{"id":"F2007L01573","name":"AD/R44/21 - Seat Belt Buckles","slug":"ad-r44-21-seat-belt-buckles","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":66088,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L01573-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Robinson R44 Series Helicopters","sectionType":"division","heading":"Robinson R44 Series Helicopters","content":"### Robinson R44 Series Helicopters\n\n| AD/R44/21 | Seat Belt Buckles | 7/2007 |\n| --------- | ----------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Model R44 helicopters, through serial number (S/N) 1576, and Model R44 II helicopters, through S/N 11107, with a seat belt buckle assembly part numberC628-4, revision M or prior, installed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Remove the buckle assembly and any A130-52 buckle assembly spacer, and replace them with a C628-4, revision N buckle assembly and a new A130-52 buckle assembly spacer, in accordance with the Compliance Procedure, paragraph 3, in Robinson Helicopter Company Service Bulletin SB-56, dated 29 March 2006.Replacing the buckle assembly and buckle assembly spacer with a C628-4, Revision N buckle assembly and a new A130-52 buckle assembly spacer is a terminating action for the requirements of this AD.Note 1: FAA AD 2007-11-01 refers.Note 2: The new A130-52 buckle assembly spacers have been redesigned to be slightly longer than the previous A130-52 buckle assembly spacers, to reduce friction in the joint. |\n| Compliance:    | Within 100 hours time-in-service, unless accomplished previously.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 5 July 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| Background:    | This Airworthiness Directive is prompted by an accident in which a seat belt failed, and also by reports of cracking in the buckle assembly stainless support strap. The actions specified by this Airworthiness Directive are intended to prevent cracking in the support strap and failure of a seat belt.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n25 May 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/R44/21","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/R44/21","content":"## AD/R44/21","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Seat Belt Buckles","sectionType":"part","heading":"Seat Belt Buckles","content":"## Seat Belt Buckles","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"7/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"7/2007","content":"## 7/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive's scope aligns with its stated purpose: it targets identified helicopter serial ranges and specific part revisions to eliminate a buckle-support strap cracking/failure risk. It requires replacement with a specified revision and spacer and terminates the AD for those aircraft once done. The text does not broaden obligations beyond the identified affected units or introduce additional regulatory categories."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability by model and serial-number range (Applicability).","Mandatory use of exact part numbers and revision levels: C628-4 rev N and A130-52 spacer (Requirement).","Action is a required physical replacement (terminating action) rather than an optional inspection (Requirement; Note).","Short compliance window of 100 hours time-in-service creates scheduling pressure for operators (Compliance).","Dependence on Robinson Service Bulletin Compliance Procedure, paragraph 3, for how to comply (Requirement).","Cross-reference to FAA AD 2007-11-01 (Note 1) adds inter-jurisdictional technical linkage.","Practical logistics and costs fall on owners/operators: parts acquisition and installation (implied by Requirement and Compliance).","Safety rationale based on an accident and reports of cracking, tying the regulatory trigger to specific failure reports (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires removal and replacement of specific seat-belt buckle assemblies and spacers on Robinson R44 and R44 II helicopters up to the listed serial numbers. Owners/operators must install a C628-4 revision N buckle and a new A130-52 spacer within 100 hours time‑in‑service (per the Robinson Service Bulletin); the directive (CASA) says this prevents support‑strap cracking and seat‑belt failure."},"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":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing a specific mechanical defect in seat belt buckles for defined Robinson helicopter models. There is no evidence of scope creep; it remains a targeted safety intervention for a identified hardware failure mode."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical action required (replacement of defined parts)","Limited applicability criteria (two helicopter models, specific serial number ranges, specific part number)","Clear compliance deadline (100 hours time-in-service)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Only 2 defined part numbers referenced (C628-4, A130-52)","Single terminating action with no ongoing inspection requirements","References one external document (Service Bulletin SB-56) but provides specific paragraph citation"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of certain Robinson R44 and R44 II helicopters (specific early serial ranges) fitted with seat belt buckle part C628-4 (rev M or earlier) to replace the buckle and install a longer spacer with the improved rev N buckle within 100 flight hours.  \n\nIt’s mandatory because cracking in the buckle support straps led to a failure in an accident; the replacement is the terminating action to prevent in-flight restraint failures."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-r44-21-seat-belt-buckles","history":"/api/acts/ad-r44-21-seat-belt-buckles/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-r44-21-seat-belt-buckles/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-r44-21-seat-belt-buckles/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-r44-21-seat-belt-buckles/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-r44-21-seat-belt-buckles/documents"}}