{"id":"F2005L00621","name":"AD/S-62/12 - Main Rotor Blades","slug":"ad-s-62-12-main-rotor-blades","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":112896,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L00621-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Sikorsky S-62 Series Helicopters","sectionType":"division","heading":"Sikorsky S-62 Series Helicopters","content":"### Sikorsky S-62 Series Helicopters\n\n| AD/S-62/12 | Main Rotor Blades | 4/2005 |\n| ---------- | ----------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Model S-62A helicopters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |\n| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Retire part number S14-10-2100 series main rotor blades from service.2. Retire part number S14-10-2201 series main rotor blades from service.3. The service life limits may be extended to 6,000 total flight hours for main rotor blades part number S14-10-2201-9, and part numbers S14-10-2100 and S14-10-2201 series blades modified to S14-10-2201-9 blades, provided the blades are modified, operated, maintained, inspected, and retired in accordance with the requirements of Sikorsky Service Bulletin (SB) 62B10-6H, or a later FAA approved revision, or in accordance with the Maintenance Manual Chapter 39.Note: FAA AD 66-04-03 Amdt 39-194 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Upon the accumulation of 2,250 total flight hours.2. Upon the accumulation of 2,250 total flight hours.3. As specified in SB 62B10-6H or a later FAA approved revision, or the Maintenance Manual Chapter 39.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 14 April 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |\n| Background:    | The FAA requires certain actions to prevent operation with fatigue cracks in the spar of a main rotor blade.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n2 March 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/S-62/12","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/S-62/12","content":"## AD/S-62/12","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Main Rotor Blades","sectionType":"part","heading":"Main Rotor Blades","content":"## Main Rotor Blades","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"4/2005","content":"## 4/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The directive narrows its practical effect by allowing an extended service life (up to 6,000 flight hours) only for blades that are modified and then operated, maintained, inspected and retired in accordance with Sikorsky SB 62B10‑6H (or a later FAA‑approved revision) or Maintenance Manual Chapter 39. Unmodified blades of the specified series must be retired at 2,250 flight hours. This creates a conditional expansion of allowable service life for modified blades while retaining earlier retirement for others, shifting modification and compliance costs onto operators who wish to keep blades in service longer."},"complexity_factors":["Part‑number specific applicability (S14‑10‑2100 series; S14‑10‑2201 series; S14‑10‑2201‑9)","Two possible compliance paths: mandatory retirement at 2,250 flight hours versus conditional extension to 6,000 hours after modification","Dependency on external documents (Sikorsky SB 62B10‑6H or a later FAA‑approved revision; Maintenance Manual Chapter 39) for procedural detail","Precise compliance timing (upon accumulation of 2,250 total flight hours) requiring accurate flight‑hour tracking and recordkeeping","Operational and maintenance burden: blade modification, inspection regime, and potential out‑of‑service time and replacement costs","Cross‑reference to FAA airworthiness directive and reliance on FAA approvals increases regulatory linkage and potential for revision"],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires operators of Sikorsky S‑62A helicopters to retire specified main rotor blade part numbers at set flight‑hour limits to address risk of spar fatigue cracking. It also permits certain blades that have been modified and are maintained under Sikorsky Service Bulletin 62B10‑6H (or a later FAA‑approved revision) or Maintenance Manual Chapter 39 to remain in service up to 6,000 flight hours. It matters because it forces blade removals or upgrades and ongoing inspections to reduce in‑flight failure risk."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope. It addresses a specific safety defect in specific rotor blades on a specific helicopter model, exactly as intended when the FAA first identified the fatigue crack risk. There is no evidence of scope creep or expansion beyond the original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive with only 3 numbered requirements","Limited cross-referencing: only references one FAA AD (66-04-03) and one Sikorsky Service Bulletin (62B10-6H)","Simple conditional logic: basic 'if-then' structure for the service life extension (requirement 3)","Narrow applicability: single helicopter model (S-62A) and specific part numbers","No defined terms section or interpretation provisions","Clear compliance deadlines tied to flight hours rather than calendar dates (except effective date)"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates retirement of certain Sikorsky S-62A main rotor blades at 2,250 flight hours to address fatigue cracking in the blade spar, a failure that could cause catastrophic loss. One blade variant (S14-10-2201-9) and blades modified to that standard may be flown to 6,000 hours only if operators follow the specified Sikorsky service bulletin inspection and maintenance regime. It affects S-62A owners, operators and maintenance organisations."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-s-62-12-main-rotor-blades","history":"/api/acts/ad-s-62-12-main-rotor-blades/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-s-62-12-main-rotor-blades/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-s-62-12-main-rotor-blades/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-s-62-12-main-rotor-blades/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-s-62-12-main-rotor-blades/documents"}}