{"id":"F2006B10625","name":"AD/HU 269/65 Amdt 1 - Tail Rotor Blade Corrosion","slug":"ad-hu-269-65-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blade-corrosion","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":116513,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10625-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/HU 269/65 Amdt 1 - Tail Rotor Blade Corrosion","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)  Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/HU 269/65\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nTail Rotor Blade Corrosion 7/86\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models, fitted with tail rotor blades P/No. 269A6035-21 with S/Nos. prior to 0877 and tail rotor blades P/No. 269A6035-23 with S/Nos. prior to 2710.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Hughes SIN No. N-162.\n\n \n\nNote: FAA AD 79-23-03 R1 Amdt 39-5282 also refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: As per Requirement Document.\n\n \n\nBackground: Evidence of corrosion in the interior of the steel spar in the subject tail rotor blades has been found. Amdt 1 limits applicability to those T.R. blades manufactured prior to the introduction of improved corrosion protection at manufacture.\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\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is Amendment 1 to an existing Airworthiness Directive. The amendment narrows the applicability rather than expanding it — it specifically limits the directive to blades manufactured before improved corrosion protection was introduced at the factory. This is a refinement of scope, not scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 200 words)","Only 2 defined part/serial number ranges in applicability section","Single requirement referencing external document (Hughes SIN N-162)","No nested conditional logic or exceptions","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single note about related FAA directive","Straightforward compliance structure (follow the manufacturer's instructions)"],"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 Schweizer (formerly Hughes) 269 series helicopters to inspect their tail rotor blades for dangerous internal corrosion in the steel spar (the main structural beam inside the blade). If corrosion is found, repairs or replacements must be carried out following specific manufacturer instructions (Hughes Service Information Notice N-162).\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone operating Schweizer/Hughes 269 helicopters with specific tail rotor blade part numbers and serial numbers — specifically blades made before improved anti-corrosion manufacturing processes were introduced.\n\n**Why it matters:** Internal corrosion in a tail rotor blade can weaken the blade without visible warning signs, potentially causing blade failure in flight. This could lead to loss of directional control and a serious accident. The directive prevents this by mandating inspections of older blades that were manufactured before better corrosion protection was available."},"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 limits the applicability of the original airworthiness directive to tail rotor blades with specific part numbers and serial numbers manufactured before improved corrosion protection was introduced."},"complexity_factors":["Amendment limits applicability to early-production blades only","Compliance relies on a referenced manufacturer service notice","Narrow scope defined by part numbers and serial numbers"],"plain_english_summary":"This page summarises Airworthiness Directive AD/HU 269/65 Amendment 1, issued by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39. It deals with corrosion in tail rotor blades on Schweizer (formerly Hughes) 269 series helicopters.\n\n**What it does**\nThe amendment narrows the scope of the original directive. The original AD required operators to follow Hughes Service Information Notice N-162 to address corrosion found inside the steel spar of certain tail rotor blades. Amendment 1 now limits that requirement to blades manufactured before improved corrosion protection was introduced during production. Later blades are excluded.\n\n**Who it affects**\nOwners, operators and maintainers of all Schweizer 269 model helicopters fitted with:\n- tail rotor blades part number 269A6035-21 with serial numbers before 0877, or\n- tail rotor blades part number 269A6035-23 with serial numbers before 2710.\n\n**What you must do**\nYou must inspect, and if needed take corrective action, in line with Hughes Service Information Notice N-162. The amendment does not change the required actions; it only clarifies that the AD does not apply to later-production blades that already have improved corrosion protection.\n\n**Background**\nThe directive was prompted by evidence of corrosion inside blade spars. The corresponding FAA airworthiness directive (79-23-03 R1) also addresses this issue.\n\n**Practical point**\nIf you operate a Schweizer 269 with tail rotor blades matching those specific early part and serial numbers, you must ensure compliance with the manufacturer’s notice. If your blades carry a higher serial number, this AD no longer applies to them.\n\nCompliance timing is as set out in the requirement document (the service notice). Refer to the full AD text and the referenced notice for detailed procedures."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment narrows the directive's scope by limiting applicability to tail rotor blades manufactured prior to the introduction of improved corrosion protection at manufacture. This is reflected in the specified part numbers and serial-number cut-offs and explained in the Background (Applicability; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Dependence on an external technical document (Hughes SIN No. N-162) for the required inspections/repairs rather than containing detailed procedures within the AD (Requirement; Compliance).","Need for precise parts and serial-number identification to determine applicability (Applicability).","Cross-reference to another regulator's AD (FAA AD 79-23-03 R1) which may require checking additional documents for context (Note).","Narrowed applicability tied to a manufacturing change (improved corrosion protection), which requires knowledge of production history to determine whether a blade is covered (Background).","The AD mandates compliance but does not state costs, intervals, or specific corrective measures, increasing operational uncertainty until the referenced service instruction is consulted (Requirement; Compliance)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 helicopters with certain older tail-rotor blades to address corrosion found inside the steel spar by following Hughes Service Information Notice N-162.  \n\nThe rule limits coverage to blades made before an improved corrosion‑protection process, mandates compliance but delegates the exact inspection/repair steps (and any costs) to the manufacturer’s service instruction."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-65-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blade-corrosion","history":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-65-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blade-corrosion/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-65-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blade-corrosion/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-65-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blade-corrosion/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-65-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blade-corrosion/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-65-amdt-1-tail-rotor-blade-corrosion/documents"}}