{"id":"F2006B05356","name":"AD/P68/29 Amdt 1 - Elevator Trim Tab","slug":"ad-p68-29-amdt-1-elevator-trim-tab","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":45896,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05356-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/P68/29 Amdt 1 - Elevator Trim Tab","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)  Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/P68/29\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nElevator Trim Tab 1/89\n\n \n\nApplicability: All P68 up to serial number 381 included. Requirement: Action in accordance with Partenavia SB 73 Rev 1.\n\nNote: RAI AD 88-167 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 20 July 1988.\n\n \n\nBackground:  To reduce the flexibility of stabilator tabs with seven ribs or eight ribs, modification or replacement is required. This will increase control authority. Amendment 1 calls up Rev 1 of the Requirement document which may alleviate the action required for aircraft with more than 3500 hours T.I.S.\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 standard Airworthiness Directive amendment. Amendment 1 simply updates the referenced service bulletin to Revision 1 and clarifies potential relief for high-time aircraft. The scope remains tightly focused on the original safety issue (elevator trim tab flexibility) without expansion into unrelated areas."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 1 defined term implicitly referenced (T.I.S. — Time In Service)","Single cross-reference to Partenavia SB 73 Rev 1 and note reference to RAI AD 88-167","Simple conditional logic: applicability limited by serial number and potential alleviation for high-time aircraft (>3500 hours T.I.S.)","No nested exceptions or complex procedural requirements — essentially a 'do this by this date' instruction","Minimal legislative drafting — reads as operational safety notice rather than statute"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain Partenavia P68 series aeroplanes (small twin-engine aircraft) to inspect and modify the **elevator trim tab** — a small movable surface on the tail that helps pilots control the plane's pitch without constant force on the controls.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All Partenavia P68 aircraft with serial numbers up to 381\n- Aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance organisations responsible for these planes\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow the instructions in **Partenavia Service Bulletin 73, Revision 1** (a technical document from the aircraft manufacturer)\n- The work involves either modifying or replacing the stabilator tabs (the moving tail surfaces) to reduce flexibility — this gives pilots better control authority (more effective control over the aircraft)\n- **Compliance deadline:** Within 100 hours of flying time after 20 July 1988\n\n**Why it matters:**\nFlexible or weak trim tabs can reduce a pilot's ability to control the aircraft's pitch, potentially creating a safety risk. This directive ensures the tabs are stiffened or replaced to maintain proper control.\n\n**Key update in Amendment 1:**\nThe original directive has been updated to reference Revision 1 of the service bulletin, which may reduce the work required for aircraft that have flown more than 3,500 hours (high-time aircraft may get some relief from the full modification)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 modifies the required action by referencing Partenavia SB 73 Revision 1. The AD’s Background states that Rev 1 \"may alleviate the action required for aircraft with more than 3500 hours T.I.S.\", which narrows or alters the extent of work required for higher-time aircraft compared to the original requirement. (Background, Requirement)"},"complexity_factors":["Technical aviation content: requirement concerns a specific flight-control component (stabilator/trim tab) which requires specialised maintenance knowledge. (Background, Requirement)","Reference to external technical document: mandatory compliance is to a manufacturer Service Bulletin (SB 73 Rev 1), so understanding/implementing the AD requires access to and interpretation of that bulletin. (Requirement)","Serial-number limitation: applicability is bounded to P68 aircraft up to serial number 381, requiring operators to verify serial records. (Applicability)","Time-limited compliance: fixed window of 100 hours TIS after a specified date imposes scheduling constraints on operators. (Compliance)","Conditional relief in amendment: Amendment 1’s call-up of Rev 1 introduces a conditional change (possible alleviation for aircraft >3500 hours TIS) that requires checking aircraft hours and the revised SB text. (Background, Requirement)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates modification or replacement of the stabilator (elevator) trim tab on Partenavia P68 aeroplanes up to serial number 381, requiring work per Partenavia Service Bulletin SB 73 Rev 1 within 100 hours TIS after 20 July 1988. It affects aircraft owners/operators and maintenance organisations; operators pay for parts, labour and downtime. The change stiffens certain tabs to increase control authority, and Amendment 1 may reduce required action for aircraft with over 3,500 hours TIS as specified in the SB."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-p68-29-amdt-1-elevator-trim-tab","history":"/api/acts/ad-p68-29-amdt-1-elevator-trim-tab/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-p68-29-amdt-1-elevator-trim-tab/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-p68-29-amdt-1-elevator-trim-tab/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-p68-29-amdt-1-elevator-trim-tab/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-p68-29-amdt-1-elevator-trim-tab/documents"}}