{"id":"F2006B07221","name":"AD/SWSA226/78 - Landing Gear Struts","slug":"ad-swsa226-78-landing-gear-struts","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":49015,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07221-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SWSA226/78 - Landing Gear Struts","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/SWSA226/78 Landing Gear Struts 7/96\n\nApplicability: Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT and SA226-TC with main landing gear legs P/N 5453001-1 or P/N 5453001-3 fitted.\n\nRequirement: Inspect the main landing gear struts P/N 5453001-1 or P/N 5453001-3 in accordance with Fairchild Service Bulletin (SB) 226-32-033 Revision 2, dated March 2 1987.\n\nCompliance: For P/N 5453001-1: Unless already accomplished, inspect before 4000 hours time in service, or 100 hours time in service after 20 June 1996, whichever occurs later.\n\nThereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 800 hours time in service.\n\nFor P/N 5453001-3: Unless already accomplished, inspect before 10000 hours time in service, or 100 hours time in service after 20 June 1996, whichever occurs later.\n\nThereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 800 hours time in service.\n\nFor landing gear struts reworked in accordance with Fairchild SB 226-32-033, inspect at intervals not to exceed 50 hours time in service.\n\nBackground: Two aircraft have been found with cracked main landing gear struts, as indicated in Fairchild SB 226-32-033. The aircraft system of maintenance did not refer to the service bulletin. This directive is issued to make compliance with the Service Bulletin mandatory.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating inspections for cracked landing gear struts."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive with one primary requirement","Only 4 specific aircraft models and 2 part numbers affected","Three distinct compliance pathways based on part number and repair history","No defined terms section or extensive cross-referencing to other legislation","Clear, measurable compliance deadlines (flight hours and calendar dates)","Single external reference to manufacturer service bulletin"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of certain Fairchild Swearingen SA226 variants fitted with main landing gear legs P/N 5453001-1 or 5453001-3 to perform mandatory inspections for cracking.  \n\nInspections must occur at specified flight-hour thresholds and repeat at set intervals (with much shorter intervals for previously repaired struts) after initial discovery of cracked gear on two aircraft. The AD closes a maintenance gap to prevent landing-gear failure and reduce risk of serious accidents."},"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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The directive converts the advisory service bulletin into a mandatory legal requirement for the listed models and part numbers by prescribing enforceable inspection intervals and deadlines. Previously the bulletin was a non‑mandatory maintenance reference; the AD imposes compulsory inspections and shorter post‑rework intervals to address discovered cracked struts (Background; Requirement; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple part numbers with different initial compliance thresholds (P/N 5453001-1 vs 5453001-3) (Compliance)","Different recurring inspection intervals, plus a much shorter interval after rework (Compliance)","Dependence on an external document (Fairchild SB 226-32-033 Rev 2) for inspection procedures (Requirement)","Date-relative compliance trigger (100 hours after 20 June 1996) creates conditional deadlines (Compliance)","Applicability limited to specific models and P/Ns, requiring accurate parts/aircraft identification (Applicability)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive makes Fairchild Service Bulletin 226-32-033 Revision 2 mandatory for Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT and SA226-TC aeroplanes fitted with main landing gear legs P/N 5453001-1 or 5453001-3. It requires specified initial and recurring inspections, with much shorter intervals for struts reworked per the Service Bulletin. It affects owners/operators (who pay for and schedule the inspections) and is issued to address cracked main landing gear struts found on two aircraft (Background)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-78-landing-gear-struts","history":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-78-landing-gear-struts/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-78-landing-gear-struts/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-78-landing-gear-struts/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-78-landing-gear-struts/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-78-landing-gear-struts/documents"}}