{"id":"F2006B07077","name":"AD/SM-260/18 - Flight Control Cable Eye Ends","slug":"ad-sm-260-18-flight-control-cable-eye-ends","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":48839,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07077-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SM-260/18 - Flight Control Cable Eye Ends","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)  SIAI Marchetti 260 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/SM-260/18 Flight Control Cable Eye Ends 6/94\n\nApplicability: Model F260, F260B, F260C, and F260D aircraft with serial numbers up to and including serial number 848.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with SIAI Marchetti Service Bulletin 260B55.\n\nNote: RAI AD 94-016 refers.\n\nCompliance: At the next 100 hour inspection after 26 May 1994, or prior to 31 December 1994, whichever occurs first.\n\n \n\nBackground: Reports have been received of cracked control cable eye ends. This Directive requires a detailed inspection of the eye ends in the aileron, elevator, and rudder control cable runs.\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, time-bound safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in a specific aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating inspection of cracked control cable eye ends."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 4 defined applicability criteria (specific models and serial number range)","Single requirement referencing an external technical document (Service Bulletin 260B55)","Simple binary compliance deadline (whichever occurs first of two dates)","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or cross-references to other legislation","No interpretation section or defined terms"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**Who it affects:** Owners and operators of **SIAI Marchetti 260 series aeroplanes** — specifically models F260, F260B, F260C, and F260D with serial numbers up to 848.\n\n**What it requires:** These aircraft must undergo a **detailed inspection of flight control cable \"eye ends\"** — the looped metal fittings at the ends of cables that control the ailerons (roll), elevator (pitch), and rudder (yaw). The inspection follows a specific manufacturer's service bulletin (SIAI Marchetti Service Bulletin 260B55).\n\n**Why it matters:** There had been reports of **cracked eye ends** on these control cables. A cracked eye end could cause a flight control cable to fail, potentially leading to loss of control of the aircraft. This directive forces operators to check for this defect before it causes an accident.\n\n**When it had to be done:** By the earlier of either:\n- The next routine 100-hour maintenance inspection after 26 May 1994, **or**\n- 31 December 1994\n\n**Key point:** This was a **one-time mandatory safety inspection** — not a recurring requirement unless further issues were found."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Directive’s scope aligns with its stated purpose: it targets specific SIAI Marchetti 260‑series aeroplanes by serial number and requires a detailed inspection of control cable eye ends, as set out in the service bulletin (Applicability, Requirement, Background). There is no indication in the AD text that the scope was expanded or narrowed beyond that original intent (Applicability, Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Limited affected fleet defined by model and serial numbers (Applicability)","Single technical action: a detailed inspection of specific control cable eye ends (Requirement, Background)","Delegation of procedural/technical detail to an external service bulletin (Requirement)","Fixed compliance timing linked to the next 100‑hour inspection or an absolute date (Compliance)","No branching compliance options or multiple regulatory references — straightforward one‑step requirement"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of SIAI Marchetti F260/F260B/F260C/F260D aeroplanes (serials up to 848) to perform a detailed inspection of aileron, elevator and rudder control‑cable eye ends per SIAI Marchetti Service Bulletin 260B55. Prompted by reported cracked eye ends, the inspection must occur at the next 100‑hour check after 26 May 1994 or by 31 Dec 1994, whichever comes first."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-sm-260-18-flight-control-cable-eye-ends","history":"/api/acts/ad-sm-260-18-flight-control-cable-eye-ends/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-sm-260-18-flight-control-cable-eye-ends/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-sm-260-18-flight-control-cable-eye-ends/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-sm-260-18-flight-control-cable-eye-ends/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-sm-260-18-flight-control-cable-eye-ends/documents"}}