{"id":"F2006B07209","name":"AD/SWSA226/67 - Horizontal Stabiliser Rear Spar","slug":"ad-swsa226-67-horizontal-stabiliser-rear-spar","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":48966,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07209-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SWSA226/67 - Horizontal Stabiliser Rear Spar","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nFairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/SWSA226/67 Horizontal Stabiliser Rear Spar 9/93 DM\n\nApplicability: Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT and SA226-TC listed in Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin (SB) 226-55-005 (Revised 7 January 1991) and models SA227-TT, SA227-AT and SA227-AC listed in Fairchild Aircraft SB 227-55-002 (Revised 13 October 1988).\n\nRequirement: 1. Inspect the horizontal stabiliser rear spar near the outboard elevator hinge for cracks in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft SB 226-55-005 or Fairchild Aircraft SB 227-55-002, whichever is applicable. Use a fluorescent dye penetrant in accordance with CAO 108.10.\n\n2. Modify the horizontal stabiliser rear spar outboard hinges in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft SB 226-55-005 or Fairchild Aircraft SB 227-55-002, whichever is applicable.\n\nNote: FAA AD 93-07-12 refers.\n\nCompliance: 1. Inspect before 2500 flight hours or, unless previously inspected within the last 450 flight hours, inspect within 50 flight hours from 12 July 1993, whichever occurs later. Reinspect at intervals not to exceed 500 flight hours until modified as per Requirement 2.\n\n2. Modify before 2200 flight hours from 12 July 1993.\n\nBackground: Elevator hinge loads have been causing cracks in the horizontal stabiliser rear spar. Failure of the spar could cause loss of the aircraft. This AD introduces a repetitive inspection to maintain safety in the short term until the hinge attachment is strengthened.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This directive applies only to the listed SA226/SA227 models and prescribes inspection and modification actions per the manufacturer’s service bulletins. It does not broaden applicability beyond those models or add requirements beyond the inspection protocol, recurring inspection intervals until modification, and the retrofit mandate described in the AD (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability: Multiple specific airframe models are listed, requiring operators to cross-check which Service Bulletin applies (Applicability).","Two-step mandate: Separate mandatory actions for repeated inspections and for a one-time modification, with inspections continuing until modification is done (Requirement 1 & Requirement 2).","Timing rules: Staggered and conditional compliance windows (inspect before 2500 fh or within 50 fh if not recently inspected; reinspect at ≤500 fh intervals; modify before 2200 fh), creating scheduling and record-keeping complexity (Compliance 1 & Compliance 2).","Specified technique: Inspection must use fluorescent dye penetrant per CAO 108.10, imposing a particular non‑destructive testing method and associated skill/equipment requirements (Requirement 1).","Dependency on manufacturer material: Inspection and modification procedures are performed per Fairchild Service Bulletins, so operators must obtain and follow those SBs for compliance (Requirement 1 & 2).","Operational impact: The required modification deadline (flight-hour limit) can force maintenance planning, aircraft downtime, and cost for operators (Compliance 2).","Cross-reference to foreign regulator: The AD notes an FAA AD, implying alignment with overseas airworthiness action and possible coordination of technical instructions (Note).","Safety rationale is narrowly technical: Background links cracking from elevator hinge loads to potential spar failure, focusing compliance on a specific structural risk area (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of certain Fairchild SA226 and SA227 aeroplanes to carry out repeated inspections of the horizontal stabiliser rear spar near the outboard elevator hinge and to modify the hinge attachment in line with the manufacturer’s service bulletin. Affects operators and maintenance organisations for the listed models, who pay for inspections and the mandated modification; CASA enforces compliance. The rule is presented as a way to detect and repair cracks that could cause spar failure and loss of the aircraft."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific structural defect in specific aircraft models. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating inspection and repair of the horizontal stabiliser rear spar."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose document (approximately 250 words)","Only 7 defined aircraft models in applicability section","Two clear, numbered requirements with straightforward compliance deadlines","Single cross-reference to FAA AD 93-07-12 (informational only)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — compliance is mandatory with clear timeframes","Technical but not legally complex; written for aircraft maintenance personnel rather than lawyers"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive orders owners/operators of certain Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226/SA227 aircraft to inspect and repair the horizontal stabiliser rear spar after cracks were found at elevator hinges. It requires immediate and recurring fluorescent dye inspections and a permanent hinge-attachment modification within the specified flight-hour limit.\n\nThe rule prevents possible spar failure and loss of control by forcing timely detection and correction."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-67-horizontal-stabiliser-rear-spar","history":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-67-horizontal-stabiliser-rear-spar/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-67-horizontal-stabiliser-rear-spar/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-67-horizontal-stabiliser-rear-spar/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-67-horizontal-stabiliser-rear-spar/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-67-horizontal-stabiliser-rear-spar/documents"}}