{"id":"F2006B10240","name":"AD/GAZELLE/21 - Main Rotor Head Pitch Change Rod Inspection","slug":"ad-gazelle-21-main-rotor-head-pitch-change-rod-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":55898,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10240-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/GAZELLE/21 - Main Rotor Head Pitch Change Rod Inspection","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Eurocopter SA341 and SA342 (Gazelle) Series Helicopters\n\n \n\n# AD/GAZELLE/21  Main Rotor Head Pitch Change Rod Inspection\n\nApplicability: All model SA341 G and SA342 J helicopters.\n\n# 3/99\n\nTX\n\n \n\nRequirement: 1. Perform a visual check of the body of every main rotor head pitch change rod to detect corrosion.\n\n \n\n2.    Perform a visual inspection of the inside of the body of every main rotor pitch change rod to detect corrosion.\n\n \n\n3.    Repair or replace the main rotor head pitch change rod.\n\n \n\nNote: DGAC 1998-551-039 (A) dated 13 January 1999 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: 1. At the next daily check after the effective date of this Directive.\n\n \n\n2.    Within ten flight hours or seven days of the effective date of this directive, whichever is the sooner, or, when the inspection at requirement 1. above reveals corrosion.\n\n \n\n3.    Before further flight, any corrosion detected by the inspections at requirements 1 or 2 above must be repaired in accordance with the manufacturer’s repair manual. If the corrosion is not repairable (ie. outside manufacturer’s repair limits) the pitch change rod must be replaced with a serviceable item.\n\n \n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 17 February 1999.\n\n \n\nBackground: Recent discovery of corrosion affecting a rotor head pitch change rod has lead to the issuance of a Country of Origin Airworthiness Directive. Failure of the component in flight could lead to the loss of the helicopter.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating corrosion inspections for Gazelle helicopter pitch change rods."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 250 words)","Only 3 defined requirements with clear sequential numbering","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond a single note referencing the French authority's equivalent directive","Simple conditional logic: 'if corrosion found, then repair or replace'","Straightforward compliance deadlines with clear alternatives ('whichever is the sooner')","Single applicability criterion (two specific helicopter models)","No nested exceptions or layered definitions"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Eurocopter Gazelle SA341 G and SA342 J helicopters in Australia to inspect main rotor head pitch change rods for corrosion and to repair or replace any affected parts per manufacturer guidance. It mandates prompt internal follow-up if corrosion is suspected. The rule addresses a France-issued safety concern because rod failure from corrosion could cause loss of control and a crash."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive’s scope aligns with its stated safety objective: it targets corrosion in main rotor head pitch change rods on all SA341 G and SA342 J helicopters and mandates inspection and repair/replacement (Applicability; Requirements; Compliance; Background). The text shows no expansion or narrowing of affected components or aircraft beyond that stated."},"complexity_factors":["Limited applicability but universal effect on the fleet: applies to all SA341 G and SA342 J helicopters (Applicability).","Two-tier inspection requirement: external visual check plus internal visual inspection of the rod body (Requirement 1–2).","Short, specific compliance windows: next daily check for external inspection; internal inspection within ten flight hours or seven days (Compliance 1–2).","Immediate remedial obligation: any corrosion must be repaired per the manufacturer’s repair manual or the rod replaced before further flight (Compliance 3).","Safety-critical consequence elevates enforcement and urgency: failure of the component could lead to loss of the helicopter (Background).","Dependency on manufacturer's repair limits and availability of serviceable replacement parts increases logistical and operational burden (Compliance 3).","Cross-reference to Country of Origin AD (DGAC 1998-551-039 (A)) introduces regulatory coordination considerations (Note)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of all Eurocopter SA341 G and SA342 J (Gazelle) helicopters to inspect every main rotor head pitch change rod for corrosion and to repair or replace any affected rod. Inspections include external and internal visual checks with short statutory deadlines; detected corrosion must be fixed per the manufacturer’s repair manual or the rod replaced before further flight. The directive responds to a discovered corrosion risk that could cause component failure in flight."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-21-main-rotor-head-pitch-change-rod-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-21-main-rotor-head-pitch-change-rod-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-21-main-rotor-head-pitch-change-rod-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-21-main-rotor-head-pitch-change-rod-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-21-main-rotor-head-pitch-change-rod-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-gazelle-21-main-rotor-head-pitch-change-rod-inspection/documents"}}