Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company (Type Certificate Previously Held by Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing (Previously the Lancair Company)) Models LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-550FG Airplanes

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. AD 2009-09-09 currently requires repetitive inspections of the rudder hinges and the rudder hinge brackets for damage, i.e., cracking, deformation, and discoloration. If damage is found during any inspection, AD 2009-09-09 also requires replacing the damaged rudder hinge and/or rudder hinge bracket. This new AD retains the inspection requirements of AD 2009-09-09, adds airplanes to the Applicability section, and adds a terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements. This AD resulted from the manufacturer developing a modification that terminates the repetitive inspections and from the manufacture adding airplane serial numbers into the Applicability section. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage in the rudder hinges and the rudder hinge brackets, which could result in failure of the rudder. This failure could lead to loss of control.