Stunning and Bizarre Circumstances Led To Loss Of STUDENT PILOT

On April 23, 2020, at 2139 mountain daylight time (MDT), radar contact was lost with a Piper Aerostar 601X, N601X. The airplane was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Craig, Colorado. The uncertificated (student rated) pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was not equipped with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which was required for operations in airspace that included class E airspace at or above 10,000 ft. The flight had not been operating on a flight plan and had no communications with air traffic control as required when it operated in class A airs

AD 2020-09-04 Issued For Unsafe Cracks In Flap Actuators

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for AERMACCHI S.p.A. Models F.260, F.260B, F.260C, F.260D, F.260E, and F.260F airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracks on the body of the flap actuators. The FAA is issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective May 7, 2020.