{"id":"F2006B10229","name":"AD/GAZELLE/10 Amdt 1 - Emergency Flotation Gear - Inflation Head","slug":"ad-gazelle-10-amdt-1-emergency-flotation-gear-inflation-head","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":55887,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10229-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/GAZELLE/10 Amdt 1 - Emergency Flotation Gear - Inflation Head","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)  \nEurocopter SA341 and SA342 (Gazelle) Series Helicopters\n\nAD/GAZELLE/10\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nEmergency Flotation Gear \\- Inflation Head 1/94\n\nApplicability: All models fitted with inflation heads P/n 74929 with no serial number or serial numbers below 10 000, and junction nuts P/n 75441/75834.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Eurocopter France SA341-342 SB 05.19 Rev. 2.\n\nNote: DGAC AD 80-061-028(B) R1 refers.\n\nCompliance: At the next inspection for maintenance release issue, or prior to each installation after 6 January 1994; thereafter at periods not exceeding 500 hours aircraft time in service.\n\nNote 1. Initial compliance was for a one time inspection within 100 hours time in service after 30 June 1980.\n\nNote 2. The repetitive inspection compliance may be aligned with the T1 inspection.\n\nBackground: Stress corrosion cracking may occur in the union nuts of the inflation head. Amendment 1 modifies the inspection procedure and introduces a periodic requirement.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose — ensuring the integrity of emergency flotation gear inflation heads on Gazelle helicopters. The change from one-time to repetitive inspection is a refinement of the same safety objective, not an expansion into new areas."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive (approximately 200 words)","Only 2 defined part numbers and 1 service bulletin reference","Simple conditional logic: applicability based on part number and serial number range only","Clear compliance timeline with single alternative ('next inspection OR prior to installation')","No nested exceptions or cross-references to other legislation beyond a single note referencing the French aviation authority's equivalent directive","Straightforward repetitive requirement (500-hour intervals)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (a mandatory safety order) for a specific type of helicopter — the Eurocopter Gazelle (models SA341 and SA342). It requires owners and operators to inspect and maintain the emergency flotation gear (the inflatable floats that help a helicopter stay upright if it lands on water).\n\n**What the problem is:** The metal union nuts on the inflation mechanism can develop **stress corrosion cracking** — tiny cracks caused by a combination of tension and environmental factors. If these nuts fail, the emergency floats might not inflate when needed, putting lives at risk during a water landing.\n\n**Who must act:** Anyone operating a Gazelle helicopter with specific part numbers for the inflation heads (P/n 74929 with no serial number or serial numbers below 10,000) and certain junction nuts.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow the inspection and maintenance procedures in **Eurocopter Service Bulletin 05.19 Revision 2**\n- Do this at the next scheduled maintenance check, or before installing the part after 6 January 1994\n- Repeat the inspection every **500 hours of flight time** thereafter\n\n**Key changes in this amendment:** The original directive (from 1980) required a one-off inspection. This update (Amendment 1) changes the procedure and makes the inspections **repetitive** — they must keep happening throughout the aircraft's life.\n\n**Why it matters:** Emergency flotation gear is only useful if it works in an emergency. This directive prevents catastrophic failure of a critical safety system."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 changes scope from the original one‑time inspection (Note 1) to a recurring inspection regime (Compliance: every 500 hours) and modifies the inspection procedure (Background)."},"complexity_factors":["References an external service bulletin (Eurocopter France SB 05.19 Rev.2) as the required procedure, creating dependency on an external document (Requirement).","Applies only to parts with specific part numbers and serial‑number range, requiring record checks to determine applicability (Applicability).","Multiple compliance triggers: next maintenance release, prior to installation after a cutoff date, and then repeated intervals, adding scheduling complexity (Compliance).","Introduces a recurring inspection interval (every 500 hours) rather than a single action, increasing ongoing compliance burden (Compliance; Background).","Notes allow alignment with an existing T1 inspection, introducing optional coordination with other maintenance programs (Compliance, Note 2).","Technical focus on stress‑corrosion cracking in union nuts requires competent inspection capability but no new design or operational limitations detailed (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of Eurocopter SA341/SA342 helicopters fitted with inflation heads P/n 74929 (certain serials) and junction nuts P/n 75441/75834 to inspect the inflation‑head union nuts in accordance with Eurocopter France SB 05.19 Rev.2. CASA requires inspection at the next maintenance release (or before installation after 6 Jan 1994) and then every 500 aircraft hours; operators pay for inspections and must adjust maintenance scheduling to meet the new periodic requirement (Requirement; Compliance; Background)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-10-amdt-1-emergency-flotation-gear-inflation-head","history":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-10-amdt-1-emergency-flotation-gear-inflation-head/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-10-amdt-1-emergency-flotation-gear-inflation-head/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-10-amdt-1-emergency-flotation-gear-inflation-head/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-10-amdt-1-emergency-flotation-gear-inflation-head/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-10-amdt-1-emergency-flotation-gear-inflation-head/documents"}}