{"id":"F2006B06596","name":"AD/RES/28 - Pacific Scientific Lift Lever Buckle Assemblies","slug":"ad-res-28-pacific-scientific-lift-lever-buckle-assemblies","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":48419,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06596-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/RES/28 - Pacific Scientific Lift Lever Buckle Assemblies","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nRestraint Equipment\n\nAD/RES/28 Pacific Scientific Lift Lever Buckle Assemblies 9/94\n\nApplicability: Pacific Scientific lap belts and restraint systems which incorporate a lift lever buckle assembly identified in the Requirement Documents.\n\nRequirement: Remove from service all seat belts and safety harnesses identified in Pacific Scientific Service Bulletins 1108435-25-01 or 1108460-25-01, dated 28 April 1994, and replace them with new assemblies in accordance with the respective Service Bulletin.\n\nNote: Rotary type buckles are not affected.\n\nCompliance: Before 18 February 1995.\n\nBackground: Following a crash landing in USA, the surviving passengers reported difficulty in releasing their lap belts. The FAA has released a proposed AD with a compliance time of 90 days. Anticipation of FAA AD will allow a longer compliance time.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive’s scope remains focused on replacing the specific Pacific Scientific lift-lever buckle assemblies identified in the cited Service Bulletins. It excludes rotary buckles and sets a compliance deadline. The instrument does not expand beyond its stated aim (addressing reported difficulty releasing the buckles) and the identification of affected parts remains tied to the Requirement Documents/Service Bulletins (Applicability; Requirement; Note; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, equipment-specific applicability (Pacific Scientific lift-lever buckle assemblies identified in Requirement Documents and two Service Bulletins) (Applicability; Requirement)","Single clear operational mandate: remove and replace affected assemblies (Requirement)","Fixed calendar compliance deadline (Compliance)","Dependence on external technical documents (Service Bulletins) to identify exact parts and replacement procedures (Requirement)","Exclusion carve-out (rotary type buckles not affected) requiring careful identification during compliance (Note)","Lack of text on cost allocation, enforcement procedures, or exemptions increases practical implementation questions (Requirement; Compliance)"],"plain_english_summary":"This directive mandates removal and replacement of Pacific Scientific lift‑lever buckle assemblies identified in two Service Bulletins, requiring operators to fit the specified replacement assemblies by 18 February 1995. It affects aircraft using those lap‑belt/restraint parts and was issued after reports passengers had difficulty releasing the buckles in a crash landing."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aviation equipment. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating replacement of defective seat belt buckles following a safety incident."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined term implicitly referenced (\"lift lever buckle assembly\" — identified by reference to external documents)","Single, unambiguous compliance requirement with clear deadline","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — only one explicit exclusion (rotary type buckles)","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the enabling regulation (CAR 1998 Part 39)","Straightforward cause-and-effect: identified product → mandatory replacement → fixed deadline"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** An Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).\n\n**What it does:** Orders airlines and aircraft operators to immediately remove from service specific seat belts and safety harnesses made by Pacific Scientific. These belts have a particular type of buckle called a \"lift lever buckle assembly.\" Operators must replace them with new, compliant assemblies.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone operating aircraft with Pacific Scientific lap belts and restraint systems that use the problematic lift lever buckle design.\n\n**Why it matters:** After a crash landing in the USA, surviving passengers couldn't quickly release their seat belts — a potentially deadly flaw in an emergency evacuation. The Australian regulator is acting ahead of the US FAA to give operators more time to comply, but the fix is still mandatory and time-sensitive (deadline: 18 February 1995).\n\n**Key details:**\n- **Not affected:** Rotary type buckles (a different design)\n- **Must follow:** Specific service bulletins from the manufacturer (documents 1108435-25-01 and 1108460-25-01)\n- **The problem:** Buckles that are hard to release in an emergency"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-res-28-pacific-scientific-lift-lever-buckle-assemblies","history":"/api/acts/ad-res-28-pacific-scientific-lift-lever-buckle-assemblies/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-res-28-pacific-scientific-lift-lever-buckle-assemblies/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-res-28-pacific-scientific-lift-lever-buckle-assemblies/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-res-28-pacific-scientific-lift-lever-buckle-assemblies/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-res-28-pacific-scientific-lift-lever-buckle-assemblies/documents"}}