{"id":"F2009L04402","name":"AD/SF340/41 Amdt 1 - Elevator and Aileron Coves","slug":"ad-sf340-41-amdt-1-elevator-and-aileron-coves","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":82180,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L04402-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/SF340/41 Amdt 1 | Elevator and Aileron Coves | 24/2009 |\n| ------------------ | -------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Model SF340A with serial numbers -004 to -159 inclusive and Model 340B with serial numbers -160 to -260 inclusive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Action in accordance with SAAB Service Bulletin (SB) 340-51-012.The use of later approved revisions of the Requirement document is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.Note: Swedish AD No. 1-060 Rev. A refers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n| Compliance:    | As specified in the Requirement document with the initial detailed inspection to be performed within 500 hours TIS after 3 February 1994, unless a permanent repair has been carried out in accordance with the Requirement document.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 28 January 2010.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n| Background:    | A report was received of the elevators of an aircraft requiring more control force than normal. An investigation revealed that water ingress had occurred between the composite structure and the aluminium foil of the cove. The water froze causing contact between the aluminium foil and the elevator. This condition may ultimately lead to jamming of the control surface.This amendment updates the revision status of the applicable Swedish AD and makes non-technical minor editorial changes to the contents, other than for a permanent repair requirement in the compliance section to ensure this AD remains applicable to those aircraft which may still be subject to repeat visual inspections every 800 flight hours. |\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nWilliam David  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n30 November 2009","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/SF340/41 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/SF340/41 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/SF340/41 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Elevator and Aileron Coves","sectionType":"part","heading":"Elevator and Aileron Coves","content":"## Elevator and Aileron Coves","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"24/2009","sectionType":"part","heading":"24/2009","content":"## 24/2009","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment is purely administrative — it updates reference numbers and makes minor editorial changes to maintain the existing safety requirement. The scope remains exactly as originally intended: ensuring elevator and aileron coves are inspected for water ingress on specific SAAB SF340 aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose document (1 page)","Only 4 defined elements: specific aircraft models, serial number ranges, reference to external Service Bulletin, and Swedish AD reference","Simple conditional logic: 'unless a permanent repair has been carried out'","Single cross-reference to external technical document (SAAB SB 340-51-012)","Clear compliance timeline (500 hours TIS / 800 flight hours)","No nested exceptions or layered definitions"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates inspection of elevator and aileron coves on specified SAAB SF340A (S/N 004–159) and SF340B (S/N 160–260) aeroplanes to detect water trapped between composite structure and aluminium foil that could freeze and jam control surfaces. Operators must follow SAAB Service Bulletin 340‑51‑012 and continue periodic inspections until a permanent repair is installed. Amendment 1 simply aligns the AD with the latest Swedish safety notice and preserves the ongoing inspection requirement."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment updates the referenced Swedish AD's revision status and makes minor editorial changes, and it expressly clarifies a permanent‑repair exception in the compliance section so the AD continues to apply to aircraft still subject to repeat visual inspections every 800 flight hours. This alters applicability for aircraft with permanent repairs and adjusts inspection obligations (Background / Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Dependency on an external manufacturer document (SAAB SB 340-51-012) to specify the required technical actions (Requirement).","Serial-number-limited applicability (SF340A s/n -004 to -159; 340B s/n -160 to -260) requires operators to check individual airframe coverage (Applicability).","Time‑based compliance trigger referencing a historic date and flight hours (initial detailed inspection within 500 hours TIS after 3 February 1994), which can complicate retrospective compliance assessment (Compliance).","Conditional exemption for aircraft with a permanent repair alters the inspection obligation and creates a record‑keeping/verification burden (Compliance / Background).","Cross-reference to the applicable Swedish AD (Swedish AD No. 1-060 Rev. A) introduces reliance on foreign regulatory revision status (Requirement / Background).","Mention of a repeat visual inspection interval (800 flight hours) for some aircraft adds a parallel recurring‑inspection regime to monitor (Background).","Amendment is largely editorial but changes revision status and compliance wording, so implementers must track the current approved revision to demonstrate conformity (Background / This Amendment).","Effective date and amendment timing (becomes effective 28 January 2010) require operators to align records and compliance timelines (Compliance / This Amendment)."],"plain_english_summary":"This airworthiness directive requires operators of SAAB SF340A (serials -004 to -159) and SF340B (serials -160 to -260) to perform the actions in SAAB Service Bulletin SB 340‑51‑012, including an initial detailed inspection within 500 hours TIS after 3 February 1994 unless a permanent repair has been carried out. It responds to reported water ingress between composite structure and aluminium cove that can freeze and cause elevator/aileron jamming. Operators pay inspection and repair costs; the regulator enforces compliance. The amendment updates the Swedish AD revision and clarifies the permanent‑repair exception."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-41-amdt-1-elevator-and-aileron-coves","history":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-41-amdt-1-elevator-and-aileron-coves/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-41-amdt-1-elevator-and-aileron-coves/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-41-amdt-1-elevator-and-aileron-coves/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-41-amdt-1-elevator-and-aileron-coves/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sf340-41-amdt-1-elevator-and-aileron-coves/documents"}}