{"id":"F2006B06959","name":"AD/SF340/3 - Flight Control - Elevator Trim Tab System","slug":"ad-sf340-3-flight-control-elevator-trim-tab-system","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114857,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06959-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SF340/3 - Flight Control - Elevator Trim Tab System","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)  SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/SF340/3 Flight Control - Elevator Trim Tab System 10/85\n\nDM\n\n \n\nApplicability:  Serial Numbers 340A-004 to 029 inclusive. Requirement: SAAB-FAIRCHILD SF340-27-028, Revision 1. Compliance:               Before 30 September 1985.\n\nBackground: SAAB-FAIRCHILD S.B. No. SF 340-27-028, Revision 1. Swedish Airworthiness Directive No. 1-008, Revision A.\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":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive does not indicate any change from the original scope; it targets a specific set of serial-numbered aircraft and mandates compliance with a named service bulletin by a fixed date. The text contains no modification of those applicability limits, requirements or compliance date (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow and explicit applicability (Serial Numbers 340A-004 to 340A-029) reduces scope complexity (Applicability).","Single, specific external requirement: mandates compliance with one manufacturer service bulletin (SAAB-FAIRCHILD SF340-27-028, Revision 1) rather than multiple or conditional rules (Requirement).","Fixed compliance deadline (before 30 September 1985) simplifies timing and enforcement (Compliance).","Dependence on an external technical document increases practical complexity for implementers because the AD does not contain the technical steps or cost estimates (Requirement; Background).","No statutory exceptions, alternative compliance paths, or staged requirements are set out in the directive, limiting procedural complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates that owners/operators of Saab SF340 serials 340A-004 through 340A-029 comply with SAAB-FAIRCHILD SF340-27-028 Revision 1 and complete the required corrective work by 30 September 1985. It makes the manufacturer’s service instruction mandatory, leaving operators responsible for arranging and funding the maintenance and obtaining the referenced documents."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-limited safety directive targeting a specific technical defect in a narrow aircraft population. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating a single manufacturer service bulletin for elevator trim tab issues in early SF340 aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — approximately 150 words","No defined terms section — all terminology is standard aviation jargon","Single, unambiguous applicability criterion (specific serial number range)","Single mandatory action with clear reference to external technical document","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Simple compliance deadline with no alternative methods or extensions described","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulation (CAR 1998 Part 39)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.\n\n**What it does:**\nThis directive requires owners or operators of specific SAAB SF340 series aeroplanes to carry out a mandatory modification or inspection of the **elevator trim tab system** — that's the part of the tail that helps control the plane's pitch (nose up or down) and keeps it flying level without constant pilot input.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nOnly SAAB SF340 aircraft with **serial numbers 340A-004 through 340A-029** — a limited batch of early production planes.\n\n**What must be done:**\nOperators must follow the technical instructions in **SAAB-Fairchild Service Bulletin SF340-27-028, Revision 1**. This is a manufacturer-issued document that tells mechanics exactly what to inspect, fix, or replace.\n\n**Deadline:**\nThe work had to be completed **before 30 September 1985**.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nAirworthiness Directives are legally binding safety fixes. If an operator ignored this, their aircraft would not be legally permitted to fly in Australian airspace. This particular AD addresses potential defects in the elevator trim system that could affect flight control — a critical safety issue."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-3-flight-control-elevator-trim-tab-system","history":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-3-flight-control-elevator-trim-tab-system/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-3-flight-control-elevator-trim-tab-system/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-3-flight-control-elevator-trim-tab-system/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-3-flight-control-elevator-trim-tab-system/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-3-flight-control-elevator-trim-tab-system/documents"}}