Proposed Rule2026-09772
Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries 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
May 15, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. (DAI) Model DA20-C1 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a certain emergency locator transmitter (ELT) not activating due to a missing jumper wire. This proposed AD would require a continuity inspection of the D-sub connector of the Artex ELT 1000 and, if necessary, corrective actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 94 (Friday, May 15, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27871-27873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09772]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-4636; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00070-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc.
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. (DAI) Model DA20-C1
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a certain
emergency locator transmitter (ELT) not activating due to a missing
jumper wire. This proposed AD would require a continuity inspection of
the D-sub connector of the Artex ELT 1000 and, if necessary, corrective
actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by June 29, 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-2026-4636; 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, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For Diamond Aircraft Industries material identified in
this proposed AD, contact DAI, 1560 Crumlin Sideroad, London, Ontario,
Canada, N5V 1S2; phone: (519) 457-4041, fax: (519) 457-4045; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aad9dfdadac5d8de87c9cbc4cbcecbeacec3cbc7c5c4cecbc3d8c9d8cbccde84c9c5c7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f1828481819e8385dc92909f909590b19598909c9e9f959098839283909785df929e9c">[email protected]</span></a>; website: <a href="http://www.diamondaircraft.com">www.diamondaircraft.com</a>.
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1100 Main, Kansas City, MO
64105. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (817) 222-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Reisenauer, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (516) 228-7301; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#692c2a2b442a263a290f0808470e061f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="793c3a3b543a362a391f1818571e160f">[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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No.
[[Page 27872]]
FAA-2026-4636; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00070-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 amend 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
William Reisenauer, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue,
Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the
public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued Transport Canada AD CF-2026-03, dated January 21, 2026 (referred
to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on all DAI Model DA20-
C1 airplanes having an Artex ELT 1000 installed. The MCAI states that
DAI received a report of an occurrence where the Artex ELT 1000
installed in a DA20-C1 airplane did not perform as intended. Further
investigation by the manufacturer revealed that some Artex ELT 1000
units might not have a jumper wire between the D-sub pins 5 and 12,
which could prevent the ELT beacon from being activated by the internal
G-Switch and the aural alert buzzer from being activated in the event
of an accident. The FAA is proposing this AD to detect and address the
missing jumper wire on the Artex ELT 1000.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2026-4636.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed DAI Mandatory Service Bulletin No. DAC1-25-05 Rev.
1, dated July 19, 2024. This material specifies procedures for
performing a continuity inspection on the D-sub connector of the Artex
ELT 1000 and, if necessary, installing the jumper wire into the D-sub
connector.
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.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI and material referenced above. 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 accomplishing the actions specified
in the material already described, except as discussed under
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Referenced Material.''
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Referenced Material
Although step 14 of the Accomplishment/Instructions of DAI
Mandatory Service Bulletin DAC1-25-05, Rev. 1, dated July 19, 2024,
requires completing and sending an execution report to the
manufacturer, this proposed AD does not require that action.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 365 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Continuity inspection and corrective 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $31,025
actions. hour = $85.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any repairs that would
be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. The agency
has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might need these
repairs:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Install jumper wire........................... 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85 $3 $88
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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
[[Page 27873]]
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:
Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2026-4636; Project
Identifier MCAI-2026-00070-A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by June 29, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. Model
DA20-C1 airplanes, certificated in any category, that have an Artex
emergency locator transmitter (ELT) 1000 installed.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2562, Emergency
Locator Beacon.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of a certain ELT not activating
due to a missing jumper wire. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect
and address a missing jumper wire on the Artex ELT 1000. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in the ELT beacon and
aural alert buzzer not activating in the event of an accident.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, perform a
continuity inspection of the D-sub connector and accomplish all
required corrective actions in accordance with the Accomplishment/
Instructions, Paragraph I.9, of Diamond Aircraft Industries
Mandatory Service Bulletin No. DAC1-25-05, Rev. 1, dated July 19,
2024.
(h) No Reporting Requirement
Although step 14 of the Accomplishment/Instructions of Diamond
Aircraft Industries Mandatory Service Bulletin No. DAC1-25-05, Rev.
1, dated July 19, 2024, requires completing and sending an execution
report to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that
requirement.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of
this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dc9d91939f9cbabdbdf2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98d9d5d7dbd8fef9f9b6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>. 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
For more information about this AD, contact William Reisenauer,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516) 228-7301; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#296c6a6b046a667a694f4848074e465f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2f7f1f09ff1fde1f2d4d3d39cd5ddc4">[email protected]</span></a>.
(k) 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) Diamond Aircraft Industries Mandatory Service Bulletin No.
DAC1-25-05, Rev. 1, dated July 19, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Diamond Aircraft Industries material identified in this
AD, contact Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc., 1560 Crumlin Sideroad,
London, Ontario, Canada, N5V 1S2; phone: (519) 457-4041, fax: (519)
457-4045; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#34474144445b46401957555a55505574505d55595b5a50555d4657465552401a575b59"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1c2c4c1c1dec3c59cd2d0dfd0d5d0f1d5d8d0dcdedfd5d0d8c3d2c3d0d7c59fd2dedc">[email protected]</span></a>.; website:
<a href="http://www.diamondaircraft.com">www.diamondaircraft.com</a>.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1100 Main, Kansas City,
MO 64105. 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#80e6f2aee9eef3f0e5e3f4e9efeec0eee1f2e1aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bddbcf93d4d3cecdd8dec9d4d2d3fdd3dccfdc93dad2cb">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on May 12, 2026.
Paul R. Bernado,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-09772 Filed 5-14-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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