{"id":"F2006B06893","name":"AD/SD3-60/47 - Diode Inspection and Adjustment","slug":"ad-sd3-60-47-diode-inspection-and-adjustment","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114773,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06893-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SD3-60/47 - Diode Inspection and Adjustment","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/SD3-60/47 Diode Inspection and Adjustment 3/98\n\nApplicability: All Shorts SD3-60 Aircraft.\n\n \n\nRequirement:  Inspect and check torque setting of diodes (6F40) on panels 1C, 2C, 12P, 27C and 51C in accordance with Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04 dated 25 September 1997.\n\n \n\nNote: UK CAA AD 008-09-97 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: No later than 26 May 1998.\n\n \n\nThis airworthiness directive becomes effective on 26 February 1998.\n\n \n\nBackground: The UK CAA has reported that this action is required because diodes have been found loose and overheating on board 27C.\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, single-issue airworthiness directive addressing a specific mechanical defect (loose diodes). It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating a particular safety inspection for a specific aircraft type."},"complexity_factors":["Single, discrete maintenance task with clear physical scope (6 specific diodes on 5 named panels)","Only one external reference (Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04)","No defined terms section or interpretation provisions","Simple binary compliance structure: inspect/adjust by fixed deadline","No conditional logic, exceptions, or alternative compliance methods","Background explanation is straightforward (loose diodes causing overheating)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order for aircraft. It requires owners and operators of **Short SD3-60 series aeroplanes** (a type of regional turboprop aircraft) to inspect and tighten specific electrical components called **diodes** on five particular panels in the aircraft.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Inspect six diodes (model 6F40) located on panels 1C, 2C, 12P, 27C and 51C\n- Check and adjust their **torque setting** (how tightly they are fastened)\n- Follow the exact procedure in **Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04** dated 25 September 1997\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe UK aviation safety regulator found that these diodes were coming loose and overheating — specifically on panel 27C. Loose, overheating electrical components can cause fires or electrical failures in flight, so this is a critical safety fix.\n\n**Who must comply:**\nAnyone operating a Short SD3-60 aircraft must complete this inspection and adjustment **no later than 26 May 1998**. The directive took effect on **26 February 1998**.\n\n**Key point:** This isn't optional — it's a legal requirement under the Civil Aviation Regulations. Flying without completing this fix would violate aviation safety law."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD does not indicate any change in scope from an earlier requirement. It applies to all Shorts SD3-60 aircraft and mandates a specific inspection and torque check per Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04 (25 September 1997). The document cites the UK CAA AD as related material but does not expand or narrow the set of affected aircraft or the required action beyond the stated inspections and compliance dates. (Applicability; Requirement; Note; Compliance)"},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability: applies only to a single aircraft type (Shorts SD3-60). (Applicability)","Single, specific technical task: inspect and check torque of named diodes on five named panels. (Requirement)","References an external technical document (Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04) for procedural detail, adding minor dependency on an outside source. (Requirement)","Fixed compliance window (effective date 26 Feb 1998; must comply by 26 May 1998) creates a scheduling constraint but no phased actions. (Compliance; Effective date)","No complex waiver, monitoring, or reporting regime set out in the AD text itself; enforcement and relief likely follow standard regulatory practice. (header; Note)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this directive does (mechanically)\n\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority published an Airworthiness Directive (AD) that requires an inspection and a check of the torque setting of specific diodes (part 6F40) on Shorts SD3-60 aeroplanes. (Applicability; Requirement)\n- The AD lists the exact aircraft panels to inspect: 1C, 2C, 12P, 27C and 51C. The work must be carried out in accordance with Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04 dated 25 September 1997. (Requirement)\n- Operators must complete the work no later than 26 May 1998; the AD became effective on 26 February 1998. (Compliance; Effective date)\n\nWho is affected, who decides, and who pays\n\n- Affected parties: all operators and owners of Shorts SD3-60 aircraft. (Applicability)\n- Decision-maker/issuer: the directive is issued under the Commonwealth Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and appears in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority schedule of Airworthiness Directives. (header)\n- Who pays: the aircraft operators or their maintenance organisations are responsible for carrying out the inspection and any corrective work required by the Service Bulletin. The AD itself requires the action but does not specify who funds it; by standard practice the operator bears the cost of compliance. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\nWhy the rule was issued (official rationale) and how that claim links to costs and incentives\n\n- Stated reason: the UK Civil Aviation Authority reported that diodes were found loose and overheating on board panel 27C, and the AD cites that as the background for the required action. (Background; Note)\n- How that maps to incentives and costs: the AD creates a clear compliance incentive for operators (to meet an airworthiness requirement by the stated deadline). Operators must allocate labour time, maintenance slots, and possibly replacement parts to inspect and, if needed, adjust or replace diodes per the Service Bulletin — those are direct costs and opportunity costs of using maintenance resources before the deadline. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\nImplementation mechanics and discretionary points\n\n- The AD requires compliance “in accordance with” the named Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04 dated 25 September 1997. That means the detailed inspection procedures and any torque values or corrective steps are contained in the Service Bulletin, not fully reproduced in the AD. This concentrates procedural authority in the Service Bulletin document while the AD imposes the mandatory obligation to follow it. (Requirement)\n- The AD references UK CAA AD 008-09-97. The AD does not, on its face, spell out alternative means of compliance, exemptions, or who may grant relief; those matters would be handled under the administering authority’s normal processes. (Note; header)\n\nTrade-offs, risks and likely operational effects (source‑grounded)\n\n- Trade-offs: operators must choose when to schedule the inspections before the compliance date; that scheduling consumes maintenance capacity and may displace other work. (Compliance; Requirement)\n- Implementation risk: the effectiveness of the AD depends on the Service Bulletin’s instructions being available and sufficiently specific to detect loose diodes and to set torque correctly. The AD itself refers operators to that Bulletin for the technical steps. (Requirement)\n- Safety claim vs cost: the AD’s stated safety rationale (loose, overheating diodes on 27C) motivates a narrow inspection programme; the AD does not quantify expected costs or frequency of failures across the fleet. (Background)\n\nNet effect in plain terms\n\n- Operators of all Shorts SD3-60 aircraft must, by 26 May 1998, inspect five named panels for diodes and check the torque setting of those diodes according to Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-39-04 (25 September 1997). The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has mandated the action; operators bear the cost and scheduling burden of carrying out the inspections and any follow‑up work the Bulletin requires. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-47-diode-inspection-and-adjustment","history":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-47-diode-inspection-and-adjustment/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-47-diode-inspection-and-adjustment/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-47-diode-inspection-and-adjustment/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-47-diode-inspection-and-adjustment/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sd3-60-47-diode-inspection-and-adjustment/documents"}}