requirements without amending any other legislative instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Specific parts identification across multiple aircraft types","Record-keeping check requirement","Retrospective removal obligation for suspect serial numbers"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD targets Overland Aviation Services fire-extinguisher cartridges distributed 1 Apr 1996–15 Sep 1997 installed on the specified aircraft types. It responds to fractured aluminium filter screens that can shed debris into discharge tubes and block extinguisher operation, creating an unsafe condition.\n\nWithin 120 days of 18 Apr 2002 operators must check records, remove and replace any suspect cartridges, inspect discharge tubes if a discharge occurred, and must not install affected cartridges thereafter."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD’s scope aligns with its stated safety purpose in the Background: it targets OAS cartridges distributed between 1 April 1996 and 15 September 1997 with specified part and lot numbers and listed aircraft. It imposes time-limited removal, replacement, inspection and an installation ban on those cartridges. There is no textual indication in the instrument that the scope was broadened or narrowed beyond the stated applicability and requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability lists many specific OAS cartridge part numbers, WKA bottle assembly basic part numbers, aircraft makes/models and distinct cartridge lot numbers (Applicability; chart) — requires precise cross-referencing of records.","Requirement combines multiple actions: record checks, physical removal, replacement with non-OAS parts, targeted inspection of discharge tubes if prior discharge is recorded, and an installation prohibition (Requirement 1–5).","Compliance deadline is relatively short (120 days from effective date), creating logistical and scheduling pressure for operators and maintenance organisations (Compliance).","Identification ambiguity: ‘distributed from 1 April 1996 to 15 September 1997’ must be traced through supply records to parts brokers, FAA repair stations and operators (Applicability; Note) — increases administrative burden.","Technical inspection task: if a suspect cartridge discharged previously, inspectors must check discharge tubes for debris potentially expelled from the valve (Requirement 3; Background) — a specialised inspection may be required.","Wide aircraft coverage across many types (ATR, Embraer, Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed, Canadair, Sikorsky, SAAB, etc.) increases parts replacement coordination and supply-chain complexity (Applicability; chart).","External dependencies and references: the AD cites FAA AD 2001-22-14 and Overland Aviation Services Service Bulletin SB 22-09-97, requiring cross-referencing other documents for full technical detail (Note).","Regulatory discretion: AD is issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of CAR 1998 by a CASA delegate, meaning compliance and enforcement are under CASA’s delegated regulatory authority (preamble/signature)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires aircraft operators and maintenance organisations to check records, remove and replace specified Overland Aviation Services fire‑extinguisher cartridges distributed between 1 April 1996 and 15 September 1997, inspect discharge tubes if a suspect cartridge has discharged, and bans future installation; compliance is required within 120 days and operators bear the cost of replacement and inspections. CASA cites safety concerns that aluminium filter screens can fracture and release debris that may damage discharge valves and impair extinguisher operation."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive addressing a specific manufacturing defect in a defined batch of aviation safety equipment. The scope remains precisely focused on the identified unsafe condition without expansion into broader regulatory areas."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-referenced part numbers: 6 different OAS cartridge part numbers each linked to multiple Walter Kidde Aerospace bottle assembly numbers","Extensive aircraft applicability matrix requiring consultation of detailed tables to determine if an aircraft is affected","Conditional logic in Requirement 3: inspection of discharge tubes only required if records indicate previous discharge occurred","Date-based distribution window creates identification complexity (must verify distribution date, not just manufacture date)","Reference to external documents (FAA AD 2001-22-14 and OAS Service Bulletin 22-09-97) for additional context","Specific lot number tracking required (SBI and OAS lot numbers) for some cartridges"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **safety order** (called an \"Airworthiness Directive\") issued by Australia's aviation safety regulator (CASA) that **grounds specific fire extinguisher cartridges** used in aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Targets:** Fire extinguisher cartridges made by Overland Aviation Services (OAS) that were distributed between April 1996 and September 1997\n- **The problem:** These cartridges can release too much energy when fired, potentially damaging the discharge valve. While steel filters usually catch debris, aluminium ones can break apart, letting fragments flow into the fire suppression system tubes. This could mean the fire extinguisher fails to work properly in an emergency.\n\n**Who must act:**\n- Aircraft operators and maintenance crews who have these specific cartridges installed on their planes\n- Affected aircraft types include various Boeing 707s, DC-8s, DC-9s, DC-10s, Airbus A300s, ATR regional aircraft, Embraer turboprops, and several others (see the detailed chart in the document)\n\n**What they must do:**\n- Check maintenance records to see if affected cartridges are installed\n- **Remove all affected cartridges** within 120 days\n- If records show a cartridge was ever fired, inspect the discharge tubes for debris\n- Replace with safe cartridges (not from the affected batch)\n- **Ban future installation** of these specific cartridges on any aircraft\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis prevents a scenario where a fire breaks out on an aircraft but the extinguisher system fails to operate properly due to damaged components — a potentially catastrophic safety 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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-15-overland-aviation-services-fire-extinguisher-cartridges","history":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-15-overland-aviation-services-fire-extinguisher-cartridges/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-15-overland-aviation-services-fire-extinguisher-cartridges/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-15-overland-aviation-services-fire-extinguisher-cartridges/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-15-overland-aviation-services-fire-extinguisher-cartridges/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-15-overland-aviation-services-fire-extinguisher-cartridges/documents"}}