{"id":"F2006B06788","name":"AD/SC7/12 - Fin/Tailplane Attachment - Inspection","slug":"ad-sc7-12-fin-tailplane-attachment-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114638,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06788-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SC7/12 - Fin/Tailplane Attachment - 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\nAD/SC7/12 Fin/Tailplane Attachment - Inspection 8/79\n\nApplicability: All Skyvan series 3, 3A and 3M. Document:  Short SB No. 55-53.\n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 October 1979.\n\n \n\nBackground:  It has been reported to the manufacturer that bolts connecting the fin to tailplane have been found not fully tightened.\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\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound safety directive issued in 1979. It has not grown beyond its original purpose of addressing a specific mechanical defect in a specific aircraft type. The scope remains precisely limited to the fin/tailplane bolt inspection requirement."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 3 defined applicability criteria (specific aircraft series)","Single compliance requirement with clear deadline","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward factual background with single technical reference (Short SB No. 55-53)"],"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) that requires aircraft owners and operators to perform specific inspections or repairs.\n\n**What it does:** It orders owners of **Short SC7 Skyvan aircraft** (specifically Series 3, 3A, and 3M models) to inspect the bolts that connect the vertical fin (the tall tail section) to the horizontal tailplane (the flat wing-like parts at the back). The inspection must happen within **100 hours of flying time** after 31 October 1979.\n\n**Why it matters:** The manufacturer reported that these critical bolts were being found **not fully tightened**. Loose bolts in the tail section could cause the tail to detach or fail in flight — a catastrophic safety risk. This directive forces operators to check and fix this problem before it causes an accident.\n\n**Who must comply:** Anyone operating a Short SC7 Skyvan Series 3, 3A, or 3M aircraft in Australia. They must follow the inspection procedure detailed in **Short Service Bulletin No. 55-53** (the manufacturer's official repair notice)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The scope as stated in this AD matches its apparent original intent: to require inspection of the fin/tailplane attachment on all Short SC7 series 3, 3A and 3M aircraft within a specified 100‑hour period after 31 October 1979, using the referenced Short Service Bulletin No. 55-53 (Applicability; Compliance; Document; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrowly defined action (inspection of fin/tailplane attachment) with a single compliance window (Compliance).","Limited applicability to specific aircraft types (Applicability).","Cross‑reference to an external service bulletin for procedural detail (Document) — implementers must obtain that document.","No layered or ongoing monitoring regime specified; AD is a one‑off directed check (Compliance).","Minimal regulatory text in the source; does not specify remedial steps, enforcement, or recordkeeping requirements within the AD itself (Background; Document)."],"plain_english_summary":"Owners and operators of Short SC7 Skyvan series 3, 3A and 3M must inspect the bolts securing the fin to the tailplane within 100 hours’ time in service after 31 October 1979, using Short Service Bulletin No. 55‑53.  \n\nThe measure responds to reports of bolts found not fully tightened; it aims to detect loose fasteners and may trigger corrective maintenance, with associated labour and parts costs for operators."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-12-fin-tailplane-attachment-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-12-fin-tailplane-attachment-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-12-fin-tailplane-attachment-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-12-fin-tailplane-attachment-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-12-fin-tailplane-attachment-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sc7-12-fin-tailplane-attachment-inspection/documents"}}