{"id":"F2006B11426","name":"AD/OXY/15 - Puritan Bennett Oxygen Masks Withdrawal From Service","slug":"ad-oxy-15-puritan-bennett-oxygen-masks-withdrawal-from-service","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":57349,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B11426-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/OXY/15 - Puritan Bennett Oxygen Masks Withdrawal From Service","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nOxygen Systems\n\nAD/OXY/15 Puritan Bennett Oxygen Masks Withdrawal From Service\n\n  \n9/97 DM\n\nApplicability: All Puritan-Bennett Aero Systems Company Series 174290 Constant Flow Airline Portable Oxygen Masks, Part Numbers:\n\n174290-14\n\n174290-24\n\n174290-34\n\n174290-44\n\n174290-54\n\nwith a manufacturing date between 1 September 1992 to 30 August 1996.\n\nRequirement: 1. Remove from service any passenger oxygen mask with the applicable part number and manufacturing date and replace with an FAA approved oxygen mask that incorporates a part number not covered by this AD.\n\n2. Passenger oxygen masks incorporating the part numbers and manufacturing date detailed above are not be fitted to any aircraft.\n\nNote: FAA AD 97-11-10, Amdt 39-10039.\n\nCompliance: For Requirements 1 and 2, within seven days.\n\nThis airworthiness directive becomes effective on 2 July 1997.\n\nBackground: The FAA advise that notice was received from Puritan-Bennett that a design error was incorporated during a drawing revision to an orifice in the connector of Puritan- Bennett passenger oxygen masks (174290) series. When manufactured to this drawing revision, the airflow of these masks could be restricted to 1.7 litres per minute (less than half the oxygen flow required) when the orifice is connected to the Puritan-Bennett Model 176960 airline portable oxygen cylinder assembly. These masks are for passengers requiring emergency oxygen for immediate medical attention and are not the drop-down style used by passengers during emergency aircraft operations. The drawing revision error was utilised during manufacture between September 1992 and August 1996.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This airworthiness directive maintains its original narrow scope—addressing a specific manufacturing defect in a particular series of oxygen masks. There is no evidence of scope creep; the directive precisely targets the identified safety issue without expanding into broader regulatory territory."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical subject matter (oxygen mask defect)","Clear applicability criteria limited to 5 specific part numbers and a defined date range","Only 2 straightforward requirements with no conditional exceptions","No defined terms section or interpretation provisions","Short document (approximately 250 words) with minimal cross-referencing (single reference to corresponding FAA directive)","Simple compliance deadline (7 days for all requirements)"],"plain_english_summary":"CASA has issued a safety order requiring airlines to immediately remove and stop installing Puritan-Bennett Series 174290 portable passenger oxygen masks made between September 1992 and August 1996. Operators have seven days to comply.\n\nThe masks suffer a manufacturing/design flaw that can reduce oxygen flow to less than half of required levels, posing a life‑threatening risk to passengers needing emergency oxygen. Replacement with approved alternatives is mandated."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope targets a fixed set of part numbers and a defined manufacturing date range and does not expand beyond those items. The directive requires removal, replacement with non‑covered FAA‑approved parts, and a prohibition on fitting the listed masks; the source contains no indication the scope was broadened from its original FAA‑aligned notice."},"complexity_factors":["Specific applicability: five exact part numbers and a narrow manufacturing date window (Applicability).","Short compliance window: removal and replacement required within seven days (Compliance).","Replacement requirement: must fit an FAA‑approved oxygen mask with a part number not covered by this AD (Requirement 1).","Absolute prohibition: affected masks may not be fitted to any aircraft (Requirement 2).","Identification burden: operators must inspect inventory and verify manufacturing dates to determine affected units (Applicability/Background).","Operational impact: potential need to source FAA‑approved replacement stock quickly, affecting logistics and inventory costs (Requirement 1).","Safety trigger is technical and specific: airflow restriction to ~1.7 L/min when connected to Model 176960 cylinder assembly (Background).","Cross-reference to FAA action: aligns with FAA AD 97‑11‑10 (Note), so coordination with international airworthiness guidance may be required."],"plain_english_summary":"Mandates removal and replacement, within seven days, of certain Puritan‑Bennett Series 174290 passenger oxygen masks (part numbers 174290‑14/24/34/44/54) manufactured 1 Sep 1992–30 Aug 1996, and prohibits fitting those masks to aircraft. It applies to aircraft operators and maintenance organisations because a drawing error can reduce mask oxygen flow to about 1.7 L/min when used with a Puritan‑Bennett Model 176960 cylinder assembly—less than half the required flow for immediate medical oxygen."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-oxy-15-puritan-bennett-oxygen-masks-withdrawal-from-service","history":"/api/acts/ad-oxy-15-puritan-bennett-oxygen-masks-withdrawal-from-service/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-oxy-15-puritan-bennett-oxygen-masks-withdrawal-from-service/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-oxy-15-puritan-bennett-oxygen-masks-withdrawal-from-service/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-oxy-15-puritan-bennett-oxygen-masks-withdrawal-from-service/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-oxy-15-puritan-bennett-oxygen-masks-withdrawal-from-service/documents"}}