{"id":"F2006B06439","name":"AD/R22/34 - Suspect Bolts","slug":"ad-r22-34-suspect-bolts","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":47862,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06439-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/R22/34 - Suspect Bolts","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)  \nRobinson R22 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/R22/34 Suspect Bolts 5/92 DM\n\nApplicability: Model R22 with serial numbers 1880 through 2060, and 2073. Also any R22 which has been overhauled or repaired by RHC since 9 July 1991 and all R22 regardless of serial number for which maintenance was performed since 9 July 1991 in the locations where the suspect bolts may have been used.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Robinson SB No 69.\n\nNote: FAA Telex AD 92-06-17 refers.\n\nCompliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 26 March 1992 or by 9 April 1992, whichever occurs first.\n\nBackground: A Robinson Helicopter experienced a failure of an NAS1304-16 AF bolt installed in the tail rotor controls of an R22 helicopter. Examination indicated the bolt failed due to hydrogen embrittlement which occurred during cadmium plating. In-flight failure of this bolt could be catastrophic.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound safety directive addressing a specific manufacturing defect. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of grounding/repairing helicopters with suspect bolts."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific safety requirement with clear compliance deadline","Applicability defined by serial number ranges and date-based maintenance history (two clear criteria)","Cross-reference to external technical document (Robinson SB No. 69) for actual procedure details","No defined terms section, no conditional logic, no nested exceptions","Short document (approximately 150 words of substantive text)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific Robinson R22 helicopters.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain R22 helicopters to inspect and replace potentially dangerous bolts in the tail rotor controls. These bolts were found to be prone to cracking due to a manufacturing defect (hydrogen embrittlement during a protective coating process called cadmium plating).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- R22 helicopters with serial numbers 1880–2060 and 2073\n- Any R22 overhauled or repaired by Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) since 9 July 1991\n- Any R22 where maintenance was performed since 9 July 1991 in areas where these specific bolts might have been installed\n\n**What must be done:**\nFollow the instructions in **Robinson Service Bulletin No. 69** — a technical notice from the manufacturer detailing the inspection and replacement procedure.\n\n**When it must be done:**\nWithin 10 hours of flying time after 26 March 1992, or by 9 April 1992 — whichever comes first.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nA bolt failure in the tail rotor controls during flight could cause the pilot to lose control of the helicopter, leading to a crash. This directive prevents that by catching defective bolts before they fail."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive's scope, as stated in the text provided, targets specific R22 serial numbers and additional R22 airframes identified by overhaul/repair or maintenance histories since 9 July 1991. The instrument’s mechanical requirement is to perform the actions in Robinson SB No. 69 within the short compliance window. Nothing in the supplied text indicates a change from that stated scope or a later expansion or narrowing; the applicability and required action are defined in the AD itself (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical focus: single bolt type (NAS1304-16 AF) and specific failure mode (hydrogen embrittlement) keep technical scope limited (Background).","Applicability nuance: combines explicit serial-number range (1880–2060, and 2073) with aircraft identified by repair/overhaul or maintenance history since a specific date (since 9 July 1991), which requires record checks to determine applicability (Applicability).","Delegation to external document: mandatory compliance requires following Robinson SB No. 69 rather than listing technical steps in the AD, creating reliance on the Service Bulletin’s availability and content (Requirement).","Short compliance window: compliance within 10 hours TIS after a set date or by a calendar date increases operational and scheduling pressure (Compliance).","Safety-critical consequence: potential for catastrophic in-flight failure heightens urgency and reduces tolerance for staggered or phased compliance (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of certain Robinson R22 helicopters to carry out Robinson Service Bulletin No. 69—inspect and, if needed, replace suspect NAS1304‑16 AF tail‑rotor bolts—within the short compliance window (10 hours TIS or the specified calendar cutoff). It applies to SN 1880–2060 and 2073 and R22s overhauled or maintained by RHC or in locations using the suspect bolts since 9 July 1991.\n\nIssued after a hydrogen‑embrittlement bolt failure, it aims to prevent catastrophic in‑flight failure; operators bear the cost, scheduling and record‑checking burden."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-r22-34-suspect-bolts","history":"/api/acts/ad-r22-34-suspect-bolts/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-r22-34-suspect-bolts/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-r22-34-suspect-bolts/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-r22-34-suspect-bolts/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-r22-34-suspect-bolts/documents"}}