{"id":"F2006B06786","name":"AD/SC7/10 - Automatic Pilot Aileron Servo Control Cable - Inspection","slug":"ad-sc7-10-automatic-pilot-aileron-servo-control-cable-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114635,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06786-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SC7/10 - Automatic Pilot Aileron Servo Control Cable - Inspection","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)  Short SC7 (Skyvan) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\n# AD/SC7/10 Automatic Pilot Aileron Servo Control Cable - Inspection\n\nApplicability: Skyvan Series 3, 3A and 3M fitted with automatic pilot. Document:  Short SB 22-A59.\n\nCompliance: Before issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness.\n\n# 7/79\n\n \n\nBackground:  A malfunction has occurred where the cable connecting to the aileron automatic pilot servo motor capstan jammed between the two guide pulleys at Stn. 226. The inspection should avoid any repetition of this fault.\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\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted airworthiness directive addressing a specific mechanical fault in a specific aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring the autopilot aileron servo control cable is inspected for jamming issues. The scope remains tightly focused on the identified safety risk."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 3 defined applicability criteria (aircraft series and autopilot fitment)","Single compliance requirement with clear trigger (before Certificate of Airworthiness issue)","No cross-references to other legislation or complex conditional logic","Single technical reference to manufacturer service bulletin (SB 22-A59)","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested conditions","Straightforward cause-and-effect: identified fault → mandated inspection"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nIt requires owners and operators of specific **Short SC7 Skyvan aircraft** (Series 3, 3A, and 3M models that have an automatic pilot/autopilot installed) to carry out a specific inspection before the aircraft can be issued a **Certificate of Airworthiness** (the official document that says an aircraft is safe to fly).\n\n**The safety issue:**\nThere's been a problem where a control cable — specifically the one connecting the autopilot to the aileron servo motor (the part that helps control the plane's roll) — got jammed between two guide pulleys at a specific location on the aircraft (Station 226). This jam could prevent proper control of the aircraft.\n\n**Who must comply:**\nAnyone who owns or operates a Short SC7 Skyvan Series 3, 3A, or 3M with autopilot fitted, and who wants to get or renew their Certificate of Airworthiness.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is a **flight safety issue**. A jammed aileron control cable could mean the pilot cannot properly control the aircraft's roll, potentially leading to loss of control. The directive ensures this specific mechanical fault is checked for and fixed before the aircraft is certified as airworthy.\n\n**What needs to be done:**\nOperators must follow the inspection procedure outlined in **Short Service Bulletin 22-A59** (the manufacturer's official technical instruction) to check the autopilot aileron servo control cable routing and condition."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive's scope remains focused on a targeted, pre-certification inspection for Skyvan Series 3, 3A and 3M aircraft fitted with automatic pilot, as set out in the \"Applicability\" and \"Compliance\" sections. The instrument mechanically adds a required inspection before issuing a Certificate of Airworthiness and references Short SB 22-A59 for the procedure; nothing in the text indicates an expansion or narrowing of that original, narrowly targeted intent."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability (specific aircraft types and equipment) reduces scope complexity (\"Applicability\").","Single mandated action (one inspection) simplifies compliance obligations (\"Compliance\").","Reliance on an external service bulletin (Short SB 22-A59) shifts procedural detail outside the AD and requires interpretation by maintenance staff (\"Document: Short SB 22-A59\").","Hard timing requirement (before Certificate of Airworthiness) creates scheduling pressure for owners/operators and certifying authorities (\"Compliance\").","Potential need for follow-up maintenance if defects found increases practical complexity despite a simple core requirement (implied by \"Background\")."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- Requires an inspection of the cable that connects the automatic pilot aileron servo motor capstan on Short Skyvan Series 3, 3A and 3M aeroplanes fitted with automatic pilot. The inspection must be carried out in accordance with Short SB 22-A59 (Document: Short SB 22-A59) and be completed before a Certificate of Airworthiness is issued (see \"Applicability\" and \"Compliance\").\n\nOfficial rationale claimed\n\n- The directive is issued because a malfunction occurred where the servo control cable jammed between two guide pulleys at station 226. The stated purpose of the inspection is to avoid repetition of that fault (see \"Background\").\n\nWho it affects and who decides\n\n- Affected parties: owners/operators and maintenance organisations for Short Skyvan Series 3, 3A and 3M aircraft that are fitted with an automatic pilot (see \"Applicability\").\n- Decision-makers: the Civil Aviation Safety Authority issues the directive and specifies compliance timing; the maintenance organisation or certifying engineer must carry out the inspection per the referenced service bulletin (Document: Short SB 22-A59) and certify compliance before a Certificate of Airworthiness is issued (see \"Compliance\").\n\nWho pays and what behaviour changes\n\n- Who pays: the aircraft owner/operator or their contracted maintenance provider will bear the direct costs of performing the inspection and of any corrective work if defects are found (the text requires the inspection but does not allocate funding).\n- Behavioural change required: inspect the aileron automatic pilot servo control cable at Stn. 226 (and any areas specified in Short SB 22-A59) before the aircraft receives a Certificate of Airworthiness; perform repairs or adjustments if the inspection identifies issues.\n\nCompliance burden and timing\n\n- Timing: inspection must be completed before issuing the Certificate of Airworthiness (\"Compliance\"). That creates a hard pre-delivery or pre-certification deadline for affected aircraft.\n- Burden: performing the inspection will consume maintenance labour and may require parts, corrective maintenance, and documentation of compliance with the service bulletin. If defects are found, additional downtime and cost will follow.\n\nImplementation discretion and risks\n\n- Discretion: the directive relies on Short SB 22-A59 for inspection procedure and criteria; maintenance personnel must interpret and apply that bulletin when inspecting and deciding whether corrective action is required (see \"Document\").\n- Implementation risks: the effectiveness of the measure depends on the thoroughness of inspections, the clarity of the referenced service bulletin, and the competence of maintenance staff. If the bulletin is ambiguous about acceptable wear/tolerances, different organisations may reach different conclusions about required corrective work.\n\nIncentives, costs and trade-offs\n\n- Incentives: affected operators are incentivised to complete the inspection to obtain the Certificate of Airworthiness and to avoid the risk of a servo cable jam (see \"Background\").\n- Direct costs: inspection labour, possible replacement parts, and administrative work to record and certify compliance.\n- Opportunity costs: delay to certification and aircraft entry into service while inspection and any repairs are completed.\n\nConcentrated benefits and diffuse costs\n\n- Concentrated benefits: the directive targets a specific mechanical risk on a narrow set of aircraft; owners/operators of those Skyvan models gain a directly relevant safety check.\n- Diffuse costs: the cost and time burden falls on the relatively small set of affected aircraft and their maintenance providers; the directive does not create ongoing inspection requirements in the text provided, only a one-time action before Certificate of Airworthiness.\n\nWhat the directive does not say (limits of the source text)\n\n- The directive does not set out inspection intervals after certification, specific pass/fail tolerances, or who bears costs in case of discovery of extensive damage. Those procedural details are to be found in the referenced Short SB 22-A59, which the AD mandates the operator follow (see \"Document: Short SB 22-A59\").\n\nKey source citations: \"Applicability\" (identifies aircraft), \"Document: Short SB 22-A59\" (inspection procedure), \"Compliance\" (timing: before Certificate of Airworthiness), \"Background\" (reason for the AD)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-10-automatic-pilot-aileron-servo-control-cable-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-10-automatic-pilot-aileron-servo-control-cable-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-10-automatic-pilot-aileron-servo-control-cable-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-10-automatic-pilot-aileron-servo-control-cable-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-10-automatic-pilot-aileron-servo-control-cable-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-10-automatic-pilot-aileron-servo-control-cable-inspection/documents"}}