Airworthiness Directives; Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16824-16826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06532]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-2728; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00092-A; 
Amendment 39-23300; AD 2026-07-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. (Tecnam) Model P2010 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of unrecoverable loss of 
engine power. This AD requires repetitive detailed borescope 
inspections (BSIs) of the exhaust muffler flame tube and, depending on 
the results, repair of the exhaust muffler flame tube. This AD includes 
an optional terminating action for the inspection and repair 
requirements. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 20, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 20, 
2026.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by May 18, 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 regulations.gov. 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 regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-2728; 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 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For TECNAM material identified in this AD, contact Tecnam, 
Via Maiorise, 81043 Capua CE, Italy; phone: +39 0823 997538; email: 
tecnam.com">technical.support@tecnam.com; website: tecnam.com.
    <bullet> 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-2026-2728.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Weir, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 
222-4045; 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-2026-2728; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2026-00092-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 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 George 
Weir, 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

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2026-0023, dated February 2, 2026 (also referred to as the 
MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on certain Tecnam Model P2010 
airplanes. The MCAI states that there was a report of unrecoverable 
loss of engine power on a P2010 airplane. A subsequent investigation 
identified a 95 percent blockage of the exhaust due to disconnection of 
the exhaust muffler flame tube. A similar impending failure was also 
detected on another airplane of the same model. As a result, the 
manufacturer published updated service material providing instructions 
for repetitive BSIs of the exhaust muffler flame tube. This condition, 
if not detected and corrected, could result in unrecoverable loss of 
engine power and loss of control of the airplane. The MCAI requires 
initial and repetitive inspections of the exhaust muffler flame tube 
and, if any discrepancy is detected, contacting Tecnam for repair 
instructions and accomplishing those instructions accordingly. The MCAI 
also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-2728.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed TECNAM Service Bulletin SB 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 1, 
dated February 26, 2026 (TECNAM SB 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 1); and TECNAM 
P2010-Maintenance Manual, Tecnam P2010

[[Page 16825]]

AMM Supplement S6, Ed. 2, Rev. 2, dated January 8, 2026. This material 
specifies procedures for performing repetitive detailed BSIs of the 
perforated flame tube within the exhaust muffler. 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 AD after determining that the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the 
material already described, except as discussed under ``Differences 
Between this AD and the Referenced Material.''

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Referenced Material

    The MCAI specifies to contact the manufacturer for approved repair 
instructions if it is determined during an inspection that there is any 
discrepancy detected as described in the referenced service material. 
This AD requires doing repairs in accordance with a method approved by 
the FAA; EASA; or Tecnam's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If 
approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized 
signature.
    Although TECNAM SB 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 1, specifies reporting 
certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require that 
reporting.

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 failure of the exhaust muffler flame tube could result in 
blockage of the exhaust system, leading to an unrecoverable loss of 
engine power during flight. A loss of engine power in flight reduces 
the pilot's ability to maintain safe operation of the airplane. 
Accordingly, the FAA has determined that inspection of the exhaust 
muffler flame tube must be accomplished within 25 hours time-in-service 
or 30 days, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, 
to prevent potential loss of engine power during flight. These 
compliance times are shorter than the time necessary for the public to 
comment prior to publication of a 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 the 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 33 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                   Cost on U.S.
             Action                    Labor cost       Parts cost        Cost per product           operators
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Perform repetitive BSIs of the    2 work-hours x $85            $0  $170 per inspection.........          $5,610
 exhaust muffler flame tube.       per hour = $170
                                   per inspection.
Revise aircraft maintenance       1 work-hour x $85              0  $85.........................           2,805
 program.                          per 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 inspection. The agency has no 
way of determining the number of airplanes that might need these 
repairs:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Action                                Labor cost              Parts cost   Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repair exhaust muffler flame tube............  4 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $2,500              $2,840
                                                $340.
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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 
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

[[Page 16826]]

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:
    (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
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:

2026-07-05 Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A.: Amendment 39-
23300; Docket No. FAA-2026-2728; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00092-
A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 20, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. 
(Tecnam) Model P2010 airplanes, up to and including serial number 
335, certificated in any category, that are equipped with a Lycoming 
IO-390 engine (MOD2010/078).

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7800, Engine Exhaust 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of unrecoverable loss of engine 
power. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and address blockage of 
the exhaust system due to potential failure of the exhaust muffler 
flame tube. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
loss of engine power and loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 30 days, whichever 
occurs first after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter, at 
intervals not to exceed 200 hours TIS, perform a detailed borescope 
inspection (BSI) of the exhaust muffler flame tube for cracks, 
fractures, or evidence of crack or fracture initiation, in 
accordance with Appendix A of the Accomplishment Instructions in 
TECNAM Service Bulletin (SB) 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 1, dated February 
26, 2026 (TECNAM SB 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 1).
    (2) If any crack, fracture, or evidence of crack or fracture 
initiation is detected during any BSI required by paragraph (g)(1) 
of this AD, before further flight, repair using a method approved by 
the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Tecnam's EASA Design Organization 
Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include 
the DOA-authorized signature.

(h) Optional Terminating Action

    Revising the aircraft maintenance program for your airplane to 
include TECNAM P2010-Maintenace Manual, Tecnam P2010 AMM Supplement 
S6, Ed. 2, Rev. 2, dated January 8, 2026, constitutes an acceptable 
method to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) 
of this AD.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although TECNAM SB 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 1, specifies to submit 
information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require that 
action.

(j) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the actions required by paragraphs 
(g)(1) and (2) of this AD if you performed those actions before the 
effective date of this AD using TECNAM Service Bulletin SB 937-CS-
Ed. 1, Rev. 0, dated September 16, 2025; or TECNAM Service Bulletin 
SB 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 0, dated January 7, 2026.

(k) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 
21.199, are not allowed.

(l) 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 (m) of 
this AD and email to [email protected]. 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.

(m) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact George Weir, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-4045; email: 
[email protected].

(n) 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) TECNAM Service Bulletin SB 937-CS-Ed. 2, Rev. 1, dated 
February 26, 2026.
    (ii) TECNAM P2010-Maintenance Manual, Tecnam P2010 AMM 
Supplement S6, Ed. 2, Rev. 2, dated January 8, 2026.
    (3) For TECNAM material identified in this AD, contact 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A., Via Maiorise, 81043 Capua 
CE, Italy; phone: +39 0823 997538; email: 
tecnam.com">technical.support@tecnam.com; website: tecnam.com.
    (4) 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.
    (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 www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on March 31, 2026.
Christopher R. Parker,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-06532 Filed 4-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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