{"id":"F2006B10873","name":"AD/JBK 117/5 - Electrical Bonding and Static Dischargers","slug":"ad-jbk-117-5-electrical-bonding-and-static-dischargers","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":56378,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B10873-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/JBK 117/5 - Electrical Bonding and Static Dischargers","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 117/5 Electrical Bonding and Static Dischargers 2/94\n\nApplicability: Kawasaki Heavy Industries BK 117 series helicopters serial numbers 1001 through 1066 inclusive, except 1007 and 1036.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Service Bulletin KSB-117-077 dated 1 February 1991.\n\n \n\nNote: JCAB AD TCB-3432-91 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: If not previously accomplished, then prior to 3 August 1994.\n\n \n\nBackground: The JCAB has received reports of electrostatic discharge igniting fires at fuel vent line outlet ports. Compliance with this directive will decrease the likelihood of electrostatic discharge causing a fire hazard.\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, single-issue airworthiness directive addressing a specific safety defect in a specific aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating electrical bonding and static discharger modifications to prevent fuel vent fires."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific applicability clause (66 serial numbers, 2 exclusions)","Single requirement referencing an external technical document (Service Bulletin)","Simple compliance deadline with single condition ('if not previously accomplished')","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Minimal conditional logic (only the compliance date condition)","Short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain **Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters** (serial numbers 1001–1066, excluding two specific ones) to carry out electrical safety modifications.\n\n**The problem:**\nJapan's aviation authority (JCAB) reported that **static electricity sparks** near fuel vent outlets were starting fires. This is obviously dangerous when you're dealing with aviation fuel vapours.\n\n**What must be done:**\nOperators must follow **Kawasaki Service Bulletin KSB-117-077** (dated 1 February 1991), which provides the technical instructions for fixing the electrical bonding and installing static dischargers. Think of \"electrical bonding\" as ensuring all metal parts are properly connected so static electricity flows safely to the ground rather than building up and sparking. \"Static dischargers\" are small devices that safely bleed off built-up static electricity during flight.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nAnyone operating the specified Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters in Australia.\n\n**When it had to be done:**\nBefore 3 August 1994 (if not already completed).\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis prevents fires caused by static electricity discharging near fuel vents — a critical safety issue that could lead to catastrophic in-flight or ground fires."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD’s scope, as stated in the text, aligns with the stated safety objective: it applies to a specific set of BK 117 airframes and mandates the manufacturer’s service bulletin to address electrostatic-discharge ignition risk (Applicability; Requirement; Background). There is no text in this instrument that expands or narrows that stated scope beyond those elements."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability to a defined set of serial numbers with two explicit exceptions (Applicability).","Mandates compliance by reference to an external manufacturer service bulletin rather than prescribing technical steps (Requirement).","Fixed compliance deadline (Compliance) creates scheduling pressure for operators.","Regulatory provenance and cross-reference to a foreign authority’s AD (header; Note) add traceability but little procedural complexity.","No multiple compliance options or conditional branches in the text — single mandatory action."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive from CASA requires owners/operators of specified Kawasaki BK117 airframes (S/N 1001–1066, excluding 1007 and 1036) to carry out the corrective work set out in Kawasaki Service Bulletin KSB-117-077 to address reported electrostatic-discharge ignition risks at fuel vent outlets. Compliance (if not already done) was required before 3 August 1994. The AD fixes the mandated method via the manufacturer’s bulletin and places the cost, downtime and implementation burden on the aircraft owners/operators."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-5-electrical-bonding-and-static-dischargers","history":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-5-electrical-bonding-and-static-dischargers/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-5-electrical-bonding-and-static-dischargers/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-5-electrical-bonding-and-static-dischargers/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-5-electrical-bonding-and-static-dischargers/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-jbk-117-5-electrical-bonding-and-static-dischargers/documents"}}