{"id":"F2006B06450","name":"AD/R22/45 - Throttle Governor and Low RPM Warning","slug":"ad-r22-45-throttle-governor-and-low-rpm-warning","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":47898,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06450-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/R22/45 - Throttle Governor and Low RPM Warning","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/R22/45 Throttle Governor and Low RPM Warning 11/96\n\nDM\n\nApplicability: All R22 series helicopters S/N 0002 through to 2537 inclusive.\n\nRequirement: 1. Adjust the P/N A569-1 or -5 low RPM warning unit so that the warning horn and caution light activate when the main rotor RPM is between 96% and 97% rotor RPM in accordance with the procedures contained in the Model R22 maintenance manual.\n\n    2. For helicopters that do not have a governor currently installed, install a Robinson Helicopter Company K1-67-2 Governor Field Installation Kit in accordance with the kit instructions.\n\n    3. For helicopters that have a throttle/collective governor currently installed, upgrade the governor with a Robinson Helicopter Company K1-67-3 governor Upgrade Kit in accordance with the kit instructions.\n\nNote 1: A flight manual amendment is required to the Flight and Manoeuvre Limitations Section.\n\nNote 2: FAA AD 96-11-08 Amdt 39-9633 and Robinson SB-80A dated 6 June 1995 refers.\n\nNote 3: FAA AD 96-11-08 Amdt 39-9633 supersedes FAA AD 82-23-51 Amdt 39- 4645 the subject of AD/R22/14 which has now been cancelled.\n\nCompliance 1. Unless previously carried carry out, action in accordance with Requirement 1 prior to 30 September 1996.\n\n2. Unless previously carried out, action in accordance with Requirement 2 or 3, as applicable, prior to 30 September, 1996.\n\nBackground: The FAA has mandated installation of an improved throttle governor and adjustment of the low RPM warning unit threshold to increase RPM at which the warning horn and caution light activates and also revised the R22 flight manual to prohibit flight with the improved throttle governor selected off except in certain operational situations. This Directive supersedes AD/R22/14, which has been cancelled.","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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This Directive supersedes AD/R22/14 and expands the corrective measures. Compared with earlier material referenced (AD/R22/14 and earlier FAA ADs), it raises the low-RPM warning activation threshold and mandates either installation of a governor where none exists or an upgrade where an older governor exists. It therefore increases the set of mandatory hardware and operational changes beyond a simple warning adjustment, adding installation/upgrade obligations and a flight manual amendment (Requirements 1–3; Note 1). The net effect is a broader scope of mandated modifications and operational limits than the prior directive it replaces."},"complexity_factors":["Single, short applicability block (one serial-number range).","Three primary requirements (adjustment, install, upgrade) with clear mutually exclusive applicability.","Two compliance deadlines that are identical and straightforward (both prior to 30 September 1996).","Cross-references to external FAA ADs and a manufacturer service bulletin (requires checking external documents for technical detail).","One required flight manual amendment (operational change beyond hardware work)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does (mechanically)**\n\n- Applies to Robinson R22 helicopters with serial numbers 0002 through 2537 inclusive (see Applicability). \n- Requires three technical actions:\n  - Requirement 1: Adjust the P/N A569-1 or A569-5 low-RPM warning unit so the warning horn and caution light activate when main rotor speed is between 96% and 97% of rotor RPM, using the procedures in the R22 maintenance manual.\n  - Requirement 2: If the helicopter does not currently have a governor (automatic throttle control), install a Robinson K1-67-2 Governor Field Installation Kit according to the kit instructions.\n  - Requirement 3: If the helicopter already has a throttle/collective governor, upgrade it with the Robinson K1-67-3 Governor Upgrade Kit according to the kit instructions.\n- Requires a flight manual amendment to the Flight and Manoeuvre Limitations section (Note 1).\n- Sets compliance deadlines: the adjustments and installations/upgrades must be completed unless already done, prior to 30 September 1996 (Compliance section).\n- Cross-references FAA AD 96-11-08 (and earlier FAA ADs) and Robinson Service Bulletin SB-80A (Notes 2 and 3).\n\n**Who is affected**\n\n- Owners/operators of Robinson R22 helicopters with the serial numbers listed. \n- Maintenance organisations and technicians who will perform the adjustment, installations or upgrades. \n- The R22 manufacturer and kit suppliers (Robinson Helicopter Company) because the required parts/kits and instructions are theirs.\n\n**Why it matters (official rationale)**\n\n- The stated purpose (Background) is to raise the rotor RPM at which the low-RPM warning activates and to require an improved throttle governor so the crew receives earlier warnings and has improved throttle control. The FAA has mandated similar actions; this Directive implements the same measures for the affected R22 fleet.\n\n**Practical implications, costs and incentives**\n\n- Who pays: owners/operators must pay for the warning-unit adjustment, the governor installation or upgrade kits, labour, and any downtime while the work is done (Requirements 1–3). The manufacturer supplies kits/instructions, so kit purchases are a direct cost to operators.\n- Who decides: the aircraft owner/operator chooses the maintenance provider to carry out the work, but the Directive leaves no optionality about compliance — CASA (via the AD) requires the work be done by the compliance date.\n- Behaviour changes required: operators must (a) adjust the warning threshold to activate at 96–97% rotor RPM, (b) install or upgrade the governor as applicable, and (c) amend the flight manual to reflect new limitations (Note 1). The flight-manual change also restricts flight with the improved governor selected off except in specified situations (Background/Notes).\n- Incentives and market effects: Robinson (as kit supplier) and maintenance providers will capture the direct sales and labour revenue from required installations/upgrades. Owners bear concentrated costs; the safety benefit (earlier warnings, improved throttle control) is a diffuse benefit to pilots, passengers and the wider public.\n- Trade-offs and opportunity costs: funds and hangar time spent on these mandated modifications cannot be used for other maintenance or upgrades. If kits are in limited supply, scheduling and downtime costs may rise.\n- Implementation risks and compliance burden: effectiveness depends on correct adjustment per the R22 maintenance manual and correct installation of kits per the kit instructions. There is potential enforcement and verification work for regulators to confirm compliance, and a risk of delayed compliance if parts or authorised technicians are not immediately available.\n\n**Testing the stated purpose against costs and risks**\n\n- The AD’s claimed safety effect (earlier low-RPM alert and improved throttle control) is achieved by two mechanical changes: raising the warning activation point to 96–97% rotor RPM (Requirement 1) and installing/upgrading the governor (Requirements 2–3). \n- The concrete costs are direct (kits and labour) and indirect (downtime, possible logistics delays). The directive does not compensate owners; it imposes a compliance cost and shifts revenue toward kit manufacturers and maintenance providers.\n- Enforcement rests with the regulator; operators who do not comply face regulatory action. The directive references FAA material (Notes 2–3) as the basis for technical instructions and operational limits.\n\n**Source citations within the Directive**\n\n- Adjustment requirement: Requirement 1.\n- Governor installation for no-governor aircraft: Requirement 2.\n- Governor upgrade for existing governors: Requirement 3.\n- Flight manual amendment: Note 1.\n- Cross-references: Notes 2 and 3; Background references FAA mandate.\n\n"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Airworthiness Directive maintains its original, narrow scope: mandating specific hardware modifications and adjustments to Robinson R22 helicopters. It supersedes a previous directive (AD/R22/14) but does not expand beyond the original safety purpose of addressing low rotor RPM risks through governor and warning system improvements."},"complexity_factors":["Single, clearly numbered requirements (1, 2, 3) with straightforward compliance actions","Only one defined applicability criterion (serial number range)","Minimal conditional logic — essentially 'if no governor, install one; if governor exists, upgrade it'","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing to other legislation","Short, self-contained document with clear compliance deadline","References to external technical documents (maintenance manual, kit instructions) rather than legislative cross-references"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Robinson R22 helicopters (s/n 0002–2537) to fit earlier low‑RPM warning, install a throttle governor if missing, and upgrade existing governors by 30 September 1996. It targets a known safety risk—low rotor RPM—that has caused loss of lift and accidents, aligning Australian requirements with prior FAA action."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-r22-45-throttle-governor-and-low-rpm-warning","history":"/api/acts/ad-r22-45-throttle-governor-and-low-rpm-warning/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-r22-45-throttle-governor-and-low-rpm-warning/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-r22-45-throttle-governor-and-low-rpm-warning/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-r22-45-throttle-governor-and-low-rpm-warning/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-r22-45-throttle-governor-and-low-rpm-warning/documents"}}