AD 2026-06-05

This AD is effective May 11, 2026.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 11, 2026.

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0019; 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, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• For Piaggio Aerospace material identified in this AD, contact Piaggio, P180 Customer Support, via Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia, snc—16154 Genoa, Italy; phone: +39 331 679 74 93; email: technicalsupport@piaggioaerospace.it.

• 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. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0019.

Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329-4059; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Piaggio Model P-180 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2026 (91 FR 2507). The NPRM was prompted by European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0054, dated March 6, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0054) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that corrosion and cracks affecting the vertical stabilizer were reported on Model P-180 airplanes. This condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity of the vertical stabilizer and the rudder with consequent reduced control of the airplane.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitive visual and NDT inspections, a one-time NDT inspection of the vertical stabilizer assembly, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of corrective actions. The FAA also proposed to provide a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0019.

The FAA received a comment from one commenter. The commenter was the Air Line Pilots Association, International, who supported the NPRM without change.

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 referenced above. 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 condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

The FAA reviewed Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0493, Revision 0, dated November 21, 2024 (Piaggio Aerospace SB 80-0493, Rev. 0). This material specifies procedures for repetitive visual and NDT (including high-frequency eddy current (HFEC) and film radiographic (FR/D2) testing) inspections, a one-time NDT inspection, and post-repair instructions for the parts and structural elements of the vertical stabilizer assembly for evidence of damage of the protective finish, corrosion, and cracking, and applicable corrective actions. Corrective actions include, depending on inspection findings, repairing or replacing affected parts or contacting Piaggio to obtain an approved Repair Design Approval Sheet (RDAS), which is terminating action for certain repetitive inspections.

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.

Step (49) of Piaggio Aerospace SB 80-0493, Rev. 0, provides instructions to contact Piaggio to obtain an approved RDAS and accomplish that repair accordingly, including post-repair follow-on action(s), as applicable. This AD instead requires contacting either the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; EASA; or Piaggio's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA) for approved repair instructions and, within the compliance time specified therein, accomplish those instructions accordingly, including post-repair follow-on action(s), as applicable. If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

Although Piaggio Aerospace SB 80-0493, Rev. 0, states that certain subsequent inspections are in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual inspection program chapter 05-20-00, this AD does not require those actions.

Although steps (17), (20), (24), (28), (33), (38), (41), (44), (47), (48), and Note 21 of Piaggio Aerospace SB 80-0493, Rev. 0, require reporting inspection results to Piaggio, this AD does not require those actions.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 107 airplanes of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any repairs that would be required based on the results of the inspections. The agency has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might need these repairs:

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.

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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: