{"id":"F2006B10871","name":"AD/JBK 117/3 - Cowling Latches","slug":"ad-jbk-117-3-cowling-latches","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":56375,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10871-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/JBK 117/3 - Cowling Latches","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Kawasaki BK 117 Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/BK 117/3 Cowling Latches 2/90\n\nApplicability: All models S/No. 1001 to 1006, 1008 to 1015 and 1017. Requirement:  Action in accordance with Kawasaki SB KSB-117-047-1. Compliance:               Prior to the issue of an Australian CofA.\n\nBackground: Loss of the cowl resulted in the loss of an Australian aircraft.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical failure on specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of preventing cowling loss on affected BK 117 helicopters."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 150 words)","Only one substantive requirement (comply with manufacturer service bulletin)","Simple applicability clause limited to specific serial numbers","Single compliance trigger (prior to CofA issue)","No defined terms, cross-references to other legislation, or conditional exceptions","Straightforward cause-and-effect background (cowling loss → crash → mandatory fix)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it like a recall notice for aircraft, but legally binding.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of specific **Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters** (serial numbers 1001–1006, 1008–1015, and 1017) to fix a problem with **cowling latches** — the fasteners that hold the engine cover (cowling) in place.\n\n**The fix:** Operators must follow the instructions in **Kawasaki Service Bulletin KSB-117-047-1** (a technical repair notice from the manufacturer).\n\n**When it must be done:** Before the helicopter can be issued with an **Australian Certificate of Airworthiness** (CofA) — essentially, before it can be legally flown in Australia.\n\n**Why it matters:** An Australian helicopter **lost its cowling in flight and crashed**. This AD prevents the same deadly failure from happening again by forcing repairs before the aircraft returns to service.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone who owns, operates, or maintains the specified Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters in Australia."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument’s scope is consistent with its stated safety objective: it applies to a defined set of BK 117 serial numbers (Applicability) and requires corrective action specified in Kawasaki SB KSB-117-047-1 (Requirement) to address loss of the cowl noted in the Background. The directive does not expand applicability beyond those serial numbers or alter the stated compliance condition (must be done prior to Australian CofA) (Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, explicit applicability by serial number (Applicability) reduces breadth but requires serial-number verification.","Mandatory action is defined by an external Kawasaki Service Bulletin (KSB-117-047-1) (Requirement), requiring cross-reference to non‑legislative material.","Hard compliance timing: must be done prior to issue of Australian CofA (Compliance), creating a binary regulatory checkpoint.","Technical subject matter (cowling latches) implies need for specialised maintenance skills and possible parts availability constraints.","Short directive text with limited procedural detail — implementers must rely on the service bulletin for technical steps and on regulators for CofA enforcement."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive makes compliance with Kawasaki Service Bulletin KSB-117-047-1 mandatory for Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters (serials 1001–1006, 1008–1015 and 1017) before they can receive an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness. It was prompted by a prior cowl loss incident.\n\nOwners/operators (and the maintenance organisations that carry out the work) must inspect/modify latches per the bulletin at their own cost; compliance is required to obtain the CofA."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-3-cowling-latches","history":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-3-cowling-latches/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-3-cowling-latches/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-3-cowling-latches/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-3-cowling-latches/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-3-cowling-latches/documents"}}