AVweb has received a response through FAA spokesman Les Dorr regarding Cessna’s announcement last month that recommended operators of Cessna 441 Conquest II twin tuboprops comply with a life limit of 22,500 hours flown. Cessna based its action on “data from test articles and from field reports,” according to Cessna spokeswoman Pia Bergqvist. The FAA’s Dorr said that the FAA does not usually review or approve Supplemental Inspection Documents (SID), like the one Cessna used to recommend the life limit. He added that the FAA is currently evaluating the 441 and unless the FAA issues an Airworthiness Directive that mandates compliance, operators can do as they wish with regard to a life limit on the Conquest II. Dorr noted that some situations, such as a part 135 specification that requires the operator to comply with SID’s would require that operator to adhere to the new limit to maintain its operating certificate “regardless of whether an AD were issued.”
FAA Clarifies Cessna’s Life Limit For The 441 Conquest II
Key Takeaways:
- Cessna recommended a 22,500-hour life limit for its 441 Conquest II twin turboprops based on test data and field reports.
- The FAA typically does not review or mandate compliance with such Supplemental Inspection Documents (SIDs) unless an Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued.
- However, certain operators, such as those under Part 135, may be required by their operating specifications to comply with SIDs to maintain their operating certificate.
See a mistake? Contact us.
