{"id":"F2007L00694","name":"AD/SA 315/14 - Main Gearbox - Pinion Splines","slug":"ad-sa-315-14-main-gearbox-pinion-splines","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":64257,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L00694-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","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 315/14 | Main Gearbox - Pinion Splines | 4/2007 |\n| ------------ | ----------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | EUROCOPTER SA 315 helicopters fitted with Main Gear Boxes (MGB) P/Nos 319A62-00-000-1 to -4 with serial numbers (S/N) as listed in EUROCOPTER Alert Service Bulletin 05.40 excluding those MGB’s having the suffix “V” after the S/N.                                                                                         |\n| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Action in accordance with DGAC AD 2001-368-045(A).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n| Compliance:    | In accordance with DGAC AD 2001-368-045(A) with a revised effective date of12 April 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 12 April 2007.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n| Background:    | This AD is in response to an accident involving a SA 315 B helicopter. The accident was due to the loss of the tail rotor power transmission. The cause was the use of an unauthorized product (Loctite sealant) in the drive pinion splined assembly at the time of a revision or repair carried out by the company PILATUS. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Punshon  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n21 February 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/SA 315/14","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/SA 315/14","content":"## AD/SA 315/14","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Main Gearbox - Pinion Splines","sectionType":"part","heading":"Main Gearbox - Pinion Splines","content":"## Main Gearbox - Pinion Splines","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"4/2007","content":"## 4/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety response to a specific accident with a specific cause (unauthorized sealant use). The scope remains tightly focused on the identified defect in specific gearbox models. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive (approximately 200 words of substantive content)","Only 4 defined part numbers and reference to one external document (DGAC AD)","Single condition: applicability depends on part number, serial number range, and exclusion of 'V' suffix units","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond the applicability criteria","Heavy reliance on external reference (French DGAC AD) for actual technical requirements — the 'action' is simply 'do what France says'","Minimal cross-referencing (only to Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 05.40 for serial number list)"],"plain_english_summary":"This mandatory CASA Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Eurocopter SA 315 “Lama” helicopters with specified main gearbox part and serial numbers (except those with a “V” suffix) to comply with French DGAC AD 2001-368-045(A) by 12 April 2007. \n\nIt responds to a crash caused by unauthorized Loctite used on drive pinion splines during Pilatus maintenance, and affects Australian-registered SA 315Bs, their maintenance organisations, and anyone with affected gearboxes."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD adopts the requirements of DGAC AD 2001-368-045(A) for the same set of affected MGBs, with the only modification noted being a revised effective date (12 April 2007). Applicability follows the Eurocopter service bulletin listing and excludes S/Ns with suffix 'V'; no expansion of applicability or additional measures are introduced in the supplied text."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to an external foreign authority document (DGAC AD 2001-368-045(A)) — requires reading a separate instrument to know required actions","Narrow technical applicability tied to specific MGB part numbers and serial numbers listed in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 05.40","Exclusion of units with a suffix “V” — requires precise serial-number verification during maintenance records checks","Safety-critical mechanical inspection/rectification of pinion splines — specialised maintenance, tooling and record-keeping required","Revised effective date specified (12 April 2007) — administrative timing constraint for operators to comply"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Eurocopter SA 315 (Lama) helicopters fitted with specific Main Gear Boxes (P/N 319A62-00-000-1 to -4, specified S/Ns per Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 05.40, excluding S/Ns ending with “V”) to carry out the actions set out in DGAC AD 2001-368-045(A). The AD (effective 12 April 2007) responds to an accident attributed to an unauthorized Loctite sealant found in the drive pinion splines. Operators must inspect/rectify affected pinion spline assemblies and follow the referenced DGAC/Eurocopter instructions; operators pay compliance costs and maintenance providers face procedural scrutiny."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-14-main-gearbox-pinion-splines","history":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-14-main-gearbox-pinion-splines/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-14-main-gearbox-pinion-splines/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-14-main-gearbox-pinion-splines/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-14-main-gearbox-pinion-splines/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sa-315-14-main-gearbox-pinion-splines/documents"}}