Proposed Rule2025-12555
Airworthiness Directives; Honda Aircraft Company LLC Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 7, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Honda Aircraft Company LLC (Honda) Model HA-420 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery of a gap between the trailing edge wing nut plates and leading edge aileron balance weights being less than the minimum required clearance. This proposed AD would require replacing the affected left and right aileron fixed balance weights with reduced geometry fixed balance weights. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 127 (Monday, July 7, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 127 (Monday, July 7, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29804-29806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12555]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-1355; Project Identifier AD-2025-00016-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Honda Aircraft Company LLC Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Honda Aircraft Company LLC (Honda) Model HA-420 airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery of a gap between the
trailing edge wing nut plates and leading edge aileron balance weights
being less than the minimum required clearance. This proposed AD would
require replacing the affected left and right aileron fixed balance
weights with reduced geometry fixed balance weights. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 21,
2025.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-1355; or in person at Docket Operations between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this NPRM, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For Honda Aircraft Company material identified in this
proposed AD, contact Honda, 6430 Ballinger Road, Greensboro, NC 27410;
phone: (336) 662-0246; website: <a href="http://hondajet.com">hondajet.com</a>.
[[Page 29805]]
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City,
MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tuan Tran, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-
5522; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87beaae6f4e8aae6f3ebe6e4e8aae6e3f4c7e1e6e6a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f3cade92809cde92879f92909cde929780b3959292dd949c85">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-1355;
Project Identifier AD-2025-00016-A'' at the beginning of your comments.
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may revise this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Tuan
Tran, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College
Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA was advised that, during a production quality assurance
inspection, a gap between the trailing edge wing nut plates and leading
edge aileron balance weights was discovered with less than the minimum
required clearance on a Honda Model HA-420 airplane. Starting with
airplane serial number 235, the wing trailing edge nut plates were
relocated closer to the trailing edge to standardize the manufacturing
process and improve interchangeability among different serial-numbered
airplanes. Relocating these nut plates reduced the gap between the nut
plates and the balance weights. This reduction could result in jamming
or contact between the balance weights and the nut plates, negatively
affecting flight and causing damage to the airplane. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of control of the
airplane.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Honda Aircraft Company Service Bulletin No. SB-
420-27-011, Revision B, dated December 24, 2024. This material
specifies procedures for replacing the affected left and right aileron
fixed balance weights with reduced geometry fixed balance weights to
ensure the minimum required clearances are maintained with the adjacent
wing trailing edge panel fasteners.
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described, except as discussed under
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Referenced Material.''
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Referenced Material
Honda SB No. SB-4-20-27-011, Revision B, specifies contacting Honda
if proper aileron balance cannot be attained using adjustable balance
weights, but this proposed AD would require using a procedure approved
by the Manager, East Certification Branch, FAA.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 38 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the left and right inboard and 45 work-hours x $85 per $3,676 $7,501 $285,038
outboard fixed balance weights. hour = $3,825.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The instructions for repair could vary significantly from airplane
to airplane if proper aileron balance cannot be attained using
adjustable balance weights. The FAA has no way of determining the cost
of this repair or the number of airplanes that may require repair.
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost
impact on affected operators.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA
[[Page 29806]]
with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by
prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the
Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This
regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses
an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products
identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Honda Aircraft Company LLC: Docket No. FAA-2025-1355; Project
Identifier AD-2025-00016-A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by August 21, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Honda Aircraft Company LLC (Honda) Model HA-
420 airplanes, serial numbers 42000172, 42000235 through 42000265
inclusive, and 42000267 through 42000272 inclusive, certificated in
any category, with aileron balance weight part number HJ1-15751-152-
003 or HJ1-15751-157-003 installed.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2710, Aileron
Control System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the discovery that the gap between the
trailing edge wing nut plates and leading edge aileron balance
weights may be less than the minimum required clearance. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent jamming or contact between the balance
weights and the nut plates. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Before further flight after the effective date of this AD,
replace the left and right aileron fixed balance weights in
accordance with steps 3.0(3) through 3.0(8) of the Accomplishment
Instructions in Honda Aircraft Company Service Bulletin No. SB-420-
27-011, Revision B, dated December 24, 2024 (Honda SB No. SB-4-20-
27-011, Revision B), except as provided in paragraphs (g)(1) through
(3) of this AD.
(1) Instead of discarding parts, you must remove those parts
from service.
(2) This AD does not require returning parts to the
manufacturer.
(3) Instead of contacting Honda if proper aileron balance cannot
be attained using adjustable balance weights, this AD requires
attaining proper aileron balance using a procedure approved by the
Manager, East Certification Branch, FAA.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, East Certification Branch, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19,
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the manager of the East Certification Branch, send it to
the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD
and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88c9c5c7cbc8eee9e9a6efe7fe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cc8d81838f8caaadade2aba3ba">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(3) For material that contains steps that are labeled as RC the
provisions of paragraphs (h)(3)(i) and (ii) of this AD apply.
(i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps,
including substeps and identified figures.
(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy
condition.
(i) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Tuan Tran, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337;
phone: (404) 474-5522; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bb8296dac8d496dacfd7dad8d496dadfc8fbdddada95dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dbe2f6baa8b4f6baafb7bab8b4f6babfa89bbdbabaf5bcb4ad">[email protected]</span></a>.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Honda Aircraft Company Service Bulletin No. SB-420-27-011,
Revision B, dated December 24, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Honda Aircraft Company material identified in this AD,
contact Honda, 6430 Ballinger Road, Greensboro NC 27410; phone:
(336) 662-0246; website: <a href="http://hondajet.com">hondajet.com</a>.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas
City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material
at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f99f8bd790978a899c9a8d909697b997988b98d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ccaabee2a5a2bfbca9afb8a5a3a28ca2adbeade2aba3ba">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on July 1, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-12555 Filed 7-3-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 7, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.