{"id":"F2006B06817","name":"AD/SD3-30/16 Amdt 3 - Elevator Torque Shaft Assembly","slug":"ad-sd3-30-16-amdt-3-elevator-torque-shaft-assembly","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114681,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06817-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SD3-30/16 Amdt 3 - Elevator Torque Shaft Assembly","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 SD3-30 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/SD3-30/16\n\nAmdt 3\n\n\nElevator Torque Shaft Assembly 4/89\n\n \n\nApplicability:  All models SD3-30. Requirement: 1 Shorts SB SD3-27-A29 Rev 1.\n\n2. Shorts SB SD3-27-29.\n\n \n\nCompliance: 1. (a) Prior to 14 March 1985 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 60 hours time in service, and\n\n \n\n1. (b) Before first flight after parking in severe wind gust conditions.\n\n\n \n\n2.    Prior to 15 August 1985.\n\n \n\nBackground: This Directive was issued after loss of elevator control.\n\n \n\nRev 1 extended the inspection area and introduced a repetitive inspection.\n\n \n\nRev 2 introduces mandatory modification to reinforce the attachment of the elevator torque shaft housings.\n\n \n\nRev 3 revises compliance to eliminate possible ambiguity.\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 safety directive addressing a specific mechanical failure mode. The amendments (Revs 1-3) have remained tightly focused on the original purpose: preventing elevator torque shaft failure. The revisions expanded inspection coverage and added mandatory modifications, but did not broaden the scope beyond the original safety intent."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 250 words)","Only 2 defined compliance items with clear deadlines","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond basic 'and/or' timing requirements","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to 2 Shorts Service Bulletins)","Single applicability criterion (all SD3-30 models)","Plain language background section explaining safety rationale"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for a specific aircraft type.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of Short SD3-30 series aeroplanes (a type of regional turboprop aircraft) to inspect and modify the **elevator torque shaft assembly** — a critical component that helps control the aircraft's pitch (up and down movement).\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone who owns, operates, or maintains Short SD3-30 aircraft.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **Inspections:** Check the elevator torque shaft assembly before 14 March 1985, then every 60 hours of flight time, and also after the aircraft has been parked in severe wind gusts.\n- **Modification:** By 15 August 1985, install a reinforcement to strengthen how the elevator torque shaft housing is attached to the aircraft.\n\n**Why it matters:** This directive was issued after an aircraft lost elevator control — a potentially catastrophic failure that could cause a crash. The repeated inspections and mandatory modification are designed to prevent the torque shaft from failing in flight.\n\n**The revisions:** The directive has been updated three times to expand inspection areas, add repetitive checks, mandate physical reinforcements, and clarify compliance deadlines."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Scope expanded over successive revisions: Rev 1 broadened the inspection area and made the inspection repetitive; Rev 2 added a mandatory reinforcement modification for the elevator torque shaft housings; Rev 3 revised compliance wording to remove ambiguity. The result moved the directive from initial inspections to ongoing inspections plus a compulsory modification (see Rev notes and Req 1(a)-(b), Req 2)."},"complexity_factors":["Single aeroplane type applicability (all SD3‑30) limits scope but concentrates compliance on a specific operator population.","Multiple mandatory actions: repetitive inspections (Req 1(a)-(b)) plus a one‑time mandatory modification (Req 2).","Time and condition triggers: 60‑hour recurring interval and also a condition‑based inspection (after parking in severe wind gusts) increase operational scheduling burden (Req 1(a)-(b)).","Fixed compliance deadlines for inspection start and modification completion create near‑term implementation pressure (dates in Req 1(a) and Req 2).","References to manufacturer service bulletins (Shorts SB SD3‑27‑A29 Rev 1 and SD3‑27‑29) require access to, and reliance on, external technical documents.","Document history: Rev 1 extended inspection area and added repetition; Rev 2 introduced mandatory modification; Rev 3 clarified compliance — multiple amendments change obligations over time and required reading of amendment notes."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires owners/operators of Shorts SD3‑30 aeroplanes to perform repetitive inspections of the elevator torque shaft assembly and to carry out a mandatory reinforcement modification. Inspections are required before 14 March 1985 and thereafter every 60 hours TIS, and before first flight after parking in severe wind gusts (Req 1(a)-(b)); the modification must be done before 15 August 1985 (Req 2). Issued after a loss of elevator control; later revisions extended inspections, added the modification and clarified compliance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-16-amdt-3-elevator-torque-shaft-assembly","history":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-16-amdt-3-elevator-torque-shaft-assembly/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-16-amdt-3-elevator-torque-shaft-assembly/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-16-amdt-3-elevator-torque-shaft-assembly/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-16-amdt-3-elevator-torque-shaft-assembly/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-16-amdt-3-elevator-torque-shaft-assembly/documents"}}