FAA Orders Inspections for Twin Commander Planes to Prevent Cracks
Published Date: 11/18/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you own or fly Twin Commander airplanes (models 685 through 695A), the FAA wants you to check key parts of your plane for cracks, rust, or loose bolts to keep everyone safe. They’re asking for inspections and possible repairs or replacements soon, plus a quick report back to them. Comments on this plan are open until January 2, 2026, so get ready to act and keep those planes flying strong!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Repair or replace before next flight if defects found
If inspections find cracks, corrosion, loose hardware, or deformed fastener holes at FS 386, FS 409, FS 429, or the vertical stabilizer, you must, before further flight, either replace the affected parts with new parts having zero hours TIS or with used parts inspected and found free of defects, or repair using a method specifically approved by the Manager, East Certification Branch, FAA. Any approved repair method must specifically refer to this AD.
Reporting and FAA cost estimates
You must report inspection results to the FAA within 30 days after performing the inspections (or within 30 days after the AD's effective date, whichever is later) to [email protected], including owner name/address, inspection date, submitter contact, airplane serial and registration, total flight hours and last 12 months' hours, usage type, hours for special uses, and a description with dimensions and location of any defects. The FAA estimates the AD would affect 589 U.S.-registered airplanes and gives these per-action cost estimates: detailed visual inspection — 60 work-hours × $85/hr = $5,100; general visual inspection — 30 work-hours × $85/hr = $2,550; reporting — 1 work-hour × $85/hr = $85; and the FAA lists aggregate operator cost totals per action (e.g., $3,003,900 for all detailed inspections).
Mandatory inspections within 50 hours
Within 50 hours time-in-service after the AD's effective date, you must thoroughly clean the empennage interior and perform detailed visual inspections (using at least 10x magnification) at specific locations including FS 386, FS 409, FS 429, and the vertical stabilizer, plus a general visual inspection of adjacent empennage areas. The AD specifies precise inspection locations (16 listed items) and that inspection of fasteners at FS 386 diagonal braces must check for cracks, elongation, or deformation.
Which Twin Commander planes are covered
This proposed AD applies to Twin Commander models 685, 690, 690A, 690B, 690C, 690D, 695, and 695A — all serial numbers, certificated in any category. If you own or operate one of these airplanes, the rule would require you to follow the inspections and reporting described in the AD.
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Key Dates
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