{"id":"F2006B06873","name":"AD/SD3-60/29 - Pitot Static Heaters","slug":"ad-sd3-60-29-pitot-static-heaters","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114753,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06873-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SD3-60/29 - Pitot Static Heaters","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\nAD/SD3-60/29 Pitot Static Heaters 10/90\n\nApplicability: SD3-60 aircraft S/No's SH3601 to SH3760 inclusive. Requirement:  Shorts SD3-60 SB SD360-24-18.\n\nNote: UK CAA mandatory.\n\n \n\nCompliance: At next 'D' check or 4800 flight hours after 30 November 1990, whichever occurs later.\n\n \n\nBackground: To prevent the loss of pitot heat whenever a generator fails.\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, targeted airworthiness directive addressing a specific technical defect in a specific aircraft model. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating a manufacturer-recommended safety modification to prevent pitot heat failure."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 150 words of substantive content)","Only 1 defined applicability criterion (serial number range)","Single compliance pathway with simple 'whichever is later' timing logic","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","No conditional exceptions or nested provisions","References external technical document (Service Bulletin) rather than spelling out requirements in full"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for a specific type of aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nIt requires owners or operators of certain Short SD3-60 series aeroplanes (a regional turboprop aircraft, also known as the Short 360) to carry out a specific safety modification.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Aircraft affected:** Short SD3-60 planes with serial numbers SH3601 through SH3760\n- **People affected:** Airlines, charter operators, or private owners flying these specific aircraft in Australia\n\n**What must be done:**\nOperators must follow **Service Bulletin SD360-24-18** issued by the manufacturer (Shorts). This bulletin fixes a problem where **pitot tube heaters** (electric heating elements that prevent ice from blocking the tubes that measure airspeed) could fail if a generator stopped working.\n\n**When it must be done:**\nBy the next major 'D' check (a heavy maintenance inspection) OR within 4,800 flight hours after 30 November 1990 — whichever comes later.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nIf pitot heat fails in icing conditions, ice can block the pitot tubes. This can cause the airspeed indicators to give false readings — potentially leading pilots to stall the aircraft or fly too fast. This directive prevents that dangerous scenario by ensuring the heaters keep working even if a generator fails.\n\n**Note:** This mirrors a UK Civil Aviation Authority mandatory requirement, showing international coordination on this safety issue."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive enforces adoption of Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-24-18 for the specified SD3-60 serial numbers and sets a clear compliance deadline. The text's stated purpose is to prevent loss of pitot heat on generator failure (Background), and the AD's mechanics (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance) implement that purpose. Based on the document itself, the scope defined in the AD (who is covered and what must be done) aligns with that stated purpose and does not expand beyond it."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to a single aircraft type and a defined range of serial numbers (SH3601–SH3760). (Applicability)","Mandates compliance with a single manufacturer's service bulletin rather than complex regulatory text, concentrating technical detail in the SB. (Requirement)","Simple compliance timing tied to an existing maintenance milestone ('D' check) or a single flight‑hours threshold (4,800 hours after 30 November 1990). (Compliance)","Safety‑critical subject matter (pitot heat) increases operational importance despite regulatory simplicity. (Background)","Cross-jurisdictional note referencing the UK CAA as having made the item mandatory, which may have administrative implications for internationally operated aircraft. (Note)"],"plain_english_summary":"Mandates owners/operators of Shorts SD3‑60 aircraft (serials SH3601–SH3760) to carry out the modification/procedure in Shorts Service Bulletin SD360‑24‑18 by the next 'D' check or within 4,800 flight hours after 30 Nov 1990 to prevent pitot-heat loss following a generator failure.\n\nCompliance is mandatory under the airworthiness directive; operators must schedule the work into maintenance, obtain SD360‑24‑18 for the technical steps, and bear the costs and downtime."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-29-pitot-static-heaters","history":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-29-pitot-static-heaters/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-29-pitot-static-heaters/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-29-pitot-static-heaters/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-29-pitot-static-heaters/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-29-pitot-static-heaters/documents"}}