{"id":"F2006B07194","name":"AD/SWSA226/53 Amdt 1 - Control Cables","slug":"ad-swsa226-53-amdt-1-control-cables","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":48893,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07194-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SWSA226/53 Amdt 1 - Control Cables","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)  Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\n# AD/SWSA226/53\n\nAmdt 1\n\nApplicability: All models.\n\n# Control Cables 9/87\n\n \n\nRequirement: Inspect all elevator, rudder, aileron and aileron to rudder interconnect primary control cables for general condition and broken wires, (a wire is to be considered broken if worn more than 50% of wire diameter), along their entire length, including cables routed inside the control column. Where cables contact any pulley or fairlead, the cable is to be slightly untwisted and inspected internally for wear, broken wires and general condition for a distance of 600 mm either side of the control neutral position contact point.\n\n \n\nRejection criteria is as follows:\n\n \n\n1. More than 3 broken wires within any 300 mm section, or\n\n\n \n\nb.    Cables where the total number of broken wires exceeds 3 times the length of the cable measured in metres, or\n\n \n\nc.    More than 6 wires worn less than 50% of wire diameter in any 25 mm length of cable.\n\n \n\nWhere discrepant cables are found, inspect any associated fairleads or pulleys for damage and replace any unserviceable items.\n\n \n\nCompliance: a. Prior to attaining 10 000 hours time in service and thereafter every 400 hours time in service.\n\n \n\nb. Where the current time in service exceeds 10 000 hours on 9 April 1987; within 100 hours time in service after 9 April 1987 or at the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 9 April 1987 whichever is later.\n\n \n\nNote 1. Where an operator can substantiate individual cable lives in hours time in service, this may be substituted for aircraft hours time in service.\n\n \n\nNote 2. Cable replacement with new items at 10 000 hour intervals terminates this inspection requirement. However, this Directive does not remove the requirement to perform routine inspections in accordance with Fairchild Maintenance Manual Section 27-00-00 prior to achieving 10 000 hours time in service.\n\n \n\nNote 3. FAA AD 87-02-02 refers.\n\n \n\nBackground:  Overseas experience has shown that the control cables in these aircraft are subject to a high failure rate in high time aircraft. Amdt 1 removes any ambiguity at Note 2.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Amdt 1 clarifies Note 2 (removing ambiguity about termination by cable replacement) but does not change applicability, inspection requirements, rejection criteria, or compliance timing established in the directive (Background; Requirement; Rejection criteria; Compliance; Note 2)."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability to all models — broad fleet coverage increases administrative scope (Applicability: All models).","Detailed quantitative rejection criteria that require measurement and judgment (e.g. >3 broken wires within any 300 mm; >3 × cable length in metres total broken wires; >6 wires worn <50% within any 25 mm) (Rejection criteria).","Inspection requires partial untwisting and internal inspection for 600 mm either side of the control neutral contact point where cables contact pulleys/fairleads — adds labour and access complexity (Requirement).","Multiple compliance timelines including a transitional deadline for aircraft already above 10,000 hours — requires record checks and scheduling (Compliance: a; b).","Note allowing operators to substitute substantiated individual cable lives shifts evidentiary burden and creates alternative compliance paths (Note 1).","Termination clause permitting replacement with new items at 10,000‑hour intervals to end the directive imposes capital/replacement costs but reduces recurring inspection burden (Note 2).","Mandate to inspect and replace associated fairleads or pulleys when cables are discrepant ties additional parts/labour to any cable failure (Requirement).","Amdt 1 expressly removes ambiguity at Note 2, indicating prior interpretive uncertainty that may affect compliance consistency (Background).","Who bears cost and administrative burden: operators/maintenance organisations must perform inspections, substantiation, and replacements per the Compliance and Notes (Compliance; Note 1; Note 2)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 aeroplanes to inspect all primary control cables (elevator, rudder, aileron and interconnects) for broken wires and wear, with specific rejection thresholds and pulley/fairlead checks. Inspections start before 10,000 aircraft hours and repeat every 400 hours (with a transitional window for aircraft already over 10,000 hours); replacing cables at 10,000‑hour intervals terminates this inspection requirement while routine maintenance still applies."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is Amendment 1 to an existing Airworthiness Directive. The amendment history explicitly states it \"removes any ambiguity at Note 2\" — a minor clarifying change. The scope remains tightly focused on control cable inspections for the specified aircraft series, exactly as originally intended in 1987."},"complexity_factors":["Single specific aircraft type (Fairchild SA226/SA227 series) with clear applicability","Straightforward inspection procedure with three specific, measurable rejection criteria","Two-tier compliance schedule based on aircraft hours (10,000 hour threshold)","Three explanatory notes that clarify rather than complicate (including reference to equivalent US FAA directive)","Limited cross-referencing (only to Fairchild Maintenance Manual Section 27-00-00 and FAA AD 87-02-02)","Amendment 1 is minor — only removes ambiguity in Note 2","No nested definitions, no conditional exceptions, no interpretive provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates detailed inspections of control cables on Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 aircraft to detect broken wires, internal wear at pulleys and along the cable, and other damage. Inspections are required before 10,000 flight hours and every 400 hours thereafter (with short compliance windows for high-time aircraft); cables must be replaced when specified breakage/wear limits are exceeded. It targets operators/owners to prevent catastrophic control failures documented overseas."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-53-amdt-1-control-cables","history":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-53-amdt-1-control-cables/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-53-amdt-1-control-cables/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-53-amdt-1-control-cables/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-53-amdt-1-control-cables/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-53-amdt-1-control-cables/documents"}}