{"id":"F2006B06048","name":"AD/PAP/3 Amdt 3 - Propeller Blade - Inspection and Retirement","slug":"ad-pap-3-amdt-3-propeller-blade-inspection-and-retirement","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114446,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06048-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PAP/3 Amdt 3 - Propeller Blade - Inspection and Retirement","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)  \nPropellers \\- Variable Pitch \\- Allison/Aeroproducts\n\nAD/PAP/3\n\nAmdt 3\n\n  \nPropeller Blade \\- Inspection and Retirement 8/69\n\nApplicability: All model A6441 FN-606 and 606A with blade S/Nos. B3999 and below.\n\nRequirement: 1. Whenever propeller roughness or vibration is reported, the aircraft shall not be flown except for evaluation purposes, until the cause of the roughness or vibration is positively identified and corrected.\n\n    2. Modify the blade cuffs to provide an inspection window in accordance with Allison Commercial SL No. 167 dated October 8, 1965.\n\n    3. Visually inspect the blade shank surface within the cuff window for cracking using a strong light and a 4x minimum magnifying glass.\n\nNote: This inspection may be carried out by the holder of a current Flight Engineer's licence endorsed for Lockheed 188 aircraft.\n\n    4. Remove blades from service in accordance with the following schedule based on thrust member minimum thickness in the 'A' area as measured at last overhaul:\n\n'A' Area Thickness Time Limit\n\n0.140\" \\- 0.144\" 10,000 hours time in service\n\n0.145\" \\- 0.149\" 12,000 hours time in service\n\n0.150\" \\- 0.154\" 16,000 hours time in service\n\n0.155\" \\- 0.159\" 22,000 hours time in service\n\n0.160\" \\- 0.164\" 34,000 hours time in service\n\n0.165\" \\- 0.169\" 64,000 hours time in service\n\n0.170\" and up No limit\n\nNote: The 'A' area is identified in Allison/Aeroproducts Overhaul Manual Section 63- 6-0, Pages 315 and 316. Allison CSL 140 also refers.\n\nCompliance: Para. 1 \\- As indicated.\n\nPara. 2 \\- Forthwith.\n\nPara. 3 \\- At each daily or overnight inspection and also immediately following any report of propeller roughness or vibration.\n\nPara. 4 \\- Forthwith.\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is Amendment 3 to an existing Airworthiness Directive. The document appears focused on its original safety purpose: preventing propeller blade failures through inspection and retirement criteria. No evidence of scope creep beyond aviation safety maintenance."},"complexity_factors":["Technical aviation terminology requiring external manual references (Allison Commercial SL No. 167, Overhaul Manual Section 63-6-0, Allison CSL 140)","Measurement-dependent compliance with 7 distinct thickness thresholds and corresponding hour limits","Multiple compliance timelines: 'As indicated', 'Forthwith', and recurring ('at each daily or overnight inspection')","Specific serial number applicability cutoff (B3999 and below)","Conditional trigger for immediate action (propeller roughness or vibration reports)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive grounds aircraft when pilots report propeller vibration or roughness, requires cutting inspection windows into blade cuffs, and mandates daily/after-report visual inspections of the blade shank with strong light and magnification. It also sets retirement limits tied to blade thickness from the technical manual (lifespans from 10,000 hours to unlimited for the thickest).\n\nIt applies to Allison/Aeroproducts A6441 FN-606/606A propellers with serials B3999 and below; endorsed Lockheed 188 flight engineers may perform inspections. It prevents catastrophic blade failure."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"As Amendment 3, the directive adds concrete, prescriptive measures: mandatory modification of blade cuffs to provide an inspection window, a routine visual inspection regime (daily/overnight and after reports), and a detailed retirement schedule linked to measured 'A' area thickness at last overhaul for blades S/N B3999 and below. Those additions narrow and operationalise the directive's scope by specifying who must act, how to inspect, when to remove blades, and which external manuals define the measurement point."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability by model and serial-number (A6441 FN-606 and 606A; S/N B3999 and below) increases tracking burden.","Technical retirement schedule tied to precise 'A' area thrust-member thicknesses (inches) measured at last overhaul requires accurate historical records and measurement protocols.","Multiple compliance timings (immediate grounding for roughness/vibration; cuff modification and retirement 'forthwith'; inspections at each daily/overnight check and after any report) create varied operational deadlines.","Inspection method mandates visual check with strong light and minimum 4x magnifying glass, and permit inspection by a holder of a Flight Engineer licence endorsed for Lockheed 188—creates mixed qualifications for who may legally inspect.","References to external documents (Allison Commercial SL No. 167; Overhaul Manual Section 63-6-0; Allison CSL 140) introduce dependency on other technical materials for correct implementation.","Distinguishing measurement point ('A' area identified in manuals) and reliance on last-overhaul measurement create potential ambiguity where overhaul records or measurement consistency vary.","The rule combines operational restrictions (grounding) with modification and retirement mandates, requiring coordination between flight operations and maintenance planning."],"plain_english_summary":"This airworthiness directive applies to Allison/Aeroproducts A6441 FN-606 and 606A propeller blades (serial numbers B3999 and below). It requires grounding aircraft that report propeller roughness or vibration until the cause is found, modifying blade cuffs to add an inspection window, performing visual inspections at daily/overnight checks and after any roughness report, and retiring blades according to a thickness‑based schedule measured at the last overhaul. Operators pay for the work; qualified maintenance staff or endorsed flight engineers perform inspections."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pap-3-amdt-3-propeller-blade-inspection-and-retirement","history":"/api/acts/ad-pap-3-amdt-3-propeller-blade-inspection-and-retirement/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pap-3-amdt-3-propeller-blade-inspection-and-retirement/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pap-3-amdt-3-propeller-blade-inspection-and-retirement/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pap-3-amdt-3-propeller-blade-inspection-and-retirement/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pap-3-amdt-3-propeller-blade-inspection-and-retirement/documents"}}