{"id":"F2017L01322","name":"AD/GENERAL/87 Amdt 1 - Primary Flight Control Cable Terminals - Detailed Visual Inspections","slug":"ad-general-87-amdt-1-primary-flight-control-cable-terminals-detailed-visual-inspections","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":144138,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L01322-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Aircraft - General","sectionType":"part","heading":"Aircraft - General","content":"# Aircraft - General\n\n| AD/GENERAL/87 Amdt 1 | Primary Flight ControlCable Terminals - Detailed Visual Inspections | 20/2017 |\n| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | All fixed wing aircraft fitted with primary flight control cable assemblies using swaged terminal fittings specified to have been manufactured from SAE-AISI 303Se or SAE-AISI 304 stainless steel if the cable terminal fittings have 15 years or more time in service (TIS).Cable terminal fittings with unknown TIS are assumed for the purpose of this airworthiness directive (AD) to have more than 15 years TIS.This AD is not applicable to aircraft that:(a) are over 5700 kg MTOW, or(b) have in their approved scheduled maintenance tasks, detailed inspections on cable terminal fittings that are at least equivalent to Requirement 1 of this AD.Note 1: Primary Flight Controls means: For control of the aircraft around the pitch, roll and yaw axis. This AD is not applicable to ‘secondary’ flight controls such as trim cable or flap cable assemblies. |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement: | 1. Inspect cable terminal fittings as follows:a. Prepare each cable terminal for inspection by:i. removing rubber sleeves, tape or any coverings on the stainless steel swaged terminals (see Note 2).ii. cleaning the surface of the terminal fittings as necessary to remove any contaminants on the surface prior to their inspection.b. Examine the entire exposed surface of each cable terminal fitting using a 10X magnifier or borescope, looking for any corrosion, pitting or cracking on the terminal fitting.2. Repeat the inspection detailed in Requirement 1 (b) at the intervals mentioned in the Compliance section of this AD.3. Replace any cable assembly which is found to have any evidence of pitting corrosion, or cracking on the cable terminal fitting.4. Report to CASA any defects found during compliance with this AD via the Defect Reporting System. |\n| | Note 2: Removal of lock-wire/safety clips may be required to perform the detailed inspection adequately. Certain methods of locking such as lock-wire which is wrapped (spiral) around the terminal should be removed. The requirement for the disassembly of the turnbuckle is at the discretion of the maintainer.Note 3: Additional guidance, background and references are provided in CASA Airworthiness Bulletin 27-001, ATSB report AE-2012-028 and FAA SAIBCE-02-05R1. |\n| Compliance: | For requirement 1: Initial Inspection for cables with 15 years or more TIS, or unknown TIS at the effective date of this AD - Before 1 November 2018.For requirement 2: At intervals not to exceed 12 months.Note 4: Where the existing manufacturer’s maintenance schedule has a cable inspection interval that is different from 12 months, this interval is acceptable for compliance with this AD providing that the detailed inspection task is considered to be the equivalent to the requirements of this AD.Requirement 3: Before further flight after the performance of requirement 1 or 2.Requirement 4: Within two working days of the discovery of the defect.Note 5: Where a cable assembly has been previously replaced and with a logbook entry documenting the replacement, this relieves the repetitive inspection of this AD, for that cable only, until such time as that cable assembly has been in service for 15 years. |\n| | This AD commences on 1 November 2017. |\n| Background: | Following multiple reports of cable terminal failures, CASA undertook industry consultation via Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) 1303 MS Proposed Airworthiness Directive to Mandate Inspection or Retirement of Control Cable Assemblies with Terminals Manufactured from SAE – AISI 303 Se Stainless Steel in 2014.As a result of industry feedback received in response to NPRM 1303 MS, CASA issued AD/GENERAL/87 Primary Flight Control Cable Assembly Retirement mandating retirement of control cable assemblies manufactured with terminal fittings made from SAE-AISI 303 Se Stainless Steel with 15 years or more TIS before 1 January 2018.Subsequent input from industry as a result of the release of AD/GENERAL/87, as well as additional investigation and risk analysis undertaken by CASA, resulted in CASA issuing PAD/GENERAL/87 Amdt 1 Primary Flight Control Cable Terminals - Detailed Visual Inspections on 31 May 2017. The PAD provided the rationale for enhanced inspection of primary flight control cables rather than mandatory retirement life, offering an acceptable level of safety at a lower material cost to industry.Industry feedback to PAD/GENERAL/87 Amdt 1 has been incorporated into the actions detailed in this AD which now require a thorough inspection of the cable terminal fittings that have more than 15 years TIS. |\n\n| | The original issue of this AD became effective on 13 January 2015. |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n\n![](image.001.jpeg)\n\nChristopher De Luis \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n29 September 2017","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/GENERAL/87 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/GENERAL/87 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/GENERAL/87 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Primary Flight ControlCable Terminals - ","sectionType":"part","heading":"Primary Flight ControlCable Terminals - Detailed Visual Inspections","content":"## Primary Flight Control \nCable Terminals - Detailed Visual Inspections","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"20/2017","sectionType":"part","heading":"20/2017","content":"## 20/2017","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original AD/GENERAL/87 (January 2015) mandated complete retirement/replacement of affected cable assemblies after 15 years time-in-service. This Amendment 1 significantly narrows the scope by replacing mandatory retirement with a detailed visual inspection regime, allowing continued service if cables pass inspection. The scope shifted from 'remove and replace' to 'inspect and monitor' based on industry cost concerns and updated risk analysis."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple applicability exclusions requiring cross-checking (MTOW threshold, existing maintenance schedules, primary vs secondary controls)","Nested conditional logic: 15-year TIS assumption for unknown service history, with exception for documented replacements resetting the clock","Four distinct requirements with different compliance timelines and triggers","Technical material specifications (SAE-AISI 303Se/304) requiring external knowledge","Reference to external documents for 'equivalency' determinations (manufacturer schedules, CASA Airworthiness Bulletin 27-001, ATSB report, FAA SAIB)","Discretionary language ('at the discretion of the maintainer') creating interpretive uncertainty"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive orders owners/operators of most fixed-wing aircraft under 5,700 kg to inspect metal fittings on primary flight‑control cable terminals (stainless SAE‑AISI 303Se/304) that have been in service 15+ years. Prompt, regular inspections (with magnification/borescope), replacement of any pitted/cracked fittings before flight, and rapid reporting to CASA are required. Issued after multiple terminal failures, the AD replaces a mandatory 15‑year retirement with an ongoing inspection regime to maintain safety."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The AD changes scope compared with the original retirement mandate: earlier material required mandatory retirement of cable assemblies with SAE‑AISI 303Se terminals at 15+ years; this amendment replaces mandatory retirement with required detailed inspections and conditional replacement (see Background and Requirement sections). It retains exclusions for >5,700 kg MTOW aircraft and allows existing manufacturer inspection intervals if equivalent, and provides that previously replaced cables with logbook entries are exempt from repeated inspection until they reach 15 years (Applicability; Requirement 1–3; Compliance; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability hinge on material specification (SAE‑AISI 303Se or 304) and time‑in‑service threshold (15 years or assumed >15 years if unknown)","Exclusions for aircraft over 5,700 kg MTOW and where approved maintenance already contains equivalent detailed inspections","Detailed inspection procedure requirements (remove sleeves/tape/lock‑wire as needed, clean, examine entire exposed surface with 10X magnifier or borescope)","Repetitive interval rule (annual) with allowance for manufacturer schedules considered equivalent","Replacement mandate: any pitting, corrosion or cracking requires cable assembly replacement before further flight","Reporting requirement: defects must be reported to CASA via the Defect Reporting System within two working days","Operational discretion points (maintainer may decide on turnbuckle disassembly; removal of certain locking methods required for inspection)","Recordation relief: documented prior replacement in the logbook suspends repetitive inspections for that cable until it reaches 15 years in service"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of fixed‑wing aircraft fitted with primary flight‑control cable assemblies using swaged terminals made from SAE‑AISI 303Se or 304 stainless steel (with 15+ years TIS, or unknown TIS) to perform a detailed visual/borescope inspection after removing coverings and cleaning, repeat it at least annually (or per an equivalent manufacturer schedule), replace any cable with pitting, corrosion or cracking before further flight, and report defects to CASA. It primarily affects small aircraft operators and their maintenance providers, who bear inspection, replacement and reporting costs."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-general-87-amdt-1-primary-flight-control-cable-terminals-detailed-visual-inspections","history":"/api/acts/ad-general-87-amdt-1-primary-flight-control-cable-terminals-detailed-visual-inspections/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-general-87-amdt-1-primary-flight-control-cable-terminals-detailed-visual-inspections/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-general-87-amdt-1-primary-flight-control-cable-terminals-detailed-visual-inspections/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-general-87-amdt-1-primary-flight-control-cable-terminals-detailed-visual-inspections/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-general-87-amdt-1-primary-flight-control-cable-terminals-detailed-visual-inspections/documents"}}