Old Twin Commander airplanes must now be inspected for cracks, or grounded

The US aviation regulator proposes new rules for older Twin Commander airplanes. Owners must now inspect the fuselage and tail for cracks, corrosion, or loose parts, and fix any problems found.

Older airplanes can develop fatigue cracks over time, which can lead to structural failure. This rule means that owners of these specific aircraft must actively look for these problems and fix them, rather than waiting for a failure. This shifts the burden of identifying and mitigating a known safety risk directly onto the aircraft owners and operators.