{"id":"F2006L00143","name":"AD/PC-12/43 Amdt 1 - Crew Seats Backrest Tubes","slug":"ad-pc-12-43-amdt-1-crew-seats-backrest-tubes","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":58030,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L00143-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/PC-12/43 Amdt 1 | Crew Seats Backrest Tubes | 2/2006 |\n| ------------------ | ------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All Model PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes equipped with backrest tubes on crew seats, with and without a recline system installed, as listed below:1. Backrest tubes on crew seats with a recline system:Seat Part Numbers (P/Ns) 959.30.01.111, 959.30.01.112, 959.30.01.121 and 959.30.01.122.2. Backrest tubes on crew seats without a recline system:Seat P/Ns 959.30.01.131, 959.30.01.132, 959.30.01.133 and 959.30.01.134. |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement: | New Component Life Limitations are mandated as follows:1. Backrest tubes on crew seats with a recline system:Seat P/Ns 959.30.01.111, 959.30.01.112, 959.30.01.121 and 959.30.01.122 - 5000 flying hours.2. Backrest tubes on crew seats without a recline system:Seat P/Ns 959.30.01.131, 959.30.01.132, 959.30.01.133 and 959.30.01.134 - 10000 flying hours.Follow up action - All the replaced backrest tubes must be returned to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Structural Analysis Group ECE, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland, including the following information:- Crew seat Part Number (Seat P/N) and Serial Number (S/N),- Aircraft Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN),- Aircraft flying hours and number of flights; and- Replacement date of the backrest tubes.Note: Switzerland FOCA AD HB-2005-470 and Pilatus PC-12 Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 04-13 refers. |\n| Compliance: | 1. For backrest tubes on crew seats with a recline system(Seat P/Ns 959.30.01.111, 959.30.01.112, 959.30.01.121 and 959.30.01.122): Within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, but not later than 31 March 2006. |\n\n| | 2. For backrest tubes on crew seats without a recline system(Seat P/Ns 959.30.01.131, 959.30.01.132, 959.30.01.133 and 959.30.01.134): Within the next 500 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, but not later than 31 March 2006. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| | This Amendment becomes effective on 16 February 2006. |\n| Background: | A report was received of the failure of a crew seat’s bucket assembly tubes, which was detected during a maintenance inspection. Investigation revealed the tubes failed at the location of the energy device pins. The lower tubes remained attached, but the upper parts were completely disconnected. This could lead to reduced ability of the pilots to control the aircraft.The original issue of this Directive required all crew seats above 6000 flying hours be inspected according to Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 25-031, dated 21 July 2004. The Directive required, as an interim action, a one-time inspection of the pilot and co-pilot seat bucket assembly tubes for cracks, reporting of the inspection results and if necessary the replacement of the bucket assembly tubes.This amendment specifies, as terminating action, the life limitations for the backrest tubes on crew seats with and without a recline system installed.The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 1 September 2004. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nDavid Punshon \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n5 January 2006","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/PC-12/43 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/PC-12/43 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/PC-12/43 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Crew Seats Backrest Tubes","sectionType":"part","heading":"Crew Seats Backrest Tubes","content":"## Crew Seats Backrest Tubes","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2/2006","sectionType":"part","heading":"2/2006","content":"## 2/2006","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This amendment replaces the original interim inspection requirement with a terminating action: it imposes fixed component life limits for backrest tubes (5,000 flight hours for seats with a recline system; 10,000 hours without) and adds mandatory return/reporting of replaced tubes to Pilatus. (See Background; Requirement.)"},"complexity_factors":["Multiple affected part numbers grouped by configuration (with recline vs without recline)","Two different life limits to track (5,000 hrs vs 10,000 hrs)","Short, specific compliance windows (100 or 500 hours TIS and a calendar backstop)","Obligation to return removed parts to manufacturer with specified data (seat P/N & S/N, aircraft MSN, hours/flight count, replacement date)","Dependency on prior interim inspection and a referenced service bulletin/foreign AD"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive sets mandatory life limits for crew-seat backrest tubes on Pilatus PC‑12 and PC‑12/45 aeroplanes, requires operators to replace tubes when those hours are reached, and to return removed tubes to Pilatus (Requirement). Operators must comply within the AD’s flight‑time deadlines (specified 100/500 hours after the effective date and a 31 March 2006 backstop) and bear replacement and reporting obligations; the measure responds to a reported tube failure that could reduce pilots’ ability to control the aircraft (Compliance; Background)."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original safety purpose. The original directive (September 2004) required inspections of high-hour seats as an interim measure. This amendment (February 2006) provides the permanent solution by mandating hard life limits on the components. The scope has not expanded beyond the specific crew seat backrest tube issue that prompted the original directive."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple specific part numbers requiring careful cross-referencing (8 distinct P/Ns across two seat categories)","Dual compliance pathways: both flight hour limits AND calendar deadlines (31 March 2006)","Different time limits for two distinct seat configurations (recline vs non-recline)","Mandatory reporting/return requirements to overseas manufacturer with specific data fields","References to external documents (Swiss FOCA AD, Pilatus Service Bulletin, Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision) that are not reproduced in the text","Amendment structure requires understanding of 'terminating action' replacing previous 'interim action'"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires Pilatus PC‑12/45 operators and maintainers to replace specific pilot seat backrest tubes before they exceed set flight‑hour limits (5,000 hours for reclining seats, 10,000 for non‑reclining) to prevent in‑flight loss of seat support after a reported separation. \n\nRemoved tubes must be returned to the manufacturer with service details so engineers can investigate and improve safety."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-43-amdt-1-crew-seats-backrest-tubes","history":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-43-amdt-1-crew-seats-backrest-tubes/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-43-amdt-1-crew-seats-backrest-tubes/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-43-amdt-1-crew-seats-backrest-tubes/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-43-amdt-1-crew-seats-backrest-tubes/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-43-amdt-1-crew-seats-backrest-tubes/documents"}}