{"id":"F2006B10262","name":"AD/GBK 117/3 Amdt 1 - Cowling Latches","slug":"ad-gbk-117-3-amdt-1-cowling-latches","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":55937,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10262-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/GBK 117/3 Amdt 1 - Cowling Latches","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 BK 117 Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/GBK 117/3\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nCowling Latches 7/95\n\n \n\nApplicability: Eurocopter BK 117 series helicopters S/N 7001 to 7201. Requirement:  Action in accordance with ASB-MBB-BK 117-20-104. Compliance:               Prior to the issue of an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness.\n\nThis Amendment is effective 22 June 1995.\n\n \n\nBackground: Loss of a cowl resulted in the loss of an Australian aircraft.\n\n \n\nAmendment 1 is to reference the Eurocopter (MBB) document rather than that of Kawasaki. The Eurocopter document also references the aircraft built specifically by MBB.\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\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":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 replaces the Kawasaki service document reference with the Eurocopter (MBB) document (see \"Amendment 1\"). The Eurocopter document is described as referencing aircraft built specifically by MBB. This amendment changes the mandatory technical source that operators must follow and may refine which manufacturer-built aircraft the bulletin explicitly addresses, while the stated applicability (S/N 7001–7201) and the compliance timing (prior to Australian Certificate of Airworthiness) remain in the AD."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to Eurocopter BK 117 S/N 7001–7201 (straightforward target population)","Single prescriptive action: compliance with a specific service bulletin (ASB-MBB-BK 117-20-104)","Fixed timing requirement: must be done prior to issue of Australian Certificate of Airworthiness","Reference to an external technical document shifts technical detail out of the AD (adds dependency on the service bulletin's contents)","Amendment alters referenced document (Kawasaki to Eurocopter/MBB), creating a document-reference change but not multiple procedural branches"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive applies to Eurocopter BK 117 helicopters (S/N 7001–7201) and mandates compliance with Eurocopter/MBB service bulletin ASB‑MBB‑BK 117‑20‑104 before an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness can be issued. Issued after a cowl loss on an Australian aircraft, the AD aims to prevent cowl detachment; owners/operators must carry out and document the required inspections/works at their expense. Amendment 1 updates the mandatory reference to the Eurocopter (MBB) document."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a minor amendment (Amendment 1) that does not expand the scope. It merely updates the referenced technical document from Kawasaki to Eurocopter (MBB) and clarifies the aircraft coverage. The original purpose — addressing cowling latch safety following a fatal incident — remains unchanged."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 200 words)","Only 1 defined applicability criterion (serial number range)","Single compliance requirement referencing an external technical document","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Minimal cross-referencing (only to the Alert Service Bulletin)","Straightforward amendment history explaining a simple substitution of manufacturer reference"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific helicopters.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of certain Eurocopter BK 117 helicopters (serial numbers 7001 to 7201) to take specific safety actions regarding their cowling latches. Cowlings are the removable covers over the engine or other components. The directive mandates that operators follow the instructions in a technical document called ASB-MBB-BK 117-20-104 (an Alert Service Bulletin from the manufacturer).\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone who owns, operates, or maintains Eurocopter BK 117 helicopters with serial numbers between 7001 and 7201.\n\n**When it must be done:** Before the aircraft can be issued an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness — meaning this is a prerequisite for the helicopter to be legally flown in Australia.\n\n**Why it matters:** An Australian aircraft was lost because a cowl detached during flight. This directive prevents that from happening again by ensuring the latches that hold cowlings in place are properly addressed. Amendment 1 simply updates which manufacturer's technical document to follow (Eurocopter/MBB instead of Kawasaki) and clarifies which specific aircraft are covered."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-gbk-117-3-amdt-1-cowling-latches","history":"/api/acts/ad-gbk-117-3-amdt-1-cowling-latches/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-gbk-117-3-amdt-1-cowling-latches/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-gbk-117-3-amdt-1-cowling-latches/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-gbk-117-3-amdt-1-cowling-latches/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-gbk-117-3-amdt-1-cowling-latches/documents"}}