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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Type Certificate previously held by Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing (previously The Lancair Company)) Models LC40- 550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-550FG airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively inspect the rudder hinges and the rudder hinge brackets for damage, i.e., cracking, deformation, and discoloration. If damage is found during any inspection, this AD also requires you to replace the damaged rudder hinge and/or rudder hinge bracket. This AD results from reports that cracked lower rudder hinge brackets were found on two of the affected airplanes. 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.