Airworthiness Directives; Eclipse Aviation Corporation Model EA500 Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Eclipse Aviation Corporation Model (Eclipse) EA500 airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the fuel filler adapters for primer and/or paint in the surround and, if present, remove the primer and/or paint. This AD results from an observation during a factory walk-around that the fuel filler surround was primed instead of being bare metal. We are issuing this AD to inspect and, if necessary, remove any paint and/or primer to restore the fuel filler adapter lightning strike protection. A lightning strike on the filler cap with insulating primer on the surround could result in the strike not dissipating to the surround. This could lead to arcing and ignition of fuel vapor inside the fuel tank.