{"id":"F2006B05373","name":"AD/P68/46 - Engine Cowl","slug":"ad-p68-46-engine-cowl","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":45951,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05373-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/P68/46 - Engine Cowl","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)  \nPartenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/P68/46 Engine Cowl 2/2000 TX\n\nApplicability: All P68 aircraft.\n\nRequirement: Remove the inboard and outboard engine cowl side panels from both engines.\n\nEnsure that the most forward fastener of the ‘pop’ fasteners attaching each engine cowl rear side fairings to the under surface of the wing is in line with the solid rivets of the lower spar cap. To assist with locating the areas, refer to the attached diagrams. If all four subject fasteners are in line with the spar cap rivets, then no further action is required.\n\nIf a fastener is not in line with the spar cap rivets, before further flight, the location of the forward fastener, its orientation and direction relative to the all spar cap elements is to be determined. The second most forward fastener is also to be inspected in a similar manner.\n\nIn all cases of misaligned fasteners, a defect report is to be made to CASA and an assessment by a CAR 35 authorised person is required prior to further flight.\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.003.png)  \n\nCompliance: Within the next 50 hrs.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 December 1999.\n\nBackground: An aircraft has been found with an engine cowl fastener incorrectly installed into the main spar. The fastener, instead of attaching the cowl fairing to the wing spar horizontal flange, was incorrectly driven into the body of the mainspar, thus compromising the fatigue properties of the spar. As a result of this incorrect locating of the fairing, the second most forward fastener has impacted the rear edge of the lower spar cap flange.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The document sets a targeted corrective and inspection requirement for all P68 aircraft to address a specific defect (Applicability; Requirement; Background). There is no text indicating the AD expands beyond that stated purpose or alters its original stated scope."},"complexity_factors":["Technical inspection task: removal of inboard and outboard cowl side panels and visual/location check of forward fasteners against lower spar cap rivets (Requirement).","Precision of alignment check: determining whether fastener is \"in line\" with solid rivets and assessing orientation/direction relative to spar cap elements requires basic structural familiarity (Requirement).","Administrative reporting: mandatory defect report to CASA for any misalignment adds a regulatory paperwork step (Requirement).","Regulatory gate: further flight prohibited without assessment by a CAR 35 authorised person, creating reliance on availability of authorised personnel (Requirement).","Time pressure: 50‑hour compliance window imposes scheduling and potential disruption to operations (Compliance).","Safety consequence anchored in structure: background notes mainspar fatigue compromise from an incorrectly driven fastener, motivating conservative remedial steps (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive applies to all Partenavia P68 aeroplanes. It requires removal of the engine cowl side panels to check that each engine-cowl forward “pop” fastener lines up with the lower spar cap rivets; if any fastener is misaligned operators must report the defect to CASA and obtain an assessment by a CAR 35 authorised person before further flight. Compliance is required within 50 flight hours and the AD responds to an occurrence where an incorrectly installed fastener penetrated the main spar and impaired its fatigue properties."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Airworthiness Directive maintains its original narrow scope: addressing a specific manufacturing/assembly defect in Partenavia P68 aircraft regarding engine cowl fastener alignment. The directive has not expanded beyond this original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical inspection task with clear pass/fail criteria","Only 4 specific fasteners to check across both engines","Conditional logic limited to two branches: aligned (no action) vs misaligned (report + assessment)","One defined term requiring external knowledge ('CAR 35 authorised person' — refers to Civil Aviation Regulation 35, which governs aircraft design and modification approvals)","No cross-references to other legislation sections beyond the enabling authority (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39)","Diagram references exist but are not reproduced in text (images referenced as image.001.png, image.002.png, image.003.png)","Background section provides clear rationale for the safety action"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive orders owners/operators of Partenavia P68 aircraft to inspect the engine cowling fasteners to ensure they’re correctly aligned with the wing spar. It responds to an instance where a fastener was driven into the spar, damaging structure and risking metal fatigue and possible wing failure.\n\nInspections must be done within 50 flight hours; misalignment must be reported to CASA and repaired by an authorised engineer before further flight."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-p68-46-engine-cowl","history":"/api/acts/ad-p68-46-engine-cowl/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-p68-46-engine-cowl/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-p68-46-engine-cowl/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-p68-46-engine-cowl/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-p68-46-engine-cowl/documents"}}