{"id":"F2006L03811","name":"AD/SA 315/13 - Horizontal Stabiliser Spar","slug":"ad-sa-315-13-horizontal-stabiliser-spar","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":137672,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L03811-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Eurocopter SA 315 (Lama) Series Helicopt","sectionType":"division","heading":"Eurocopter SA 315 (Lama) Series Helicopters","content":"### Eurocopter SA 315 (Lama) Series Helicopters\n\n| AD/SA 315/13 | Horizontal Stabiliser Spar | 13/2006 |\n| ------------ | -------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Model SA 315 B helicopters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement:   | 1. STABILISERS PART NUMBER 315A-35-10-000-1a. Accomplishment of a visual inspection in accordance with paragraph 2.B(1) of Eurocopter SA 315 Service Bulletin (SB) No. 55.01 Revision 2, was required within 3 months after 14 December 1996.If corrosion is detected inside the tube, other than in the half-shell area, replacement of the tube was required within 500 flight hours or by31 December 1998, whichever occurred first.b. Compliance with paragraph 2.B(2) of SB No. 55.01 Revision 2, which corresponds to the embodiment of modifications 07.2215 (adding half shells on the spar tube) and 07.2214 (installation of the spar tube without play), was required by 1 March 1984, as mandated by DGAC AD 83-204-026(B), which has since been cancelled.c. Once compliance with Requirement 1.b. is confirmed, accomplish the following:(i) Visually check the installation of the half-shells and the horizontal stabiliser.(ii) Visually check the condition of the installation and lubricate the spar tube attachment bolts.d. For the horizontal stabilisers part number 315A35-10-000-1 on which modification 07.2215 has been embodied, the airworthiness aspects covered by DGAC AD 85-194-030(B) (effective 27 November 1985) which is superseded and replaced by DGAC AD 96-277-037(A) (this AD) remain applicable. These aspects are as follows:Confirm that there are no traces of marking on the spar tube and rework the stabiliser support fittings in accordance with paragraph C.1. of Eurocopter Service Bulletin (SB) No. 01.23. |\n\n|     | e. For horizontal stabilisers part number 315A35-10-000-1 on which modification 07.2215 has been embodied and which do not have the letter ”X” engraved on the identification plate in the official stamp area, the airworthiness aspects covered by DGAC AD 88-025-031(B) (effective13 February 1988) which is superseded and replaced by DGAC AD96-277-037(A) (this AD) remain applicable. These aspects are as follows:With a view to removing any traces of corrosion and improving the protective treatment at the half-shell-to-stabiliser tube centre section assembly points, the following measures were to have been applied at the 400 flight hour interval or by 13 February 1989, whichever occurred first.Carry out the checks and any required reworking, return the assembly to airworthy condition and mark the letter “X” on the stabiliser in accordance with paragraph C.1. of Eurocopter Service Bulletin (SB) No. 01.25.2. STABILISERS PART NUMBER 315A35-10-000-2 and HIGHER DASH NUMBERSa. Accomplishment of a visual inspection in accordance with paragraph 2.B(1) of SB No. 55.01 Revision 2, was required within 3 months after14 December 1996.If corrosion is detected inside the tube, other than in the half-shell area, replacement of the tube was required within 500 flight hours or by31 December 1998, whichever occurred first.b. A check, and if necessary, modification of the supports and the stabiliser was required by 14 June 1997 in accordance with paragraph 2.B.(2) of SB No. 55.01 Revision 2 (embodiment of modification 07.2215), provided that the instructions in paragraph 2.B.(3) of SB No. 55.01 Revision 2 were applied once within 8 days or 10 flight hours, whichever occurred first, from the effective date of DGAC AD 96-277-037(A) R1 dated 21 May 1997 (A check of the condition of the tube inside the area which is covered by the two half-shells. If a crack is found, discard the tube).c. Once compliance with Requirement 2.b. is confirmed, accomplish the following:(i) Visually check the installation of the half-shells and the horizontal stabiliser.(ii) Visually check the condition of the installation and lubricate the spar tube attachment bolts. |\n| --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n|             | d. Embodiment of modification 07.2214 (installation of spar tube without play) was to have been accomplished by 1 March 1984, as required by DGAC AD 83-204-026(B) (which has been cancelled).e. For the horizontal stabilisers part number 315A35-10-000-2, the airworthiness aspects covered by DGAC AD 85-194-030(B) effective 27 November 1985, which is superseded and replaced by 96-277-037(A) R2 (this AD), remain applicable. These aspects are as follows:Confirm that there are no traces of marking on the spar tube and rework the stabiliser support fittings in accordance with paragraph C.1. of SB No. 01.23.3. STABILISERS – ALL PART NUMBERSAttach lockwire to the four attachment clamps of the half-shells in accordance with paragraph 2.B.2 of SB No. 55.01 Revision 4.All stabilisers held as spares must be modified before installation on an aircraft, by the embodiment of modifications 07.2214 and 07.2215; and the inside of the tube visually inspected in accordance with paragraph 2.B.(1) of SB No. 55.01 Revision 4.Note: DGAC AD 96-277-037(A) R2 refers. |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Compliance: | 1.a. Inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 years.1.b. As specified in Requirement 1.b.1.c. (i) After the last flight of the day.1.c. (ii) At intervals not to exceed 400 flight hours or 4 months, whichever occurs first.1.d. Unless already accomplished, within 50 flight hours after 21 December 2006, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 400 flight hours; or whenever the stabiliser is removed.1.e. Unless already accomplished, before 21 January 2007.2.a. Inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 years.2.b. As specified in Requirement 2.b.2.c. (i) After the last flight of the day.2.c. (ii) At intervals not to exceed 400 flight hours or 4 months, whichever occurs first.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n\n|             | 2.d. As specified in Requirement 2.d.2.e. Unless already accomplished, within 50 flight hours after 21 December 2006, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 400 flight hours; or whenever the stabiliser is removed.3. Unless already accomplished, within 30 days after 21 December 2006. |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n|             | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 21 December 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n| Background: | This Directive requires certain actions in order to improve the horizontal stabiliser fatigue strength.                                                                                                                                                                                        |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n7 November 2006","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/SA 315/13","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/SA 315/13","content":"## AD/SA 315/13","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Horizontal Stabiliser Spar","sectionType":"part","heading":"Horizontal Stabiliser Spar","content":"## Horizontal Stabiliser Spar","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"13/2006","sectionType":"part","heading":"13/2006","content":"## 13/2006","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD consolidates and supersedes earlier DGAC ADs and restates Eurocopter SB requirements but retains the same airworthiness aspects rather than expanding the model scope. It primarily clarifies deadlines, recurring inspection intervals and mandates embodiment of specific modifications (07.2214/07.2215) and spare‑part modification prior to installation; it does not add new categories of affected aircraft beyond those already covered in the AD text."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple affected part numbers and variants (stabilisers part no. 315A‑35‑10‑000‑1, 315A35‑10‑000‑2 and higher dash numbers) with different required actions (Requirements 1–3).","Layered compliance history and deadlines including historical short‑term deadlines, long‑term recurring intervals, and immediate actions (e.g. inspections within 3 months of 14 Dec 1996; replacement within 500 flight hours or by 31 Dec 1998; recurring 400 flight‑hour/4‑month checks; 6‑year inspections).","Cross‑references to multiple Eurocopter Service Bulletins (SB No. 55.01 revisions 2 and 4, SB No. 01.23, SB No. 01.25) and to earlier DGAC ADs (e.g. DGAC AD 83‑204‑026(B), 85‑194‑030(B), 88‑025‑031(B), 96‑277‑037(A) R1/R2), which affects interpretation and implementation.","Technical variety of mandated actions: internal visual inspection of the spar tube, replacement if corrosion or cracking is found, embodiment of modifications 07.2214 and 07.2215 (installation without play and half‑shell fitment), rework of support fittings, lubrication, lockwire installation, and engraving/marking requirements.","Requirement that all spare stabilisers be modified before installation increases logistics and spare‑parts management burden for operators.","Operational impact and compliance burden: scheduled maintenance windows, possible aircraft downtime for replacement, and costs borne by owners/operators.","Ambiguity risk from historical and superseded ADs retained 'as applicable' — implementers must reconcile which prior measures remain in force and which are replaced."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Eurocopter SA 315B (Lama) helicopters to inspect, modify or replace the horizontal stabiliser spar tube and associated fittings, apply corrosion treatment, secure half‑shells with lockwire, mark modified stabilisers, and follow specified recurring inspection intervals. It affects aircraft owners, operators and maintenance organisations who must pay for and schedule the inspections/modifications. The stated aim is to improve stabiliser fatigue strength; compliance creates recurring maintenance costs, inspection workload and operational scheduling constraints."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD appears to maintain its original scope as a targeted safety directive for the horizontal stabiliser spar of the SA 315 B helicopter. While it consolidates multiple earlier French directives and references numerous external documents, this expansion reflects the natural accumulation of safety data and corrective actions over time rather than mission creep beyond the original purpose. The scope remains focused on the specific structural integrity issue identified in the Background."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple parallel requirement tracks based on two different part numbers (315A-35-10-000-1 and 315A35-10-000-2) with different compliance paths","Extensive cross-referencing to external documents: Eurocopter Service Bulletins (SB No. 55.01 Revision 2 and 4, SB No. 01.23, SB No. 01.25) and multiple French DGAC Airworthiness Directives (83-204-026(B), 85-194-030(B), 88-025-031(B), 96-277-037(A) and its revisions)","Nested conditional logic: requirements depend on whether modifications 07.2214 and/or 07.2215 have been embodied, whether corrosion was found, whether specific markings ('X') are present, and whether actions were 'already accomplished'","Multiple compliance timeframes using different metrics: calendar dates (e.g., 21 December 2006, 21 January 2007), flight hours (e.g., 50 flight hours, 400 flight hours, 500 flight hours), and time intervals (e.g., 3 months, 6 years, 4 months, 8 days)","Incorporation by reference of specific paragraph numbers from external service bulletins (e.g., paragraph 2.B(1), 2.B(2), C.1) without reproducing those instructions in the text","Historical layering: the AD consolidates and supersedes multiple earlier French directives while maintaining some of their requirements, creating a complex temporal dependency structure","Distinguishing between actions required 'before' certain dates versus 'within' timeframes after the AD's effective date"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates inspection, repair or replacement, and modification of the horizontal stabiliser spar on Eurocopter SA 315 B (\"Lama\") helicopters and spare stabilisers, targeting corrosion and fatigue that could lead to structural failure. It requires visual checks, fitting of protective half‑shells and secure fittings, ongoing lubrication and lockwiring, and marking of modified parts. It consolidates prior French directives to prevent loss of control from stabiliser failure."},"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-sa-315-13-horizontal-stabiliser-spar","history":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-13-horizontal-stabiliser-spar/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-13-horizontal-stabiliser-spar/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-13-horizontal-stabiliser-spar/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-13-horizontal-stabiliser-spar/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-13-horizontal-stabiliser-spar/documents"}}