Embraer Planes Get Crackdown: Inspect Fuselages Starting March!
Published Date: 2/11/2025
Rule
Summary
If you fly or maintain Embraer EMB-120 planes, listen up! The FAA found some parts of the plane’s body might crack, so they’re requiring regular checks and fixes starting March 18, 2025. This keeps everyone safe and avoids costly repairs down the line.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory inspections for EMB-120 fuselage
If you operate or maintain Embraer Model EMB-120 series airplanes (EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC, -120RT), you must perform repetitive inspections of the fuselage center I longitudinal skin splice and the panel between frames 22 and 23 and do any required fixes. The rule adopts ANAC AD 2024-04-02R01 by reference and requires repairs to be done before further flight using an FAA-, ANAC-, or Embraer-DOA-approved method; the AD is effective March 18, 2025.
Estimated per-inspection and fleet cost
The FAA estimates the AD affects 51 U.S.-registered airplanes and that each required inspection cycle will take 4 work-hours at $85 per hour, costing $340 per airplane per inspection cycle and $17,340 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle. The FAA states it has no definitive data on the costs of any corrective actions found during inspections.
Required initial inspection timing
The initial high-frequency eddy current inspections must be done prior to the airplane accumulating 50,000 total flight cycles, or within 800 flight cycles after March 18, 2025, whichever is later. The same 50,000/800-flight-cycle threshold applies for the external skin-panel inspection between frames 22 and 23.
Inspection reporting and paperwork burden
Operators must report inspection results: if the inspection is done on/after March 18, 2025, submit the report within 30 days after the inspection; if done before that date, submit within 30 days after March 18, 2025. The FAA estimates public reporting takes about 1 hour per response and cites OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
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