{"id":"F2006B07569","name":"AD/VAT/35 - Fuel Cell - Inspection","slug":"ad-vat-35-fuel-cell-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":50166,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07569-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/VAT/35 - Fuel Cell - Inspection","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/35 Fuel Cell - Inspection 7/70\n\nApplicability: All models fitted with P/No. DC3681 fuel cells.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Inspect the fuel cell to ensure that the rubber support channels are adequately bonded to the upper surface of the cell.\n\n \n\nCompliance: 1. For installed fuel cells - within 100 hours time in service after 31 July 1970.\n\n \n\n2. For spar fuel cells - before installation in an aeroplane.\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 directive's scope is limited to aircraft fitted with fuel cells having part number DC3681 and to the inspection action described. The document specifies the affected part and two compliance timings; it does not expand or narrow the subject matter beyond that phrasing."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow technical scope: applies only to fuel cells with part number DC3681 (Applicability).","Single mandatory action (visual/physical inspection) with two clear timing conditions (Compliance 1 and 2).","Lack of prescriptive inspection method or objective pass/fail criteria increases reliance on technical judgement (Requirement).","Potential operational impact limited to affected aircraft and spare parts, reducing systemic complexity.","No procedural detail about remedial measures or certification of repairs in the text increases follow‑on implementation steps outside the directive."],"plain_english_summary":"# What this directive does\n\nThis airworthiness directive requires inspection of a specific type of aircraft fuel cell to check that the rubber support channels are properly bonded to the top surface of the cell. The directive applies only to aircraft fitted with fuel cells having part number DC3681 (Applicability). The inspection requirement is set out in the directive (Requirement) and the timing for when the inspection must be done is specified (Compliance 1 and 2).\n\n# Who it affects\n\n- Aircraft owners and operators of Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer series aeroplanes (and any other models) that have a fuel cell with part number DC3681 (Applicability).  \n- Maintenance organisations and technicians who perform fuel‑cell inspections and any necessary follow‑up work.\n\n# How it works mechanically\n\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued the directive under the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (header).  \n- The mandatory action is an inspection to ensure the rubber support channels are adequately bonded to the upper surface of the fuel cell (Requirement).  \n- Timing: for fuel cells already installed in aircraft, the inspection must be done within 100 hours time in service after 31 July 1970 (Compliance 1). For spare (uninstalled) fuel cells, the inspection must be done before installation in an aeroplane (Compliance 2).\n\n# Why the measure is described as necessary (source's claim)\n\n- The directive states the inspection requirement; the explicit textual purpose is to verify that the rubber support channels are adequately bonded to the cell (Requirement). The text does not prescribe a specific remedial action or recovery procedure in the event bonding is found inadequate.\n\n# Practical implications, costs and incentives\n\n- Who pays: aircraft owners/operators bear the cost of inspections and any consequential remedial work (the directive requires inspection; the document does not allocate funding).  \n- Who decides: the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued this mandatory directive under the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (header). Maintenance technicians decide, in practice, whether bonding is adequate during inspection.  \n- Compliance burden: operators must schedule and carry out the inspection within the stated deadlines (within 100 hours TIS after 31 July 1970 for installed cells; before installation for spares) (Compliance 1 and 2). That can cause maintenance downtime and inspection labour cost.  \n- Implementation risk and discretion: determining whether bonding is \"adequate\" is an evaluative judgment during inspection (Requirement). The directive does not set objective pass/fail criteria or prescribe specific testing methods or corrective steps, so technicians and maintenance organisations exercise professional judgement about inspection technique and any remedial measures.  \n- Effects on private providers and competition: independent maintenance providers can perform the inspections, which may increase demand for their services among affected operators. Owners/operators retain the choice of provider subject to aviation maintenance regulations and certification.\n\n# Trade‑offs and likely follow‑on actions\n\n- If an inspection finds bonding is not adequate, the operator will need to arrange repair or replacement of the fuel cell before returning the aircraft to service. The directive itself does not describe the corrective action or who must approve it.  \n- The requirement imposes a direct, concentrated cost on the subset of operators using part number DC3681, while the safety benefit (if achieved) would be distributed across aircraft users and those carried in affected aeroplanes.  \n\n# Source citations\n\n- Applicability: \"All models fitted with P/No. DC3681 fuel cells.\"  \n- Requirement: \"Inspect the fuel cell to ensure that the rubber support channels are adequately bonded to the upper surface of the cell.\"  \n- Compliance: \"1. For installed fuel cells - within 100 hours time in service after 31 July 1970. 2. For spar fuel cells - before installation in an aeroplane.\""},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue airworthiness directive from 1970 addressing a specific fuel cell defect. It has not expanded beyond its original narrow scope of inspecting P/No. DC3681 fuel cells for bonding issues."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 200 words)","Only 3 operative provisions: applicability, requirement, and compliance","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations","Simple conditional logic (two compliance paths based on whether cell is installed or spare)","Single technical requirement with clear physical action (visual/tactile inspection of bonding)","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested conditions"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (a mandatory safety order) issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority for **Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer series aeroplanes**.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners/operators to inspect the fuel cells (fuel tanks) on these aircraft\n- Specifically checks that **rubber support channels** are properly bonded (glued/attached) to the top surface of the fuel cell\n- This prevents fuel leaks or structural failures that could cause fires or crashes\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone operating or maintaining Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer aircraft\n- Specifically those with fuel cells bearing part number **DC3681**\n\n**When it had to be done:**\n- For fuel cells already installed in aircraft: within **100 flying hours** after 31 July 1970\n- For spare fuel cells: **before** installing them in any aircraft\n\n**Why it matters:**\nFuel cells that aren't properly bonded can shift, chafe, or leak — creating fire hazards. This directive forces a one-time inspection to catch a specific manufacturing or maintenance defect before it causes an accident."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-vat-35-fuel-cell-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-vat-35-fuel-cell-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-vat-35-fuel-cell-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-vat-35-fuel-cell-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-vat-35-fuel-cell-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-vat-35-fuel-cell-inspection/documents"}}