{"id":"F2006B07353","name":"AD/TB20/7 - Stabilator Control Rod Ends","slug":"ad-tb20-7-stabilator-control-rod-ends","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":49455,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07353-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/TB20/7 - Stabilator Control Rod 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)  Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/TB20/7 Stabilator Control Rod Ends 4/87 DM\n\nApplicability: All models with S/Nos 1 to 709, except S/Nos 652, 653, 661, 664, 665, 672, 691, 701\n\nto 706.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Socata S.B. No. 29.\n\n \n\nNote: Bureau Veritas AD 87-003(A) refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 25 hours time-in-service after 6 February 1987 and thereafter at each scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue until modified.\n\n \n\nBackground: The manufacturer reports instances of stabilator operating rod ends with excessive play due to loose rivets.\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\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD targets a specific set of TB20 serial numbers and directs operators to follow Socata S.B. No. 29 to inspect and correct stabilator control rod ends. The directive aligns with the manufacturer’s reported defect (excessive play from loose rivets) and does not broaden applicability beyond the listed aircraft or expand required actions beyond the external service bulletin (Applicability; Requirement; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability limited to specific serial number range with several explicit exclusions (Applicability)","Mandated actions are defined by an external document (Socata S.B. No. 29) rather than fully described in the AD (Requirement)","Short initial compliance window of 25 hours time-in-service after a specified date (Compliance)","Recurring compliance tied to scheduled inspections for Maintenance Release until modification (Compliance)","Reference to another authority's AD (Bureau Veritas) that may affect interpretation (Note)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of specified Socata TB20 serial numbers to inspect—and, if needed, correct—stabilator control rod ends per Socata Service Bulletin No. 29, after reports of excessive play from loose rivets. An initial inspection is required within 25 hours TIS after 6 Feb 1987 and then at each scheduled Maintenance Release inspection until modification; operators bear the cost and must prioritise these checks to mitigate a control-surface safety risk."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted airworthiness directive addressing a specific known defect in a specific aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring stabilator control rod integrity in affected TB20 aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical issue addressed (stabilator rod ends)","Clear applicability criteria (serial number ranges with explicit exceptions)","Single compliance requirement referencing external technical document (Socata S.B. No. 29)","Simple time-based compliance trigger (25 hours time-in-service after fixed date)","No nested definitions, conditional logic, or cross-references to other legislation","Minimal text (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only one note referencing related foreign airworthiness directive (Bureau Veritas AD 87-003(A))"],"plain_english_summary":"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**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain **Socata TB20 Trinidad aeroplanes** to inspect and fix a problem with the **stabilator control rod ends** (the mechanical linkages that help control the aircraft's pitch, or up-down movement).\n\n**The safety issue:**\nThe manufacturer found cases where these rod ends had **excessive play (looseness)** because rivets were coming loose. This could affect the pilot's ability to control the aircraft's pitch, potentially leading to loss of control.\n\n**Who must act:**\nAnyone operating a TB20 with **serial numbers 1 to 709**, except for a specific list of excluded serial numbers (652, 653, 661, 664, 665, 672, 691, and 701-706).\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow the manufacturer's **Service Bulletin No. 29** (a technical instruction document)\n- Complete the first inspection/fix **within 25 flight hours** after 6 February 1987\n- Continue checking at **every scheduled inspection** for Maintenance Release (the official document allowing an aircraft to fly) until a permanent modification is made\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is a **flight safety critical** issue. Loose control linkages in an aircraft can cause catastrophic failure of the pitch control system. The directive ensures potentially dangerous aircraft are identified and fixed before they can cause accidents."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-tb20-7-stabilator-control-rod-ends","history":"/api/acts/ad-tb20-7-stabilator-control-rod-ends/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-tb20-7-stabilator-control-rod-ends/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-tb20-7-stabilator-control-rod-ends/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-tb20-7-stabilator-control-rod-ends/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-tb20-7-stabilator-control-rod-ends/documents"}}