Brazil’s regulatory authority and the FAA have issued emergency airworthiness directives to owners and operators of Embraer Legacy 450 and Praetor 500 midsize business jets due to reports of failures related to the aircraft’s pitch trim actuator.
According to the emergency AD, the failures relate to a load path of the pitch trim actuator of the aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer.
“This failure increases the risk of failure on both load paths of the pitch trim actuator, and may leave the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer free to move according to aerodynamic loads, which may result in loss of control of the airplane,” the FAA said.
In a statement, Embraer said that it is working closely with regulatory authorities following the issuance of the AD.
“The directive stems from isolated findings identified during routine maintenance testing and is not associated with any in‑service safety events or operational disruptions,” the statement says. “Prior to the AD, Embraer proactively issued a Service Bulletin to collect additional in‑service data and an Operational Bulletin outlining an alternative means of compliance, reflecting its disciplined approach to product monitoring and early engagement with regulators. The Praetor’s redundant system architecture ensures continued safe operation, and the required action involves a straightforward operational verification. The global fleet continues to operate normally, and production aircraft are not affected.”
Required actions include replacing the pitch trim actuator should the operational check or pitch trim verification fail.
“This emergency AD was prompted by reports of in-service pitch trim actuator failures on one load path,” it said. “The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address pitch trim actuator failures. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could increase the risk of losing both load paths of the pitch trim actuator, potentially allowing the horizontal stabilizer to move freely under aerodynamic loads, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.”
The AD is an interim action, the FAA said. It will wait on required reports from operators to develop a “final action” for the program.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include Embraer's statement.
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