{"id":"F2006B06832","name":"AD/SD3-30/30 - Fin to Tailplane Attachment Bolts and Upper Shear Angle","slug":"ad-sd3-30-30-fin-to-tailplane-attachment-bolts-and-upper-shear-angle","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114696,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06832-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SD3-30/30 - Fin to Tailplane Attachment Bolts and Upper Shear Angle","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/SD3-30/30 Fin to Tailplane Attachment Bolts\n\nand Upper Shear Angle\n\n\n7/95\n\nDM\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Shorts Service Bulletin SD330-55-18.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 60 days after 03 May 1995; thereafter at intervals not exceeding 1500 hours time in service.\n\n \n\nBackground:  Fin to tailplane attach bolts have been found loose, and rivets in the upper shear angle have been found pulled or loose.\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 safety directive addressing a specific airworthiness concern on a single aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating inspection and repair of fin-to-tailplane attachment hardware."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 4 operative provisions: applicability, requirement, compliance, and background","No defined terms section — uses plain language and references external technical document","Single cross-reference to manufacturer service bulletin (SD330-55-18)","Simple temporal trigger (60 days from specified date) and recurring interval (1500 hours)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward applicability ('All models') with no exclusions"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for a specific type of aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of **Short SD3-30 Series aeroplanes** (a type of regional turboprop aircraft) to inspect and fix a specific mechanical problem.\n\n**The problem:**\nThe bolts connecting the vertical fin (the tall tail section) to the horizontal tailplane have been found loose. Additionally, rivets in the \"upper shear angle\" (a metal bracket that helps transfer forces between these parts) have been found pulled out or loose. This is a serious structural integrity issue that could affect aircraft control.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow the instructions in **Shorts Service Bulletin SD330-55-18** (the manufacturer's official repair notice)\n- Complete the first inspection/fix within **60 days after 3 May 1995**\n- Repeat the inspection every **1,500 flight hours** thereafter\n\n**Who it affects:**\nAnyone operating Short SD3-30 aircraft in Australia — typically regional airlines, charter operators, or cargo carriers using these planes.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nLoose tail components could lead to loss of aircraft control. This directive makes the fix legally mandatory rather than optional."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD as drafted applies to all SD3-30 models and mandates action per the specified service bulletin with set initial and recurrent intervals. The text presents these requirements directly and does not indicate any narrowing or expansion beyond that stated scope."},"complexity_factors":["Directive text is short and focuses on a single issue (loose fin-to-tailplane bolts and upper shear angle rivets), reducing interpretive complexity (Background).","Technical procedure is not contained in the AD but is delegated to an external document (Shorts Service Bulletin SD330-55-18), requiring users to obtain and follow that bulletin (Requirement).","Clear, fixed compliance timing: initial compliance within 60 days after 3 May 1995 and recurring no more than every 1,500 hours (Compliance), which simplifies scheduling but creates an ongoing obligation.","Applicability is broad (all SD3-30 models), so the directive applies uniformly across fleet types (Applicability), increasing operational coverage but not technical variance within the AD itself.","Regulatory force: issued under the Part 39 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives framework, so there is limited procedural ambiguity about mandatory nature, but enforcement and approval details are governed by the wider regulatory framework referenced in the header."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates that all Short SD3‑30 series aeroplanes be inspected and corrected per Shorts Service Bulletin SD330‑55‑18 because fin‑to‑tailplane bolts and upper shear‑angle rivets have been found loose. Operators must do the first action within 60 days after 3 May 1995 and repeat at intervals not exceeding 1,500 flight hours; operators bear the compliance costs."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-30-fin-to-tailplane-attachment-bolts-and-upper-shear-angle","history":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-30-fin-to-tailplane-attachment-bolts-and-upper-shear-angle/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-30-fin-to-tailplane-attachment-bolts-and-upper-shear-angle/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-30-fin-to-tailplane-attachment-bolts-and-upper-shear-angle/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-30-fin-to-tailplane-attachment-bolts-and-upper-shear-angle/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-30-30-fin-to-tailplane-attachment-bolts-and-upper-shear-angle/documents"}}