{"id":"F2006B10725","name":"AD/HU 369/61 Amdt 3 - Tail Rotor Blade Tip Cap Separation","slug":"ad-hu-369-61-amdt-3-tail-rotor-blade-tip-cap-separation","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":116711,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10725-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/HU 369/61 Amdt 3 - Tail Rotor Blade Tip Cap Separation","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 369/61\n\nAmdt 3\n\n  \nTail Rotor Blade Tip Cap Separation 4/86\n\nApplicability: All Model 369 Helicopters with affected P/N tail rotor blades. Requirement: 1. Action in accordance with Hughes S.I.N. DN-129, EN-18 and HN-195.\n\n    2. Action in accordance with Hughes S.I.N. DN-132.1, EN-21.1, FN-9.1 and HN-199.1.\n\n    3. Rectify, in accordance with the procedures detailed in Requirement Document 2, all those blades listed in Requirement Documents 1 and 2 that require removal of installed rivets.\n\nNote: FAA AD 86-01-04 Amdt 39-5187 refers.\n\nCompliance: 1. As per Requirement Document.\n\n    2. As per Requirement Document.\n\n    3. When necessitated as a result of compliance with Requirement Documents 1 or 2.\n\nBackground: Reports of tail rotor blade tip rib separation or partial separation have been received. Failure to detect and rectify this defect could result in loss of tail rotor control. Amdt 3 to the Directive changes the applicable FAA AD reference.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is Amendment 3 to an existing Airworthiness Directive. The amendment history shows only a minor administrative update — changing the applicable FAA AD reference. The scope remains tightly focused on the original safety issue (tail rotor blade tip cap separation) and has not expanded beyond the specific helicopter models and defect originally targeted."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument (approximately 200 words)","Only 3 defined requirements with clear sequential logic","Cross-references to 7 external manufacturer documents (S.I.N.s) rather than spelling out procedures in full","Single cross-reference to US FAA Airworthiness Directive for harmonisation purposes","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond simple 'when necessitated' trigger for Requirement 3","Minimal defined terms — only 'P/N' (part number) used without explicit definition"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates inspections and repairs for tail rotor blade tip caps on McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki Model 369 helicopters with the listed part numbers, following the manufacturer’s Service Information Notices. It targets a tip-cap separation defect that can lead to loss of tail-rotor control and a possible crash. Amendment 3 updates the cited equivalent FAA AD reference."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Amdt 3 only updates the referenced FAA airworthiness directive; the directive's applicability and the required inspection/repair actions remain as stated. (Background: 'Amdt 3 to the Directive changes the applicable FAA AD reference.')"},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-referenced service instructions (Hughes S.I.N. DN-129, EN-18, HN-195; DN-132.1, EN-21.1, FN-9.1, HN-199.1) increase document retrieval and procedural coordination (Requirement 1 & 2).","Reliance on external FAA AD reference creates a cross-jurisdictional dependency and requires tracking the updated FAA AD cited by the amendment (Note; Background: 'Amdt 3 ... changes the applicable FAA AD reference').","Conditional remediation: removal/rectification actions apply only 'when necessitated as a result of compliance' with inspections, so operators must interpret inspection outcomes to trigger work (Requirement 3; Compliance: 3).","Compliance timing and intervals are delegated to the 'Requirement Document' texts rather than stated in the directive, requiring users to consult those documents for deadlines (Compliance: 1 & 2).","Technical scope involves rivet removal and blade repair, which demands specialist maintenance skills, tooling and parts availability (Requirement 3).","Applicability depends on identifying 'affected P/N tail rotor blades', creating part-number verification tasks for operators and maintainers (Applicability).","Safety consequence stated as potential 'loss of tail rotor control' increases urgency and may affect prioritisation and operational scheduling (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"**This airworthiness directive requires inspection and, where necessary, repair (including rivet removal) of specified tail‑rotor blades on Model 369 helicopters, following the listed Hughes service instructions.** It applies to operators and maintenance organisations that have affected part‑number blades. The measure matters because reports of tail rotor tip‑cap or rib separation create a risk of loss of tail‑rotor control; compliance shifts inspection and remedial costs and scheduling onto operators and maintenance providers."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-61-amdt-3-tail-rotor-blade-tip-cap-separation","history":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-61-amdt-3-tail-rotor-blade-tip-cap-separation/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-61-amdt-3-tail-rotor-blade-tip-cap-separation/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-61-amdt-3-tail-rotor-blade-tip-cap-separation/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-61-amdt-3-tail-rotor-blade-tip-cap-separation/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-hu-369-61-amdt-3-tail-rotor-blade-tip-cap-separation/documents"}}