Beechcraft B300 Super King Air 350 [Arpingstone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
October 6,2025
What’s happening?
On October 2, 2025, the FAA published a new Airworthiness Directive (AD 2025‑20‑11) aimed at certain Textron Aviation aircraft models (specifically B200GT, B200CGT, B300, and B300C). This rule becomes effective October 17, 2025. Its purpose: to address a serious potential defect in the rudder control system.
Why this matters
During a routine production ground run, a rudder control pushrod failed when rivets sheared off. Investigators traced the failure to incorrect rivets that didn’t meet design strength requirements. If not fixed, this flaw could cause a rudder jam or loss of rudder control, risking in‑flight or ground accidents.
Because control of the rudder is critical to aircraft safety and maneuverability, the FAA viewed this as an urgent matter, and opted to issue the directive immediately without prior public notice.
What the directive requires
Owners and operators of the affected Textron models must do the following within 20 hours time in service or 30 days (whichever comes first after Oct 17, 2025):
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Visually inspect the rivets attaching the pilot’s and copilot’s rudder control pushrods, following the procedures outlined in Beechcraft Mandatory Service Letter MTL‑27‑07 (dated July 25, 2025).
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If two soft rivets are found adjacent to each other on a rod end, they must be replaced before further flight with the correct rivet (part number MS20470AD4‑12).
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If one soft rivet and one hard rivet are present, the soft one must be replaced within 200 flight hours or 12 months, whichever comes first.
If an alternative method of compliance is needed, that must be approved by the FAA’s Central Certification Branch.
Who’s affected?
The directive applies to a defined list of serial numbers for the Textron models listed above. In the U.S., 89 aircraft are estimated to be affected.
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The cost for inspection is projected at 8 work‑hours × $85/hour = $680 per aircraft (parts cost is zero for the inspection itself).
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Replacement, if required, is estimated at 16 work‑hours + $65 for parts, or about $1,425 per aircraft (for the units needing the repair).
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Some of these costs may be covered under warranty, depending on manufacturer agreements.
Why it’s being fast‑tracked
Under U.S. law (the Administrative Procedure Act), agencies generally must provide notice and allow public comments before issuing regulations. But when a safety concern is urgent, the FAA can waive that requirement. In this case:
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The FAA judged that the danger posed by a defective rudder system warrants immediate action, even before public input.
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They also determined it was necessary to make this AD effective in fewer than 30 days after publication.
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That said, comments are still encouraged. Stakeholders may submit feedback through November 17, 2025, which the FAA will consider and potentially use to refine this directive.
Where to find the official documents & how to comment
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The full text is published in Federal Register, Vol. 90, No. 189 (Oct 2, 2025), pages 47536–47538.
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The service letter (Beechcraft MTL‑27‑07) is incorporated by reference and can be requested from Textron or accessed via the FAA docket.
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Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, mail, fax, or in person (see regulatory contact details).
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Be sure to reference Docket No. FAA‑2025‑3424 and Project Identifier AD‑2025‑01362‑A when submitting.