{"id":"F2006B10721","name":"AD/HU 369/58 - Main Rotor Swashplate Bearing - Inspection - Replacement","slug":"ad-hu-369-58-main-rotor-swashplate-bearing-inspection-replacement","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":116703,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10721-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/HU 369/58 - Main Rotor Swashplate Bearing - Inspection - Replacement","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)  \nMcDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/HU 369/58 Main Rotor Swashplate Bearing \\- Inspection \\- Replacement\n\n  \n2/84\n\nApplicability: All 500 model 369 Series Aircraft equipped with, swashplate bearing assembly 369A 7003-3 and main rotor installation 369A 1000-502 or 369D 21000 and main rotor swashplate installation 369A 7609-501, 369A 7609-605 or 369D 27609-501 installed after 1 June 1983 except those 369A 7003-3 swashplate bearing assemblies with 9xxx series serial numbers or marked with a blue lacquered dot on the outer surface of the bearing seal retention snap ring.\n\nDocument: Hughes Service Information Notices HN 191, EN12 and DN-125. Compliance: Before further flight after 5th January 1984.\n\nBackground: The manufacturer reports that a main rotor swashplate bearing assembly, has been found without the ball bearing cages installed, consequently a one time inspection is required to ensure correct assembly.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound safety directive with narrow, precisely defined applicability. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of addressing a specific manufacturing defect in specific helicopter models."},"complexity_factors":["Highly specific applicability criteria involving multiple part numbers and date ranges","Nested exception structure: applies to X except Y, except those Y with Z characteristics","Cross-reference to external manufacturer documents (Service Information Notices HN 191, EN12, DN-125) without reproducing their content","Technical aviation terminology throughout (swashplate bearing, ball bearing cages, snap ring retention)","Conditional compliance trigger ('before further flight after' specific date)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that requires specific action on certain aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of specific Hughes/Kawasaki 369 Series helicopters to inspect or replace the main rotor swashplate bearing (a critical component that helps control the helicopter's rotor blades) before flying again after 5 January 1984.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All **McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series helicopters** (Model 500 variants)\n- Specifically those with certain swashplate bearing assemblies and main rotor installations put in place after 1 June 1983\n- **Exempt:** Bearings with serial numbers starting with \"9\" or marked with a blue dot on the seal retention snap ring\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe manufacturer discovered that some bearings were shipped **without the ball bearing cages installed** — a dangerous manufacturing defect that could cause catastrophic rotor failure. This directive forces a one-time inspection to catch any defective units before they cause an accident.\n\n**Key deadline:**\nCompliance required **before further flight** after 5 January 1984 (meaning immediate grounding until inspection complete)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive imposes a one-time, targeted inspection and replacement requirement for identified swashplate bearings; the text contains no indication it broadens or narrows scope beyond the specified parts, serial-number exception, installation date, and the stated compliance deadline."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability tied to specific part numbers and installation date (Applicability)","Specified exceptions based on 9xxx serial numbers or a blue lacquered dot on the part (Applicability)","Immediate compliance requirement: \"before further flight after 5th January 1984\" creates urgent operational disruption (Compliance)","Instruction relies on external manufacturer service notices (HN 191, EN12, DN-125) for inspection/replacement procedure (Document)","Technical failure mode (missing ball bearing cages) requires hands-on inspection; potential for varied labour/time per aircraft (Background)"],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this airworthiness directive requires a one-time inspection of specified main rotor swashplate bearing assemblies on certain Hughes/Kawasaki 369 (500 series) helicopters and replacement where the bearing is incorrectly assembled. It applies to installations after 1 June 1983 except bearings with 9xxx serial numbers or a blue lacquer dot (Applicability). The manufacturer found missing ball-cage components; operators must comply before further flight after 5 January 1984 (Compliance), bearing the inspection, replacement and related downtime costs."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-58-main-rotor-swashplate-bearing-inspection-replacement","history":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-58-main-rotor-swashplate-bearing-inspection-replacement/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-58-main-rotor-swashplate-bearing-inspection-replacement/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-58-main-rotor-swashplate-bearing-inspection-replacement/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-58-main-rotor-swashplate-bearing-inspection-replacement/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-58-main-rotor-swashplate-bearing-inspection-replacement/documents"}}