{"id":"F2006B10656","name":"AD/HU 269/98 - Tailboom Centre Attachment Fitting","slug":"ad-hu-269-98-tailboom-centre-attachment-fitting","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":116576,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10656-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/HU 269/98 - Tailboom Centre Attachment Fitting","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 269/98 Tailboom Centre Attachment Fitting 6/91\n\nDM\n\nApplicability: All model 269C series.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 91-05-18 Amdt 39- 6857.\n\nNote: Schweizer SB B-239 refers.\n\nCompliance: As specified in the Requirement document but with a revised effective date of 17 April 1991 for Australian registered aircraft.\n\nNote: This Directive shall be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The visual inspection required by Para (b)(2) may be performed by the pilot in command, in which case certification is to be made by entering AD/HU269/98 against the daily inspection certification of the Maintenance Release. A copy of this Airworthiness Directive is to be kept in the aircraft.\n\nBackground: This AD requires an immediate visual inspection, a repetitive dye penetrant and visual inspection for cracks, and a terminating action by requiring replacement of the tailboom centre attachment (saddle) fitting. The FAA has received four reports of fatigue damage in the tailboom centre attachment saddle fitting. This damage could result in the complete failure of the fitting and the resultant loss of the tailboom and consequently, control of the helicopter. The effective date required by the FAA is extended by three weeks.","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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Australian directive adopts the FAA's technical requirements without substantive change to required inspections or replacement, but it extends the FAA's effective date by three weeks. No other scope expansion or narrowing is indicated in the text."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to FAA AD 91-05-18 means Australian compliance depends on an external document (Requirement).","Technical inspection standard includes dye-penetrant testing and visual checks, requiring access to maintenance facilities and qualified personnel.","Terminating action mandates replacement of the tailboom centre attachment (saddle), implicating parts availability, maintenance downtime and direct cost to operators.","Pilot-performed daily visual inspection option shifts some inspection burden to operators' flight crew and affects how certification is recorded on the Maintenance Release (Note).","Administrative requirements to enter the Directive on the Maintenance Release and to keep a copy aboard create ongoing recordkeeping duties (Note).","Australian text extends the FAA effective date by three weeks, creating a timing divergence for compliance (Background).","Applicability is limited to all model 269C helicopters, concentrating obligations on a specific operator group (Applicability)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Schweizer (Hughes) 269C helicopters to carry out immediate and repeated inspections for cracks in the tailboom centre attachment (saddle) and to replace the fitting as the final corrective action. It adopts the technical requirements of FAA AD 91-05-18 and sets an Australian effective date of 17 April 1991.\n\nOperators pay for inspections, dye-penetrant testing and replacement; pilots may perform the daily visual check and record the AD on the Maintenance Release. A copy of the AD must be kept on the aircraft."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope: addressing a specific mechanical defect in a specific helicopter model series. It does not expand beyond the safety-critical tailboom attachment issue identified by the FAA."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 300 words)","Only 1 defined term implicitly referenced (the 'Requirement' document which is the FAA AD)","Single cross-reference to FAA AD 91-05-18 and Schweizer Service Bulletin B-239","Simple conditional logic: immediate action + repetitive action + terminating action","No nested exceptions or complex definitions","Straightforward adoption of existing foreign regulation with minor date modification"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive applies to Schweizer (Hughes) 269C helicopters in Australia and mandates immediate visual inspection of the tailboom centre attachment fitting, repetitive dye‑penetrant inspections, and eventual replacement of the fitting to remove the risk.\n\nThe AD follows FAA findings of fatigue cracks that could cause tailboom separation and loss of control. Pilots may perform and log the simple visual check; dye‑penetrant testing and repairs must be done by a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. CASA allows three extra weeks for compliance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-98-tailboom-centre-attachment-fitting","history":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-98-tailboom-centre-attachment-fitting/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-98-tailboom-centre-attachment-fitting/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-98-tailboom-centre-attachment-fitting/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-98-tailboom-centre-attachment-fitting/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-hu-269-98-tailboom-centre-attachment-fitting/documents"}}