{"id":"F2006B07549","name":"AD/VAT/17 - Elevator Centre Hinge - Modification","slug":"ad-vat-17-elevator-centre-hinge-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":50143,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07549-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/VAT/17 - Elevator Centre Hinge - Modification","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)  Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/VAT/17 Elevator Centre Hinge - Modification 5/64\n\nApplicability: Victa Airtourer 100 and 115. Document:  1. Victa SB No. 31; or\n\n2. Victa Mod. B99. Compliance: Before 1 September 1971.\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\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument, as presented, applies only to Victa Airtourer 100 and 115 and requires modification of the elevator centre hinge per the two referenced technical documents by a specified date. The text provided contains no language indicating an expansion or narrowing of that coverage from an earlier statement of intent; therefore there is no evidence in this text that the scope has changed."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow applicability (only Victa Airtourer 100 and 115). (Applicability)","Clear, single mandated action (modify elevator centre hinge) tied to specified documents. (Document)","Hard compliance deadline (before 1 September 1971) — no alternatives or phased compliance set out. (Compliance)","No technical detail in the directive itself; reliance on external documents for implementation increases procedural dependence on those documents. (Document)","No provisions in the text for exemptions, alternative methods, or administrative discretion, which simplifies legal interpretation but concentrates operational complexity in the technical execution."],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA airworthiness directive mandates a physical modification to the elevator centre hinge on Victa Airtourer model 100 and 115 aeroplanes. Owners/operators must complete the change by 1 September 1971 using the manufacturer’s instructions (Victa SB No.31 or Victa Mod. B99). Compliance is compulsory, responsibility and costs fall to aircraft owners/operators; no alternatives or exemptions are provided in the directive."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue airworthiness directive from 1964 (as indicated by the '5/64' suffix). It has not expanded beyond its original narrow purpose of addressing a specific elevator hinge modification on a limited aircraft type. The scope remains precisely as intended: a targeted safety fix for a known mechanical issue."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — only 4 substantive lines of regulatory content","No defined terms section — all terminology is industry-standard aviation language","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Simple conditional structure: single applicability criterion (aircraft type) and single compliance deadline","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested conditions","Binary compliance pathway (two acceptable documents to follow)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It requires owners and operators of specific light aircraft to modify the elevator centre hinge before 1 September 1971.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Mandates a structural modification to the elevator (the control surface that makes the plane pitch up and down) on certain Victa Airtourer aircraft\n- Requires compliance with either Victa Service Bulletin No. 31 or Victa Modification B99\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of **Victa Airtourer 100 and 115** aircraft — these are Australian-designed two-seat training and recreational aircraft from the 1960s\n\n**Why it matters:**\nAirworthiness Directives are legally enforceable safety requirements. Failure to comply means the aircraft cannot be flown legally. This particular AD addresses a potential structural defect in the elevator hinge that could affect flight safety."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-vat-17-elevator-centre-hinge-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-vat-17-elevator-centre-hinge-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-vat-17-elevator-centre-hinge-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-vat-17-elevator-centre-hinge-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-vat-17-elevator-centre-hinge-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-vat-17-elevator-centre-hinge-modification/documents"}}