AD 2026-06-71

This AD is effective May 8, 2026.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 8, 2026.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 19, 2021 (86 FR 60753, November 4, 2021).

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0485; 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• For Honda Aircraft Company material identified in this AD, contact Honda, 6430 Ballinger Road, Greensboro, NC 27410; phone: (336) 662-0246; website: hondajet.com.

• You may view this material at the FAA, 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-2025-0485.

Kelly Fichter, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337: (404) 474-5544; email: ecb-cos@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-22-12, Amendment 39-21785 (86 FR 60753, November 4, 2021) (AD 2021-22-12). AD 2021-22-12 applied to certain Honda Model HA-420 airplanes. AD 2021-22-12 required removing and cleaning the inner diameter of the flap control pushrods and repetitively applying CIC to this area to prevent corrosion. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2025 (90 FR 15426). The NPRM was prompted by the manufacturer developing improved flap control pushrods that are more corrosion resistant and do not require repetitive CIC applications. The manufacturer also determined that the applicability should be expanded to include airplanes with serial number 42000211, 42000212, and 42000215 through 42000287, as these airplanes also have an affected flap pushrod assembly installed.

The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-22-12. The SNPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2025 (90 FR 60029). The SNPRM was prompted by the discovery that the updated outboard corrosion resistant pushrods could interfere with the mid flap drive arms when fully deployed. As a result of this finding, the manufacturer published updated service material that includes a modified design of the flap control pushrod assembly to prevent interference with adjacent parts. In the SNPRM, the FAA proposed to require retaining all of the requirements of AD 2021-22-12. The SNPRM also proposed to require expanding the applicability to include additional airplanes, and replacing the flap control pushrod assemblies with new corrosion-resistant flap control pushrod assemblies as terminating action for the repetitive CIC applications required by AD 2021-22-12. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA received no comments on the SNPRM or on the determination of the costs.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety requires adopting the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the SNPRM.

The FAA reviewed Honda Aircraft Company Alert Service Bulletin No. SB-420-27-009, Revision B, dated August 5, 2025. This material specifies procedures for replacing the flap control pushrod assemblies with improved design flap control pushrod assemblies.

This AD also requires Honda Aircraft Company Alert Service Bulletin No. SB-420-27-008, dated August 31, 2021, which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of November 19, 2021 (86 FR 60753, November 4, 2021).

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.

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 has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2021-22-12, Amendment 39-21785 (86 FR 60753, November 4, 2021); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: