Textron Plane Owners: Inspect Fire Extinguisher Wiring Soon
Published Date: 3/7/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you own a Textron Aviation Model 560 or 560XL airplane, heads up! The FAA wants you to check your engine fire extinguisher systems for wiring mistakes and fix any problems. You’ll also need to update your inspection schedule to keep these checks coming regularly. Comments on this plan are open until April 21, 2025, so get ready to act soon and keep your flight safe without breaking the bank.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory fire-bottle test and inspection
If you operate a Textron Aviation Model 560 or 560XL airplane within the listed serial number ranges, you must perform an engine fire extinguisher system functional test and inspect fire extinguisher bottle cartridge wire numbers and yellow ID sleeves. For all affected airplanes except S/Ns 560-6307 through 560-6360, these actions must be done within 100 flight hours or 60 days after the effective date of the AD, whichever occurs first, and you must do applicable corrective actions (for example, installing new yellow ID sleeves and new ring terminals) within the same 100 flight hours or 60-day window if improper identification or legibility is found.
FAA cost estimates and U.S. fleet impact
The FAA estimates this proposed AD affects 1,245 U.S.-registered airplanes. The agency estimates per-airplane costs of up to $170 for the inspection, up to $170 for the test, and $85 to revise the inspection program; the FAA estimates the cost on U.S. operators as $211,650 for inspections, up to $211,650 for tests, and $105,825 to revise inspection programs. On-condition corrective actions are estimated at $125 per airplane (1 work-hour at $85 plus $40 in parts).
Add repetitive wiring inspections to maintenance program
You must revise the airplane’s existing inspection program to add new airworthiness-limitation tasks for repetitive detailed inspections of the engine fire extinguisher wiring (and APU wiring for 560XL) with a 24‑month interval. That revision must be done no later than 24 months after completing the initial inspection/test required by the AD, and the initial task compliance time is the later of within 100 flight hours or 60 days after the AD effective date or within 24 months after completing the initial inspection/test.
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