Proposed Rule2026-08322
Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. 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
April 29, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Textron Aviation, Inc., Model 408 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer's revision of the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to add a detailed inspection for the horizontal stabilizer spar, and change the airplane serial effectivity for the vertical stabilizer spar detailed inspection. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the existing AMM or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23023-23025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08322]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-3870; Project Identifier AD-2025-01364-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. 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 Textron Aviation, Inc., Model 408 airplanes. This proposed
AD was prompted by the manufacturer's revision of the aircraft
maintenance manual (AMM) to add a detailed inspection for the
horizontal stabilizer spar, and change the airplane serial effectivity
for the vertical stabilizer spar detailed inspection. This proposed AD
would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of
the existing AMM or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) and
the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable.
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 June 15,
2026.
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-2026-3870; 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Soban Saeed, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1801 South Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4123;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c3f3f3e513f332f3c1a1d1d521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b686869066864786b4d4a4a054c445d">[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 using a method listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-3870;
Project Identifier AD-2025-01364-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,
[[Page 23024]]
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 Soban
Saeed, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1801 South Airport Road, Wichita,
KS 67209. 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 received a report from Textron Aviation, Inc, that an
undetected crack could develop in the horizontal and vertical
stabilizers forward and aft spars on certain Model 408 airplanes due to
a quality escape from the supplier during manufacturing. As a result,
Textron Aviation, Inc. issued revised limitations to the existing Model
408 AMM inspection program that require addition of a horizontal
stabilizer spar detailed inspection and a revision to the airplane
serial effectivity for the vertical stabilizer spar detailed
inspection. The FAA is proposing this AD to detect and address cracks
in the horizontal and vertical stabilizers forward and aft spars. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural
integrity of the airplane or reduced controllability of the airplane
with possible 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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the existing AMM
or ICA and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, by incorporating the actions and associated thresholds and
intervals specified in table 1 to paragraph (g) of this proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 28 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise the ALS........................ 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $2,380
hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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:
Textron Aviation Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2026-3870; Project Identifier
AD-2025-01364-A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by June 15, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Textron Aviation, Inc. Model 408 airplanes,
serial numbers -0012 through -0051, certificated in any category.
[[Page 23025]]
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5530, Vertical
Stabilizer Structure; 5510, Horizontal Stabilizer Structure.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's revision of the
aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to introduce a detailed inspection
for the horizontal stabilizer spar, and change the airplane serial
effectivity for the vertical stabilizer spar detailed inspection.
The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and address cracks in the
horizontal and vertical stabilizers forward and aft spars. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced
structural integrity of the airplane or reduced controllability of
the airplane with possible loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Revision
Within 150 hours time-in-service or 12 months after the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Revise the ALS of
the existing AMM or instructions for continued airworthiness and the
existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable,
by incorporating the information identified in table 1 to paragraph
(g) of this AD.
Table 1 to Paragraph (g)--Revised Model 408 Airworthiness Limitation Tasks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection Serial
Task No. Task title Interval document Zone effectivity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55-10-00-221........ Horizontal 1600 flight hours 4-12-MB......... 351, 352........ -0012 through -
Stabilizer Spar 0040.
Detailed
Inspection.
55-30-00-221........ Vertical 1600 flight hours 4-12-MB......... 341, 342, 343... -0012 through -
Stabilizer Spar 0051.
Detailed
Inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Additional guidance for accomplishing
the actions required by this AD can be found in Textron Aviation
Service Letter SL408-04-01, dated December 8, 2025.
(h) Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals
After the action required by paragraph (g) of this AD has been
performed, no alternative actions and associated thresholds and
intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the
provisions of paragraph (i) of this AD.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Central 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 Central Certification Branch, send it
to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of
this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ca8b8785898aacababe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95d4d8dad6d5f3f4f4bbf2fae3">[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.
(j) Additional Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Soban Saeed,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1801 South Airport Road, Wichita, KS
67209; phone: (316) 946-4123; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e7a4a4a5caa4a8b4a7818686c9808891"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="034040412e404c50436562622d646c75">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For material identified in this AD that is not incorporated
by reference, contact Textron Aviation Inc., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita,
KS 67277; phone: (316) 517-6215; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#284b415c495c414746585d4a5b685c505c495e064b4745"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eb88829f8a9f8284859b9e8998ab9f939f8a9dc5888486">[email protected]</span></a>;
website: <a href="http://ww2.txtav.com/technicalpublications/">ww2.txtav.com/technicalpublications/</a>.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on April 24, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-08322 Filed 4-28-26; 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 April 29, 2026.
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.