Airworthiness Directives; Eclipse Aviation Corporation Model EA500 Airplanes

The FAA is superseding emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-13-51, which currently applies to all owners/operators of Eclipse Aviation Corporation (Eclipse) Model EA500 airplanes that received the emergency AD by letter issued June 12, 2008. Emergency AD 2008-13-51 requires owner/operators to insert temporary revisions into the emergency and normal procedures sections of the airplane flight manual (AFM), do a pilot evaluation of the throttles with replacement as necessary, and report the evaluation results to the FAA. Emergency AD 2008-13-51 was the result of the throttle position exceeding its maximum range. Since issuing that AD, Eclipse developed an FAA-approved test procedure and issued Eclipse Aviation Alert Service Bulletin SB 500-76-001, REV B, dated July 22, 2008. The service bulletin provides a standardized procedure for testing and modifying (as applicable) the throttle lever with replacement as necessary. We are issuing this AD to mandate the actions in this service bulletin to be done by a person authorized to perform maintenance and reduce the likelihood of the throttle position signal exceeding its maximum range, which could cause loss of left and right engine control. This condition could result in the inability to maintain desired airspeed and/or altitude with consequent loss of control.