{"id":"F2006B09966","name":"AD/FPE/7 - Kidde Water Based Fire Extinguisher Cartridge Holder - Inspection","slug":"ad-fpe-7-kidde-water-based-fire-extinguisher-cartridge-holder-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":55240,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09966-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/FPE/7 - Kidde Water Based Fire Extinguisher Cartridge Holder - Inspection","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nFire Protection Equipment\n\nAD/FPE/7 Kidde Water Based Fire Extinguisher Cartridge Holder - Inspection\n\n  \n7/81\n\nApplicability: Walter Kidde water based fire extinguishers P/N 970317, 871685, 890017, 890275,\n\n891318, 892480 and 893948.\n\nDocument: 1. Walter Kidde SB No. 162, or,\n\n    2. Kidde Belleville SB No. 26-20-240, or,\n\n    3. A scheme approved by the Secretary which will confirm the integrity and dimension of the cartridge holder internal peg.\n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished before 31 August 1981.\n\nBackground: A Walter Kidde water based fire extinguisher P/N 890275 failed to operate when recently required for use. Subsequent investigation revealed a corroded and shortened cartridge holder inner peg, which had caused the holder to reach the end of its thread before actuating the cartridge.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — a standard safety instrument in aviation regulation. It addresses a specific, identified safety defect in a particular piece of equipment. There is no indication this has expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring fire extinguisher reliability."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical requirement with only 7 affected part numbers","Three alternative compliance pathways (two service bulletins or approved alternative scheme)","No defined terms section or extensive cross-referencing","Single compliance deadline with straightforward exception (already accomplished)","Narrow scope: one specific component of one manufacturer's product line"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **safety directive** issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requiring inspections of specific fire extinguishers used in aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Orders owners and operators of certain Walter Kidde water-based fire extinguishers to inspect the **cartridge holder** — the part that holds the explosive charge that activates the extinguisher.\n- The inspection checks for **corrosion and wear** on an internal peg that triggers the extinguisher when activated.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone operating aircraft with Walter Kidde fire extinguishers with these specific part numbers: 970317, 871685, 890017, 890275, 891318, 892480, and 893948.\n- This includes airlines, charter operators, private aircraft owners, and maintenance organisations.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- A fire extinguisher with this defect **failed to operate during an actual emergency** because the corroded peg was too short to trigger the cartridge.\n- This directive prevents potentially catastrophic situations where a fire on an aircraft cannot be extinguished due to equipment failure.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow the inspection procedures in one of these documents:\n  - Walter Kidde Service Bulletin No. 162, **or**\n  - Kidde Belleville Service Bulletin No. 26-20-240, **or**\n  - An alternative inspection scheme approved by the Secretary (the government official responsible for aviation safety)\n- The inspection must confirm that the internal peg is the correct length and not corroded.\n- **Deadline:** The inspection had to be completed by 31 August 1981 (unless already done)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive retains the original, narrowly focused scope: inspect the cartridge holder internal peg on the specified Walter Kidde water-based fire extinguisher part numbers and ensure integrity/dimension per the listed service bulletins or a Secretary-approved alternative. There is no indication in the text that the scope was widened or narrowed from the original intent to address the reported failure (Applicability, Document, Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical specificity: inspection targets a small, internal component (the cartridge holder internal peg) requiring physical measurement or integrity checks.","Multiple referenced documents: compliance depends on one of two specific service bulletins or an approved alternative scheme (Document).","Regulatory discretion: the Secretary must approve any alternative inspection scheme, introducing an administrative approval step (Document).","Fixed compliance date: a past calendar deadline is specified (Compliance), requiring records evidence of prior completion or current compliance.","Limited applicability: applies only to a defined list of extinguisher part numbers (Applicability), requiring affected-asset identification."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires inspection of the cartridge‑holder internal peg on specified Walter Kidde water‑based aircraft fire extinguishers (listed part numbers), using Walter Kidde SB No.162, Kidde Belleville SB No.26‑20‑240, or a Secretary‑approved alternative, to confirm peg integrity and dimensions after a reported failure. Operators/owners must arrange and pay for inspections, repairs or replacements and associated downtime; compliance deadline was 31 Aug 1981 unless already done."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-7-kidde-water-based-fire-extinguisher-cartridge-holder-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-7-kidde-water-based-fire-extinguisher-cartridge-holder-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-7-kidde-water-based-fire-extinguisher-cartridge-holder-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-7-kidde-water-based-fire-extinguisher-cartridge-holder-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-7-kidde-water-based-fire-extinguisher-cartridge-holder-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-fpe-7-kidde-water-based-fire-extinguisher-cartridge-holder-inspection/documents"}}