2026-15006: Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 141 (Friday, July 24, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 141 (Friday, July 24, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 46706-46709] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-15006] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2026-7223; Project Identifier AD-2026-00329-A; Amendment 39-23417; AD 2026-15-05] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

Action

Final rule; request for comments. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model B300 and B300C airplanes. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's revision of the airworthiness limitations manual (ALM) to introduce revised inspection intervals to detect cracks in the wing spar or wing supporting structure. This AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the existing aircraft maintenance manual (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.

Dates

This AD is effective August 10, 2026. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 10, 2026. The FAA must receive comments on this AD by September 8, 2026.

Addresses

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Fax: (202) 493-2251. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-91, West Building Fifth Floor, Room W58-213, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 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 regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-7223; 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 street address for Docket Operations is listed above. Material Incorporated by Reference: For Textron material identified in this AD, contact Textron, One Cessna Blvd., Wichita, KS 67215; phone: (316) 517-9355; email: txtav.com">teamturboprop@txtav.com; website: txtav.com. 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. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-7223.

For Further Information Contact

Soban Saeed, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1801 South Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4123; email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-7223; Project Identifier AD-2026-00329-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 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 final rule 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 regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this final rule. 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 AD 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 AD, 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 [[Page 46707]] will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this AD. 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 was notified by Textron that the existing ALM of the ICA for Textron Model B300 and B300C airplanes contained incorrect wing inspection intervals for airplanes that are certified to or operating at a 16,500 pound (lb.) maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). As a result, Textron has revised the existing Model B300 and B300C structural inspection and repair manual (SIRM) and ALM to separate the wing inspection criteria and intervals between airplanes that are certified to or operating at a 15,000 lb. MTOW and those that are certified to or operating at a 16,500 MTOW. The new and updated inspection criteria are based upon the airplane operating hours. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent undetected cracks in the wing or wing supporting structure. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent wing separation from the fuselage in flight. FAA's Determination The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design. Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51 The FAA reviewed Textron Mandatory Service Letter MTL-57-04, Revision 1, dated March 27, 2025. This material specifies information about the new and updated wing inspection criteria for Model B300 and B300C airplanes within the SIRM and ALM based upon the airplane operating hours. 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. AD Requirements This AD requires 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 intervals specified in the material already described. Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective Date Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, upon a finding of good cause. An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the existing incorrect wing inspection intervals need to be revised to detect any crack that could develop in the wing spar or wing supporting structure due to differences in operators' mission profiles (airplanes operating at a 16,500 lb. MTOW). Current FAA data indicate that a number of airplanes are past the revised inspection intervals specified in this AD. Cracks in the wing spar or wing supporting structure could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent wing separation from the fuselage in flight. Additionally, the compliance time in this AD is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days, for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and comment. Regulatory Flexibility Act The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and comment, RFA analysis is not required. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD affects 113 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD: Estimated Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revise the ALS............................. 1 work-hours x $85 per hour = $0 $85 $9,605 $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 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: [[Page 46708]] (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, and (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. The Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 0