FAA Demands Rust Checks on LAVIA PA-25 Airplane Wings
Published Date: 11/18/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants all owners of LAVIA ARGENTINA S.A. PA-25 airplanes to check their wings for rust and cracks to keep flying safe. If any damage is found, repairs or replacements will be needed. Comments on this plan are open until January 2, 2026, so owners should get ready to act soon and possibly spend some money fixing their planes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 6 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory wing-spar inspections
If you own or operate a LAVIA ARGENTINA S.A. Model PA-25, PA-25-235, or PA-25-260 airplane, you must inspect the front and rear wing spars for corrosion and cracks. Inspections must be done at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 12 months, whichever occurs first, with initial compliance windows that include thresholds such as 5 years, 500 hours TIS, or within 10 hours TIS after the AD's effective date depending on the airplane's history.
Repair or replace before further flight
If any crack(s) or corrosion are found during required inspections, you must repair or replace the affected front or rear wing spar before further flight using a method approved by the FAA. The proposed AD explicitly requires repairs or replacements to address the unsafe condition to prevent a wing separating from the fuselage in flight.
Eddy‑current checks and 18‑month replacement rule
The AD requires eddy current inspections of the front wing spar flange in certain cases, with some airplanes required to undergo eddy current inspections every 50 hours TIS and others at up to 100 hours TIS or 12 months. Airplanes that must have eddy current inspections every 50 hours TIS must have the wing spar replaced within 18 months after starting those inspections.
FAA cost estimates and affected fleet size
The FAA estimates this proposed AD would affect 467 U.S.-registered airplanes. The FAA estimates an inspection for cracks at 16 work-hours (16 x $85/hr = $1,360 per inspection) and an inspection for corrosion at 8 work-hours (8 x $85/hr = $680 per inspection). The FAA also lists replacement work as involving 40 work-hours at $85 per hour.
Special flight permits not allowed
The proposed AD prohibits special flight permits for affected airplanes. That means you cannot fly the airplane under a special flight permit to move it to a maintenance facility if it is subject to this AD.
Must follow specific LAVIASA service bulletins
Compliance with this AD requires performing the actions described in LAVIASA aeroindustria Service Bulletin No. 25-57-09, REV 0 (Nov 27, 2023) and LAVIASA aviacion Service Bulletin No. 25-57-11, Rev 00 (Aug 23, 2024). These service bulletins describe inspection holes/doors, borescope and eddy current inspections, and related procedures you must use.
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