Airworthiness Directives; Honda Aircraft Company LLC Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31649-31651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10606]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-0020; Project Identifier AD-2025-01374-A; 
Amendment 39-23342; AD 2026-10-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honda Aircraft Company LLC Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Honda Aircraft Company LLC (Honda) Model HA-420 airplanes. This 
AD was prompted by a report of tool damage to multiple locations on the 
interior fuselage skin fiber and the omission of certain service 
material from the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the 
maintenance manual. This AD requires incorporating certain material 
into the ALS of the existing maintenance manual or instructions for 
continued airworthiness (ICA) and the existing 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 July 2, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 2, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0020; 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.

[[Page 31650]]

    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For Honda material identified in this AD, contact Honda, 
6430 Ballinger Road, Greensboro, NC 27410; phone: (336) 662-0246; 
website: hondajet.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-2026-0020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Fichter, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 
(404) 474-5544; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Honda Model HA-
420 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
January 22, 2026 (91 FR 2720). The NPRM was prompted by a report of 
tool damage to four locations on the interior fuselage skin fiber at 
the forward pressure bulkhead ring angle and the omission of certain 
service material from the ALS of the maintenance manual. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could cause crack propagation in the skin 
and result in a pressurization leak and loss of pressurization.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require incorporating certain 
material into the ALS of the existing maintenance manual or ICA and the 
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from an anonymous commenter. The 
commenter supported the NPRM without change.

Conclusion

    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.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Honda Aircraft Company Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB-420-53-009, dated April 26, 2023, which specifies serial numbers of 
affected airplanes, compliance times, and procedures for a visual 
inspection for defect conditions such as impact damage, burrs, gouges, 
disbonding, blistering, and discoloration due to heat damage and other 
surface irregularities. This material also specifies procedures for an 
ultrasonic inspection of the fuselage skin for damage (local notches, 
cracks), and repair. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 218 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-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $18,530
                                         hour = $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:
    (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.

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:

2026-10-02 Honda Aircraft Company LLC: Amendment 39-23342; Docket 
No. FAA-2026-0020; Project Identifier AD-2025-01374-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 2, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Honda Aircraft Company LLC (Honda) Model HA-
420 airplanes, serial numbers 42000012 through 42000230, 
certificated in any category.

[[Page 31651]]

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5330, Fuselage Main, 
Plate/Skin.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of tool damage to multiple 
locations on the interior fuselage skin fiber at the forward 
pressure bulkhead ring angle and the omission of certain service 
material from the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the 
maintenance manual. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and address 
tool damage to the interior fuselage skin fiber at the forward 
pressure bulkhead ring angle. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could cause crack propagation in the skin and result in a 
pressurization leak and loss of pressurization.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the ALS of the existing maintenance manual or instructions for 
continued airworthiness and your existing approved maintenance or 
inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating the information 
specified in Honda Aircraft Company Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
420-53-009, dated April 26, 2023.
    (2) The initial compliance time for accomplishing the actions 
specified in Honda Aircraft Company Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
420-53-009, dated April 26, 2023, is before accumulating 6,000 total 
flights or within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later.

(h) Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals

    After the action required by paragraph (g) of this AD has been 
done, no alternative actions and associated thresholds and 
intervals, including life limits, are allowed unless approved as an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with the procedures 
specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, East Certification 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 East Certification Branch, send it to 
the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD 
and email to: [email protected].
    (2) 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.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kelly Fichter, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, 
GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5544; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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) Honda Aircraft Company Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-420-53-
009, dated April 26, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Honda material identified in this AD, contact Honda 
Aircraft Company LLC, 6430 Ballinger Road, Greensboro, NC 27410; 
phone: (336) 662-0246; website: hondajet.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 May 6, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-10606 Filed 5-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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