{"id":"F2006B10644","name":"AD/HU 269/85 Amdt 2 - Tail Rotor Blade Abrasion Strip","slug":"ad-hu-269-85-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade-abrasion-strip","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":116552,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10644-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/HU 269/85 Amdt 2 - Tail Rotor Blade Abrasion Strip","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)  \nSchweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/HU 269/85\n\nAmdt 2\n\n  \n\nTail Rotor Blade Abrasion Strip 6/91 DM\n\nApplicability: All models 269 series helicopters, certified in any category, equipped with 269A6035 series tail rotor blades manufactured before 15 September 1989.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirement of FAA AD 89-20-03 R1, which requires the following:\n\n    Modify the affected tail rotor blades with the following serial numbers (S/N) in accordance with the procedures detailed in Schweizer SIN N-183.3 Part III.\n\nBlade S/N’s Affected\n\n| R0056 | S521      | S573      | S638      |\n| ----- | --------- | --------- | --------- |\n| R0086 | S524      | S576-S582 | S640-S644 |\n| R1059 | S534      | S584      | S646      |\n| R1066 | S538      | S586      | S648-S650 |\n| R1560 | S539      | S588      | S653      |\n| R1922 | S544      | S589-S594 | S654      |\n| R3296 | S546      | S596      | S657      |\n| R3314 | S547      | S598-S603 | S660-S662 |\n| R3330 | S549      | S605      | S664-S666 |\n| R3349 | S550      | S607      | S668      |\n| S21   | S553      | S608      | S670-S672 |\n| S431  | S556-S563 | R611-S620 | S675-S677 |\n| S513  | S565      | S623-S626 | S679-S682 |\n| S515  | S566      | S631-S633 | S684-S688 |\n| S518  | S568-S571 | S637      | S691-S694 |\n\n    2. Modify all tail rotor blades, whether manufactured by Schweizer or Hughes, except those listed in Requirement 1, in accordance with procedures detailed in Schweizer SIN N-183.3 Part III.\n\n    3. Visually check the abrasion strip of these blades for any evidence of cracking or chipping along the entire abrasion strip/airfoil bond line and the blade tip.\n\n    (a) If, during the check required by Requirement 3, cracking or chipping is observed, inspect the bond line for bond separation using a 10 power or higher magnifying glass. If evidence of debonding along the abrasion strip/bond line or blade tip is detected, inspect the tail rotor blade using dye penetrant or equivalent inspection method and tap test prior to further flight in accordance with Schweizer SIN N-183.3 Part II.\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n    (b) Remove from service, prior to further flight, any rotor blade found to contain bond separation.\n\nNote 1: Blades modified to Schweizer Installation Instructions No. CKP-C-40, Kit No. SCA-269-K-056, dated 31 August 1989, or Schweizer Service Information Notice No. N-183.3, 15 September 1989, Part III, comply with Requirements 1 and 2.\n\nNote 2: Tail rotor blades manufactured by Schweizer with a bond date on or after 15 September 1989, shown on the identification plate located on the inboard end of the blade, are exempt from the requirements of this AD.\n\nCompliance: 1. Unless already accomplished in accordance with AD/HU 269/85 Amdt 1; Prior to further flight after 10 April 1991.\n\n    2. Within 100 hours time in service after 10 April 1991.\n\n    3. At each daily inspection.\n\nNote: This Directive shall be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The visual inspection required by Requirement 3 may be performed by the Pilot in command, in which case certification is to be made by entering\n\nAD/HU 269/85 against the daily inspection certification of the Maintenance Release. A copy of this Airworthiness Directive is to be kept in the aircraft.\n\nBackground: The FAA has issued a new Airworthiness Directive, which amends an existing FAA AD that requires an inspection and modification of the abrasion strip of tail rotor blades with certain serial numbers; and supersedes an FAA AD for the same model helicopter that currently requires an inspection of Hughes-manufactured tail rotor blades with certain serial numbers This AD is prompted by reports of separation of the abrasion strips from tail rotor blade skins, which if not corrected, could result in the loss of abrasion strips, loss of tail rotor blades, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. Effective date required by the FAA extended by six weeks.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard Airworthiness Directive (AD) amendment. It remains tightly focused on its original purpose: addressing the specific safety defect of tail rotor blade abrasion strip separation on Schweizer 269 helicopters. The amendment expands the affected population slightly from the original AD by adding Hughes-manufactured blades and clarifying serial numbers, but this is within the normal scope of AD amendments — refining applicability rather than mission creep."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple serial number tables requiring cross-referencing to determine applicability","Three distinct compliance deadlines (immediate, 100 hours, ongoing daily)","Conditional logic for inspections (if cracking found → magnifying glass check → if debonding found → dye penetrant test → if failed → remove from service)","Exemption criteria based on manufacturing date and modification history (Note 1 and Note 2)","Incorporation by reference to external technical documents (FAA AD 89-20-03 R1, Schweizer SIN N-183.3 Parts II and III, Schweizer Installation Instructions CKP-C-40)","Specific certification requirements for pilot-performed inspections"],"plain_english_summary":"This safety order requires owners/operators of Schweizer/Hughes 269 series helicopters with tail-rotor blades manufactured before 15 Sep 1989 (specific serial numbers or any blades made by Schweizer/Hughes) to modify affected blades per Schweizer instructions, perform daily visual inspections for cracks/chips at the abrasion strip, and ground the aircraft if the strip is separating. Modifications must be done by specified deadlines and the directive recorded on the Maintenance Release with a copy kept aboard. It prevents catastrophic tail-rotor failure."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This amendment broadens the directive’s practical scope compared with the prior AD by applying modification and inspection requirements to all 269-series tail rotor blades manufactured before 15 September 1989, except blades already modified per the specified kit/SIN or blades with a bond date on or after 15 September 1989. It also formalises inspection frequency and removal criteria and references amended FAA requirements; the effective compliance timing was extended by six weeks."},"complexity_factors":["Technical inspection and repair methods referenced (Schweizer SIN N-183.3 Parts II & III; dye penetrant, tap test, 10x magnification).","Detailed applicability by manufacture date (pre-15 Sep 1989) plus a long serial-number table and specific exemptions (bond date on ID plate; prior kit/SIN compliance).","Multiple compliance timings and actions: immediate (prior-to-flight), within 100 flight hours, and at each daily inspection.","Operational delegation: permits pilots to perform daily visual inspections but requires maintenance release entry and record-keeping.","Mandatory removal-from-service criterion where bond separation is found (no in-service repair allowance without prescribed methods).","Cross-reference to FAA AD and external Schweizer installation/kit documents creates dependency on outside technical material.","Safety-critical consequences (loss of tail rotor blade/control) increase enforcement and monitoring sensitivity."],"plain_english_summary":"This airworthiness directive requires operators of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 series helicopters with tail rotor blades bonded before 15 September 1989 to modify and regularly inspect the abrasion strip per Schweizer technical instructions. Defective blades showing bond separation must be removed from service before further flight. Operators pay for modifications, inspections and any blade replacements; pilots may perform the daily visual checks and must record compliance. The rule responds to reported abrasion-strip separations that could lead to loss of tail rotor blades and loss of control."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-85-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade-abrasion-strip","history":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-85-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade-abrasion-strip/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-85-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade-abrasion-strip/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-85-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade-abrasion-strip/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-85-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade-abrasion-strip/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-85-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade-abrasion-strip/documents"}}