{"id":"F2006B07114","name":"AD/S-PUMA/37 - Ferry Fuel Tanks","slug":"ad-s-puma-37-ferry-fuel-tanks","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":48918,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07114-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","sectionType":"part","heading":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","content":"# AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\n![](image.002.png)  \nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/S-PUMA/37 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/S-PUMA/37 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM","content":"# AD/S-PUMA/37 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM\n\nApplicability: AS 332 C, C1, L, L1 and L2 helicopters, metal ferry fuel tanks, part number 330A 871310.00, .01, .02, .03 and .04.\n\nRequirement: 1. For installed metal ferry fuel tanks \\- Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex No 28.00.44 dated 6 June 2000.\n\n2. For metal ferry fuel tanks that are not installed \\- Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex No 28.00.44 dated 6 June 2000.\n\nNote: DGAC AD 2000-302(A).\n\nCompliance: For Requirement 1 \\- Before the next refuelling of the ferry fuel tank after the effective date of this Directive.\n\nFor Requirement 2 - Before installation of the ferry fuel tank. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 26 July 2000.\n\nBackground: The French Direction Generale de L’Aviation Civile has advised that an electrostatic ground connector on several ferry fuel tanks was not electrically bonded to its support. During refuelling of a tank, the absence of this electrical bonding could generate an electrical arc between the refuelling nozzle of the tanker and the fuel tank causing the fuel tank to explode.\n\n![Signature of Eugene Paul Holzapfel Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority](image.003.png)  \n\nEugene Paul Holzapfel\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 18 July 2000\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 July 2000.","sortOrder":1}],"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive remains narrowly focused on correcting the specific unsafe condition (lack of electrical bonding on designated ferry fuel tanks). It does not broaden obligations beyond that immediate corrective action, nor extend to other tank types or helicopter models."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-issue directive (electrical bonding of ferry tanks).","Applicability limited to specific helicopter models and five tank part numbers.","Two compliance scenarios (installed vs not installed) with simple deadlines.","Single external cross-reference to one paragraph (C.C) of Eurocopter Service Telex No 28.00.44 (adds reliance on an external document).","No nested exceptions or conditional chains; minimal defined terms."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does (mechanically)**\n\n- Applies to Eurocopter AS 332 variants C, C1, L, L1 and L2 fitted with the specified metal ferry fuel tanks (part numbers 330A 871310.00, .01, .02, .03 and .04).\n- Requires that the ferry fuel tanks be electrically bonded (i.e. have a deliberate conductive connection to their supports/airframe so they cannot carry a separate static charge) in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex No 28.00.44 (6 June 2000).\n- Two situations covered:\n  - Installed tanks: must be electrically bonded before the next refuelling after the directive takes effect.\n  - Tanks not yet installed: must be electrically bonded before installation.\n\n**Why the rule exists (official rationale)**\n\n- The French aviation authority reported that on several ferry tanks the electrostatic ground connector was not bonded to its support. Without that bonding, refuelling can produce a static discharge (an electrical arc) between the tanker nozzle and the tank, which could ignite the tank and cause an explosion. The directive is issued to correct that unsafe condition.\n\n**Who this affects and who pays**\n\n- Aircraft operators, owners and maintenance organisations responsible for AS 332 helicopters fitted with the listed ferry tanks must ensure the bonding is done. They bear the cost of the inspection and bonding work (labour and any parts required).\n\n**Who decides and how compliance is shown**\n\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate issued the directive and sets the compliance timing. Compliance is achieved by performing the bonding in the manner specified in the Eurocopter Service Telex (paragraph C.C).\n\n**What behaviour changes**\n\n- Maintenance personnel must inspect ferry tanks and install or verify an electrical bond per the manufacturer telex before the next refuel (if fitted) or before installation (if not fitted). Operators will need to schedule this work into maintenance/operational plans and may delay refuelling or installation until bonding is completed.\n\n**Costs, incentives and trade-offs**\n\n- Direct costs: modest one-off maintenance cost per affected tank (labour and bonding hardware if not already present). The directive does not mandate tank replacement, only bonding.\n- Operational impact: for installed tanks the requirement to bond before the next refuelling creates a short-term operational constraint; if bonding cannot be done immediately because parts or qualified personnel are unavailable, refuelling operations may be delayed.\n- Benefits: reduces risk of static-ignition incidents during refuelling. The safety benefit accrues mainly to aircraft occupants, ground refuelling crews and the aircraft owner/operator.\n- Opportunity cost: time and resources spent on bonding that could have been used for other maintenance tasks. For most operators this is likely small compared with safety gains.\n\n**Implementation risk and compliance burden**\n\n- The directive cross-references a manufacturer service telex for the exact bonding method. If that telex is clear and parts are readily available, implementation risk is low. If the telex is vague or parts/qualified technicians are scarce, operators may face delays.\n- Compliance burden is procedural and technical rather than financially large: it requires a specific maintenance action done to a known standard.\n\n**Effects on private enterprise and competition**\n\n- Maintenance providers (including independent maintenance organisations) can perform the bonding work, so there is no exclusive supplier requirement in the directive itself. The directive may generate short-term demand for bonding hardware and qualified labour, which benefits those suppliers.\n\n**Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs**\n\n- Benefits are concentrated on operators, passengers and ground crews of the affected helicopters (reduced explosion risk). Costs are diffuse across affected operators and maintenance providers and are likely modest per unit.\n\n**Administrative discretion and regulatory design**\n\n- The directive is prescriptive about method (refers to a specific paragraph in a manufacturer telex) and timing (before next refuel or before installation). The CASA delegate set the timing; the directive leaves little room for alternative compliance without CASA approval.\n\n**Where to look in the text**\n\n- Applicability: lists affected helicopter models and tank part numbers.\n- Requirement: mandates electrical bonding per Eurocopter Service Telex No 28.00.44, paragraph C.C.\n- Compliance: sets the deadlines (installed tanks: before next refuelling; uninstalled: before installation).\n- Background: explains the electrostatic-bonding failure and risk of arc/ignition.\n\nOverall, the directive prescribes a narrowly targeted maintenance action to remove a specific safety hazard. It imposes a modest, one-off compliance cost on affected operators, requires conforming to a manufacturer's technical instruction, and constrains operations until the bonding is completed."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing a specific manufacturing defect in specific ferry fuel tanks for specific helicopter models. No scope creep detected."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 400 words)","Only 5 defined helicopter models and 5 part numbers in applicability","Two simple requirements with clear compliance deadlines","Single cross-reference to Eurocopter Service Telex (external technical standard)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Plain language background explaining the safety risk"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Eurocopter AS 332 (C, C1, L, L1, L2) helicopters with specified metal ferry fuel tanks (P/N 330A 871310.00–.04) to correct a faulty electrostatic ground connector bonding. Poor bonding can allow sparks during refuelling that ignite fuel vapours and cause explosions.\n\nInstalled tanks must be repaired before the next refuelling after 26 July 2000; spare tanks must be fixed before installation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-37-ferry-fuel-tanks","history":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-37-ferry-fuel-tanks/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-37-ferry-fuel-tanks/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-37-ferry-fuel-tanks/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-37-ferry-fuel-tanks/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-s-puma-37-ferry-fuel-tanks/documents"}}