{"id":"F2018L01533","name":"AD/R44/26 Helipod R44 Five Place Seating Kit - Removal from Service","slug":"ad-r44-26-helipod-r44-five-place-seating-kit-removal-from-service","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":98196,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L01533-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Series H","sectionType":"part","heading":"Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Series Helicopters","content":"# Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Series Helicopters\n\n| AD/R44/26 | Helipod R44 Five PlaceSeating Kit - Removal from Service | 23/2018 |\n| --------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | All Robinson Helicopter Company R44 and R44 II helicopters fitted with Helipod R44 5 place kit Part Number (P/N) MHPR44BS25200.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Accomplish the following:1. Do not carry a passenger in the centre rear seat.2. Insert a copy of this AD into the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), opposite the supplement for the Helipod 5 Place Kit.3. Remove:(a) rear seat P/N MHPR44BS25200 and return the aircraft to an approved seating configuration, and(b) the Flight Manual Supplement and AD from the AFM.Note 1: It has not been demonstrated that the modification kit maintains the existing level of occupant safety for the centre seat passenger in an emergency landing. The modification may also reduce the existing occupant safety features of the two other rear seats.Note 2: New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority AD DCA/R44/25 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. From 14 December 2018, until Requirement 3 is complied with.2. Before 14 December 2018, unless previously accomplished.3. Before 14 January 2019, unless previously accomplished.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n|                | This AD commences on 9 November 2018.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n\n| Background: | This AD is issued to prevent possible injury to the centre rear seat passenger in the case of an emergency landing. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.jpeg)\n\nPieter van Dijk  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n1 November 2018","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/R44/26","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/R44/26","content":"## AD/R44/26","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Helipod R44 Five PlaceSeating Kit - Remo","sectionType":"part","heading":"Helipod R44 Five PlaceSeating Kit - Removal from Service","content":"## Helipod R44 Five Place  \nSeating Kit - Removal from Service","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"23/2018","sectionType":"part","heading":"23/2018","content":"## 23/2018","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"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":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific aftermarket modification. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of addressing the Helipod 5-place seating kit safety issue."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 250 words of substantive content)","Only 1 defined term implicitly used (P/N = Part Number)","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations","Simple linear structure: applicability → requirements → compliance dates → background","Three straightforward compliance actions with clear deadlines","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"Owners/operators of Robinson R44/R44 II helicopters fitted with Helipod 5‑seat kit (part MHPR44BS25200) must immediately prohibit use of the centre rear seat, insert the safety notice into the flight manual, and remove the kit entirely by mid‑January 2019. CASA found the aftermarket centre seat isn’t proven safe in emergency landings and could injure that passenger and compromise the two adjacent rear occupants, so removal was ordered to protect safety."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD's scope aligns with its stated purpose in the Background: preventing possible injury to the centre rear seat passenger. It applies only to R44/R44 II helicopters fitted with the specific Helipod kit and mandates removal and operational restrictions (Applicability; Requirement; Background). There is no expansion beyond removal, AFM amendment, and temporary operational prohibition."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability: specific to R44/R44 II helicopters fitted with Helipod kit P/N MHPR44BS25200 (Applicability).","Multiple required actions: immediate operational prohibition, AFM amendment, physical removal of kit and supplement (Requirement).","Staged compliance dates with a commencement date: different deadlines for interim and final actions (Compliance).","Safety uncertainty noted about occupant protection and possible effect on other rear seats (Note 1), introducing technical assessment needs.","Cross-reference to foreign AD (New Zealand CAA AD DCA/R44/25) which may affect recordkeeping or regulatory coordination (Note 2).","Enforcement and interpretation rest with CASA via an AD—limited administrative discretion but binding on operators (Implied by AD form)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What it does:** This airworthiness directive requires operators of Robinson R44 and R44 II helicopters fitted with the Helipod R44 5‑place kit (P/N MHPR44BS25200) to stop carrying a centre‑rear passenger, insert the AD into the Aircraft Flight Manual, and remove the kit and its Flight Manual supplement from service by the specified deadlines. It is issued to prevent possible injury to the centre rear seat passenger (Background). Owners/operators pay for removal and AFM changes; compliance is mandatory under CASA (Requirement; Compliance)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-r44-26-helipod-r44-five-place-seating-kit-removal-from-service","history":"/api/acts/ad-r44-26-helipod-r44-five-place-seating-kit-removal-from-service/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-r44-26-helipod-r44-five-place-seating-kit-removal-from-service/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-r44-26-helipod-r44-five-place-seating-kit-removal-from-service/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-r44-26-helipod-r44-five-place-seating-kit-removal-from-service/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-r44-26-helipod-r44-five-place-seating-kit-removal-from-service/documents"}}