{"id":"F2006B06854","name":"AD/SD3-60/10 - Elevator and Rudder Control Guards - Modification","slug":"ad-sd3-60-10-elevator-and-rudder-control-guards-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114729,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06854-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SD3-60/10 - Elevator and Rudder Control Guards - Modification","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 SD3-60 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\n# AD/SD3-60/10 Elevator and Rudder Control Guards - Modification\n\nApplicability: All model SD 3-60 with S/Nos SH 3601 to SH 3665. Requirement:  Shorts S.B. SD 360-27-04.\n\nCompliance: Prior to 31 August 1985.\n\n# 6/85\n\nDM\n\n \n\nBackground: An instance was reported to the manufacturer in which an ashtray was dropped behind a furnishing panel in the passenger compartment adjacent to the spring pot in the elevator control circuit. Fitting of extended/additional guards will protect the controls from possible interference.\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":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive applies to all SD3‑60 aircraft with serial numbers SH3601 to SH3665 and requires modification per Shorts Service Bulletin SD 360‑27‑04 to be completed prior to 31 August 1985. There is no material in the text indicating the scope was altered from the original stated requirements (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, explicit applicability by model and serial numbers (SH3601–SH3665) reduces scope complexity (Applicability).","Single, concrete technical action required (fit extended/additional guards) simplifies requirements (Requirement).","Compliance depends on an external technical document (Shorts S.B. SD 360‑27‑04), adding dependency on manufacturer procedural detail (Requirement).","Fixed compliance deadline imposes scheduling constraints but does not create phased or conditional obligations (Compliance).","Safety‑critical subject matter (flight controls) increases practical implementation care despite legal simplicity (Background).","Directive contains limited procedural detail within the AD itself and relies on the service bulletin for implementation specifics (Requirement), which requires cross‑referencing documents."],"plain_english_summary":"### What this directive requires\n\n- The directive mandates fitting extended or additional guards to the elevator and rudder control area on Short SD3‑60 aeroplanes with serial numbers SH3601 through SH3665. (Applicability; Requirement)\n- The modification must be done in accordance with Shorts Service Bulletin SD 360‑27‑04. (Requirement)\n- The work had to be completed by 31 August 1985. (Compliance)\n\n### Why this change was made (official rationale)\n\n- The manufacturer received a report that an ashtray fell behind a furnishing panel next to the spring pot in the elevator control circuit. The directive states that fitting extended/additional guards will protect the controls from possible interference. (Background)\n\n### Who decides and who pays\n\n- The regulator requires the modification for the specific serial-numbered aircraft listed. The operator or owner of any affected SD3‑60 is responsible for ensuring the modification is carried out in line with the service bulletin. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)\n- The owner/operator will bear the direct costs of procuring and installing the guards (parts and labour) because the directive makes performance of the modification their compliance obligation. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)\n\n### What behaviour changes\n\n- Operators/maintenance organisations must schedule and perform the guard installation per Shorts Service Bulletin SD 360‑27‑04 before the stated deadline. Non‑compliance means the aircraft remain outside the directive’s mandated configuration. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\n### Practical trade‑offs, burdens and implementation notes\n\n- Safety objective: The stated benefit is reduction of risk that a foreign object behind a panel can interfere with elevator control components. (Background)\n- Compliance burden: The directive is prescriptive about method (the referenced service bulletin) and time (a hard compliance date), which requires owners/operators to plan for parts, maintenance time and access to appropriate maintenance facilities. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Implementation dependency: The AD delegates technical detail to the manufacturer’s service bulletin; following that document is necessary to meet the directive. (Requirement)\n- Concentration of costs and benefits: The immediate compliance costs fall on the owners/operators of the affected serial numbers, while the protection from possible control interference accrues to those who operate or rely on the affected aircraft. (Applicability; Background)\n\n### Text sources cited\n\n- Applicability: identifies the affected aircraft by model and serial numbers.\n- Requirement: prescribes the modification method (Shorts S.B. SD 360‑27‑04).\n- Compliance: sets the deadline of 31 August 1985.\n- Background: explains the reported incident (ashtray falling behind a panel) and the stated protective aim of the modification."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical vulnerability in a specific aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating control guards to prevent foreign object interference."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 2 defined applicability criteria (aircraft model and serial number range)","Single compliance requirement referencing an external technical document (Service Bulletin)","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or cross-references to other legislation","Straightforward factual background with clear causal chain (ashtray incident → control interference risk → guard installation)","Single deadline with no alternative compliance methods or phased implementation"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nRequires owners/operators of certain **Short SD3-60 aeroplanes** (a small regional turboprop aircraft, also known as the Short 360) to install **extended or additional guards** around the elevator and rudder control systems.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nA safety incident occurred where an ashtray fell behind a furnishing panel and interfered with the **spring pot** (a component in the elevator control circuit). This created a risk that loose objects could jam or disrupt the aircraft's flight controls — potentially causing loss of control. The guards prevent foreign objects from interfering with these critical controls.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All Short SD3-60 aircraft with **serial numbers SH 3601 through SH 3665**\n- Aircraft operators and maintenance organisations responsible for these planes\n\n**What must be done:**\nFollow the manufacturer's **Service Bulletin SD 360-27-04** (a technical instruction document) to install the protective guards.\n\n**Deadline:**\nThe modification had to be completed **before 31 August 1985**.\n\n**In short:** This was a one-off safety fix to stop loose items (like ashtrays) from falling into places where they could jam the plane's steering or pitch controls."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-10-elevator-and-rudder-control-guards-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-10-elevator-and-rudder-control-guards-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-10-elevator-and-rudder-control-guards-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-10-elevator-and-rudder-control-guards-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-10-elevator-and-rudder-control-guards-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-10-elevator-and-rudder-control-guards-modification/documents"}}