{"id":"F2006B07088","name":"AD/SPITFIRE/1 - Chassis Pintles","slug":"ad-spitfire-1-chassis-pintles","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":48850,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07088-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SPITFIRE/1 - Chassis Pintles","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)  Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/SPITFIRE/1 Chassis Pintles 13/96\n\nApplicability: All mks, all models.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Unless already accomplished, inspect the MLG chassis pintles for cracking using a magnetic particle method (MPI).\n\n \n\nNote: UK CAA MPD 1995-089 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: At the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 5 December 1996; thereafter before installation of replacement pintles.\n\n \n\nBackground: As the result of a landing gear failure in 1976 the UK CAA advised UK operators to undertake an inspection of the MLG chassis pintles. Since that time there have been cracks reported in new spares. As a precaution, the aircraft on the Australian Register will require a one time inspection.\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 airworthiness directive with a specific, narrow scope (inspection of one component on one aircraft type). It has not expanded beyond its original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined term implicitly referenced (MPI - magnetic particle inspection, explained in text)","Single straightforward requirement with clear applicability","No cross-references to other legislation sections (only references UK CAA document for context)","Simple conditional logic: 'unless already accomplished' is the only qualifier","Clear compliance date and ongoing trigger (replacement installation)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (a mandatory safety order) issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority for **Vickers Supermarine Spitfire aircraft** — the famous World War II fighter planes.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners and operators to inspect the **main landing gear chassis pintles** (the pivot pins that connect the wheels to the aircraft frame) for cracks using a magnetic particle inspection method.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone who owns or operates any model or mark of Spitfire registered in Australia.\n\n**When it must be done:**\n- By the next scheduled maintenance check after 5 December 1996; and\n- Every time a replacement pintle is installed after that.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- A landing gear failure in 1976 prompted UK authorities to recommend these inspections. Since then, cracks have been found even in new replacement parts. This directive makes the inspection **mandatory** in Australia to prevent potential landing gear collapse.\n\n**Key point:** This is a **one-time inspection** for existing aircraft, but ongoing for any new pintles installed."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope has not been changed from the instrument’s stated precautionary intent. The AD applies to all marks/models and imposes a one‑time MPI inspection at the next Maintenance Release after 5 December 1996 and before fitting replacement pintles (Requirement; Compliance), consistent with the background citation of a 1976 failure and reported cracks in new spares (Background; Note)."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrow technical requirement: one-time magnetic particle inspection (MPI) of MLG chassis pintles (Requirement).","Clear applicability to entire fleet of Vickers Supermarine Spitfire marks/models—broad coverage but uniform treatment (Applicability).","Compliance timing tied to maintenance event: next Maintenance Release after 5 Dec 1996 and before installing replacement pintles (Compliance) — creates a scheduling trigger rather than ongoing intervals.","References an external authority (UK CAA MPD 1995-089), so implementers may rely on another document for detail (Note).","Requires access to qualified non‑destructive testing capability (operative/financial burden borne by owners/operators).","One‑time nature reduces long‑term compliance complexity but may concentrate immediate workload and costs."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of all Vickers Supermarine Spitfire types to have the main landing-gear (MLG) chassis pintles inspected for cracking using magnetic particle inspection (MPI). It must be done at the next Maintenance Release after 5 December 1996 and again before fitting replacement pintles.\n\nThe regulator cites a 1976 landing-gear failure and reported cracks in new spares (UK CAA MPD 1995-089) as the reason. Aircraft operators pay for and arrange qualified non‑destructive testing; the check is presented as a one‑time precaution to reduce the risk of in‑service failure."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-spitfire-1-chassis-pintles","history":"/api/acts/ad-spitfire-1-chassis-pintles/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-spitfire-1-chassis-pintles/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-spitfire-1-chassis-pintles/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-spitfire-1-chassis-pintles/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-spitfire-1-chassis-pintles/documents"}}