{"id":"F2006B07099","name":"AD/S-PUMA/22 - Tail Rotor Shaft","slug":"ad-s-puma-22-tail-rotor-shaft","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":48875,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07099-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/S-PUMA/22 - Tail Rotor Shaft","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Eurocopter AS 332 (Super Puma) Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/S-PUMA/22 Tail Rotor Shaft  7/96 DM\n\n \n\nApplicability: All model AS 332 helicopters.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Eurocopter Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.00.41 dated January 29, 1996.\n\n \n\nNote: DGAC AD 96-074-057(B) refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: As specified in the Requirement Document.\n\n \n\nBackground: The manufacturer has advised that a crack in one of the tail rotor flapping hinge retainers has been found.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, narrow Airworthiness Directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in a specific aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined term implicitly referenced (the Service Bulletin)","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single note about a French aviation authority document (DGAC AD 96-074-057(B))","Simple conditional structure: applicability → requirement → compliance deadline","No nested exceptions or complex logical operators","Single mechanical issue with prescribed manufacturer solution"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it like a compulsory recall notice, but for aircraft parts.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of **Eurocopter AS 332 (Super Puma) helicopters** to inspect and fix a specific safety problem with the **tail rotor shaft**. The tail rotor is the small rotor at the back of a helicopter that stops it from spinning uncontrollably — so if this part fails, the aircraft could crash.\n\n**The specific problem:** Cracks have been found in the **flapping hinge retainers** (metal parts that hold the tail rotor blades in place and allow them to move slightly). A cracked retainer could break, causing the tail rotor to fail.\n\n**What must be done:** Operators must follow the instructions in **Eurocopter Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.00.41** (dated 29 January 1996). This bulletin tells mechanics exactly how to inspect the part and what repairs or replacements are needed.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone who owns, operates, or maintains an AS 332 Super Puma helicopter in Australia.\n\n**Why it matters:** This is a **life-critical safety issue**. The directive is mandatory — you cannot legally fly the helicopter until the required work is done. Ignoring it risks catastrophic failure and loss of life."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD's scope matches its stated purpose in the text: it applies to all AS 332 helicopters and mandates compliance with the manufacturer’s service bulletin to address a reported crack in a tail rotor flapping hinge retainer (Applicability; Requirement; Background). The instrument does not expand or narrow that scope beyond requiring the specified corrective actions; it defers procedural detail to the referenced Requirement Document."},"complexity_factors":["Mandatory reference to an external technical document (Eurocopter Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.00.41) for all operative detail, increasing practical complexity despite short AD text (Requirement).","Wide applicability (all model AS 332 helicopters) creates operational variability in scheduling and resource needs (Applicability).","AD text does not specify compliance timing or procedural steps, requiring operators to consult and interpret the Requirement Document (Compliance).","Technical nature of the defect (crack in tail rotor flapping hinge retainer) requires specialist maintenance skills and potentially parts availability.","Cross-reference to a foreign authority AD (DGAC AD 96-074-057(B)) adds an additional documentary dependency (Note)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates that all Eurocopter AS 332 (Super Puma) helicopters comply with Eurocopter Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.00.41 (29 Jan 1996) after a crack was found in a tail-rotor flapping hinge retainer. It affects every AS 332 owner/operator and their maintenance organisations, who must follow the manufacturer’s specified inspections/repairs (costs and downtime borne by operators). The AD adopts the Service Bulletin by reference; detailed procedures and timing are in that document."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-22-tail-rotor-shaft","history":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-22-tail-rotor-shaft/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-22-tail-rotor-shaft/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-22-tail-rotor-shaft/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-22-tail-rotor-shaft/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-22-tail-rotor-shaft/documents"}}