{"id":"F2006B10655","name":"AD/HU 269/97 - Rotor Blades","slug":"ad-hu-269-97-rotor-blades","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":116574,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10655-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/HU 269/97 - Rotor Blades","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 269/97 Rotor Blades 2/91 DM\n\nApplicability: All model 269A, 269A-1, 269B and 269C with Main Rotor Blades P/N 269A1160; 269A1185, \\-1, \\-1M, \\-7 and/or Tail Rotor Blades P/N 269A1185-1M; 269A6035-23,\n\nwith the S/Nos listed in the AD Requirement.\n\nRequirement: Pending completion of an investigation currently being undertaken to confirm the airworthiness of certain overhauled/repaired main/tail rotor blades with P/Nos and S/Nos detailed herein, accomplishment of the following is required:\n\n    Main and tail rotor blades. Inspect and determine whether installed blades have affected P/N and S/N. Blades not affected require no further action.\n\nMain rotor blade P/N 269A1160 Serial Numbers:\n\n0569, 0616, 0834, 0856, 0867, 0871, 0894,0913, 0966, 0988, 1008, 1134, 1138,\n\n1143, 1163, 1569, 1593, 1808, 2343, 2433, 2437, 2439, 2452, 2657, 2677, 2755,\n\n2841, 2860, 2936, 2993, 3006, 3020, 3118, 3119, 3237, 3577, 3588, 3637, BD52.\n\nMain rotor blade P/N 269A1185, \\-1, \\-1M Serial Numbers\n\n0118, 0201, 0218, 0234, 0243, 0269, 0304, 0306, 0482, 0732, 0745, 0765, 0784,\n\n0799, 0807, 0809, 0813, 0848, 0853, 0864, 0868, 0873, 0906, 0948, 0956, 0984,\n\n1010, 1011, 1077, 1140, 1141, 1142, 1288, 1345, 1412, 1416, 1565, 1570, 1571,\n\n1578, 1629, 1641, 1689, 1695, 1706, 1725, 1792, 1866, 1878, 1879, 1972, 2028,\n\n2335, 2433, 2437, 2439, 2471, 2499, 2537, 2540, 2549, 2657, 2787, 2830, 2860,\n\n2936, 3006, 3237, 3322, 3341, 3577.\n\nMain rotor blade P/N 269A1185-7 Serial Numbers:\n\n0482, 1565, 1578.\n\nTail rotor blade P/N 269A6035-23 Serial Number:\n\n0579.\n\n    2. Affected main rotor blades\n\nVisually inspect leading edge abrasion strip attachment integrity. Any blisters, bubbling or lifting of the strip is cause for removal before further flight.\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n    3. Affected tail rotor blades\n\n    (a) Dye-penetrant and tap test per Part II of Schweizer SIN N-183.3.\n\n    (b) Visually inspect each tail rotor blade abrasion strip for any evidence of bond failure along the abrasion strip/airfoil bond line.\n\nNote: If evidence of separation along the abrasion strip/airfoil bond line is suspected; using a 10X magnifying glass, closely check along abrasion strip/airfoil bond line and at blade tip for any separation between epoxy adhesive and abrasion strip.\n\nAny blade with void or bond separation beyond prescribed limits must be removed from service before further flight.\n\nCompliance: 1. Within next 5 hours time in service after 14 December 1990.\n\n    2. Within next 5 hours time in service after 14 December 1990 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours time in service. Also prior to the first flight of each day the helicopter is to be operated.\n\n    3. (a) Within next 5 hours time in service after 14 December 1990 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours time in service.\n\n(b) Within next 5 hours time in service after 14 December 1990 and thereafter prior to the first flight of each day the helicopter is to be operated.\n\nNote: This Directive shall be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The visual inspection required by Para 2 and 3 may be performed by the pilot in command, in which case certification is to be made by entering AD/HU269/97 against the daily inspection certification of the Maintenance Release. A copy of this Airworthiness Directive is to be kept in the aircraft.\n\nBackground: An investigation in New Zealand has revealed that certain main and tail rotor blades repaired in that country had not been repaired in accordance with proper procedures (eg time expired adhesives etc).\n\nThe New Zealand CAA believe this to be a potentially serious safety of flight issue and that some of these blades are in Australia.","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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"No. The Directive is narrowly targeted to specific rotor blade part and serial numbers suspected of improper repair and prescribes inspection, testing and removal where bond failure or blistering is found. Those measures align with the stated purpose of addressing potentially improperly repaired blades and do not broaden scope beyond the listed parts/serials and inspection/removal requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Large, specific list of affected part numbers and serial numbers increases administrative effort to identify affected aircraft.","Multiple inspection methods required (visual inspection, dye-penetrant, tap test, 10× magnifier) impose differing skill/equipment needs.","Tight initial compliance window (within next 5 hours TIS) and recurring intervals (50 hours TIS and pre-flight daily checks) create operational scheduling impact.","Dual-performer model: pilot may perform daily visual inspection but must certify on the Maintenance Release, adding recordkeeping and potential ambiguity about inspection limits.","Immediate 'remove before further flight' mandate for defective blades creates potential for sudden grounding and replacement/repair costs.","Applicability across several helicopter models increases coordination across operators and maintenance organisations."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 helicopters with listed rotor blade part and serial numbers to inspect those blades for abrasion-strip bond failures, blisters or separation; defective blades must be removed before further flight and inspections repeated at specified intervals.\n\nIt affects pilots, maintenance staff and aircraft owners. The AD responds to suspected improper repairs (for example, expired adhesives) and aims to address a potential flight‑safety hazard."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive addressing a specific identified airworthiness concern. The scope remains precisely focused on the original safety issue: potentially defective rotor blade repairs from a specific New Zealand facility. The serial number specificity and inspection requirements are appropriately narrow for an emergency safety measure."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive serial number lists (over 100 specific serial numbers across multiple part numbers) that must be cross-referenced manually","Multiple inspection types with different compliance schedules (visual vs. dye-penetrant/tap test)","Nested applicability criteria: model → part number → serial number → repair/overhaul status","Dual compliance tracks for tail rotor blades (2(a) and 2(b) with different intervals)","Specific technical reference to external document (Schweizer SIN N-183.3) without reproducing its content","Conditional logic: \"if affected, do X; if not affected, no action required\"","Pilot-performed inspection option with specific certification requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive grounds certain main and tail rotor blades on Schweizer (Hughes) 269A/B/C series helicopters until inspections confirm they were not improperly repaired (notably blades overhauled in New Zealand). \n\nOwners/operators must check listed blades, inspect for bonding or repair defects, remove unsafe blades, and record findings in the Maintenance Release — because flawed repairs risk in‑flight blade failure and were identified as a potentially serious safety issue."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-97-rotor-blades","history":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-97-rotor-blades/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-97-rotor-blades/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-97-rotor-blades/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-97-rotor-blades/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-97-rotor-blades/documents"}}