Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation, Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Airplanes

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION <SUBAGY>Federal Aviation Administration</SUBAGY> <CFR>14 CFR Part 39</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FAA-2025-5037; Project Identifier AD-2025-00212-A; Amendment 39-23255; AD 2026-03-06]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 2120-AA64</RIN> <SUBJECT>Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation, Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Airplanes</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Textron Aviation, Inc., Model 525B airplanes. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's revision of the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to introduce more restrictive inspection intervals. This AD requires 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 issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This AD is effective March 13, 2026. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> <E T="03">AD Docket:</E> You may examine the AD docket at <E T="03">regulations.gov</E> under Docket No. FAA-2025-5037; 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 final rule, any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Soban Saeed, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1801 South Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4123; email: <E T="03">CCB-COS@faa.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD> The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Textron Aviation, Inc., Model 525B airplanes. The NPRM was published in the <E T="04">Federal Register</E> on November 28, 2025 (90 FR 54599). The NPRM was prompted by notification to the FAA by Textron Aviation that the existing Model 525B AMM contained incorrect inspection intervals for airworthiness limitation tasks for Chapter 54—Nacelle/Pylons and Chapter 55—Stabilizers. The incorrect inspection intervals were introduced during a technical manual update. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the ALS of the existing AMM or ICA and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent undetected cracks in the engine mount and vertical stabilizer front and rear spar caps. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Comments</HD> The FAA received a comment from Capital City Jet Center. The commenter had no objection to the NPRM. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Conclusion</HD> The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe conditions on these products. Except for minor editorial corrections, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Costs of Compliance</HD> The FAA estimates that this AD affects 601 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD: <GPOTABLE COLS="5" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s50,r50,12,12,12"> <TTITLE>Estimated Costs</TTITLE> <CHED H="1">Action</CHED> <CHED H="1">Labor cost</CHED> <CHED H="1">Parts cost</CHED> Cost on U.S. operators </CHED> <ROW> <ENT I="01">Revise the ALS</ENT> <ENT>1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85</ENT> <ENT>$0</ENT> <ENT>$85</ENT> <ENT>$51,085</ENT> </ROW> </GPOTABLE> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Authority for This Rulemaking</HD> 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. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Regulatory Findings</HD> This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 that this AD: (1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866, (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. <LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39</HD> Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. </LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HD1">The Amendment</HD> Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES</HD> <REGTEXT TITLE="14" PART="39"> 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD> 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. </REGTEXT> <SECTION> <SECTNO>§ 39.13</SECTNO> <SUBJECT>[Amended]</SUBJECT> </SECTION> <REGTEXT TITLE="14" PART="39"> 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2"> <E T="04">2026-03-06 Textron Aviation, Inc.:</E> Amendment 39-23255; Docket No. FAA-2025-5037; Project Identifier AD-2025-00212-A. </FP> <HD SOURCE="HD1">(a) Effective Date</HD> This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 13, 2026. <HD SOURCE="HD1">(b) Affected ADs</HD> None. <HD SOURCE="HD1">(c) Applicability</HD> This AD applies to all Textron Aviation, Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 525B airplanes, certificated in any category. <HD SOURCE="HD1">(d) Subject</HD> Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5530, Vertical Stabilizer Structure; 5415, Nacelle/Pylon, Attach Fittings. <HD SOURCE="HD1">(e) Unsafe Condition</HD> This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's revision of the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to introduce more restrictive inspection intervals. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent undetected cracks in the engine mount and vertical stabilizer front and rear spar caps. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. <HD SOURCE="HD1">(f) Compliance</HD> Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. <HD SOURCE="HD1">(g) Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) Revision</HD> Within 150 hours time-in-service (TIS) 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 (ICA) and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating the information identified in table 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD. <GPOTABLE COLS="6" OPTS="L2,nj,p7,7/8,i1" CDEF="xs60,r75,r50,r50,xs50,xs50"> <TTITLE> Table 1 to paragraph <E T="01">(g)</E> —Revised Model 525B Airworthiness Limitation Tasks </TTITLE> <CHED H="1">Task No.</CHED> <CHED H="1">Task title</CHED> <CHED H="1">Existing task interval</CHED> <CHED H="1">Revised task interval</CHED> <CHED H="1"> Inspection document </CHED> <CHED H="1">Zone</CHED> <ENT>Forward Engine Mount Channel Flange (Eddy Current) Special Detailed Inspection</ENT> <ENT>6,000 hours TIS</ENT> <ENT>6,100 hours TIS, then 4,100 hours TIS thereafter</ENT> <ENT>4-12-MI</ENT> <ENT>411, 412</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="01">54-50-00-252</ENT> <ENT>Aft Engine Beam Aft Upper Angle Common to Aft Web, BL 24.50 (Eddy Current) Special Detailed Inspection</ENT> <ENT>11,500 hours TIS</ENT> <ENT>14,100 hours TIS, then every 2,700 hours TIS thereafter</ENT> <ENT>4-12-MR</ENT> <ENT>311, 312</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="01">54-50-00-254</ENT> <ENT>Forward Engine Mount Aft Channel Web (Eddy Current) Special Detailed Inspection</ENT> <ENT>12,000 hours TIS</ENT> <ENT>16,300 hours TIS, then every 11,600 hours TIS thereafter</ENT> <ENT>4-12-MS</ENT> <ENT>410, 420</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="01">54-50-00-255</ENT> <ENT>Forward Engine Mount Forward Channel Web (Eddy Current) Special Detailed Inspection</ENT> <ENT>12,000 hours TIS</ENT> <ENT>15,600 hours TIS, then every 11,100 hours TIS thereafter</ENT> <ENT>4-12-NB</ENT> <ENT>410, 420</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="01">55-40-00-250</ENT> <ENT>Vertical Fin Left and Right Front Spar Cap at Attachment Hole #2 (Eddy Current) Special Detailed Inspection</ENT> <ENT>9,000 hours TIS, then every 7,500 hours TIS thereafter</ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 13k characters. 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