Emergency AD for King Air 350 Wing Spar Issued by FAA — Effective Immediately
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a critical Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2026-15-05 for Textron Aviation’s King Air 350 and 350C (Model B300 and B300C), effective August 10, 2026 — today. This directive aims to tighten inspection intervals for the wing spar and wing-to-fuselage attach structure, with the goal of detecting cracks before they pose a safety hazard. It is estimated that this will affect 113 U.S.-registered aircraft.
In an unusual turn of events, the problem was identified by Textron Aviation itself. The company’s own Airworthiness Limitations Manual had previously listed incorrect wing-inspection intervals for aircraft operating at the heavier 16,500 lb maximum takeoff weight. Textron’s revised Structural Inspection and Repair Manual (SIRM) now provides separate inspection schedules for 15,000 lb and 16,500 lb variants, based on the number of flight hours accumulated.
Given the urgency of the situation — with some aircraft already overdue under the corrected intervals — the FAA invoked the good-cause exception to bypass the standard public comment period before issuing the directive. Operators must comply within a 25-hour or 30-day window, depending on the aircraft configuration. The FAA is accepting comments on the AD through September 8, 2026. This directive serves as a potent reminder that even well-established turboprop platforms require rigorous, ongoing structural scrutiny.
Source: GlobalAir.com – King Air 350 Wing-Spar AD (August 4, 2026)