$70,00 Per Aircraft Based On Theory?

The FAA has reopened the comment period for two contentious and potentially very costly proposed ADs. Together, they affect more than a thousand Cessna 401, 402, and 411 model aircraft. They mandate inspection of wingspar caps for fatigue cracks and installation of a Cessna-manufactured spar strap modification kit. Estimates of the cost to comply with the ADs run as high as $70,000 per aircraft. Yikes.

The AOPA and the Cessna Pilots Association oppose the proposed ADs because they are not based on "real-world" reports. The proposed ADs are based entirely on theoretical data from a federally funded engineering analysis done by Cessna. To date, there has not been a history of trouble reports from the field to support the theory.

If the AD were to be issued, both AOPA and CPA say the compliance methods are just too complex to be completed in the field. Aviation maintenance experts say there may be only three maintenance facilities in the country capable of performing the necessary work on the twin Cessnas.

"It's likely to take several years to comply with the provisions of the proposed ADs," said AOPA Director of Regulatory and Certification Affairs Luis Gutierrez. "The resulting aircraft downtime would be devastating to owners and operators of affected aircraft."

FMI: www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/regtwincessna2.html