Brazil's civil aviation authority (Autoridade Nacional de Aviação Civil - ANAC) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have issued emergency airworthiness directives (EADs) effective April 20 addressing a potential safety issue affecting Embraer Executive Jets' EMB-545 and EMB-550 models, namely the Legacy 450, Legacy 500, Praetor 500, and Praetor 600, relating to the pitch trim actuator.

ANAC EAD #2026-04-02 follows reports of failures in one load path of the pitch trim actuator on the horizontal stabiliser, detected during scheduled maintenance involving an operational check of pitch trim actuator irreversibility.

“This failure increases the risk of failure on both load paths of the pitch trim actuator, and may leave the aircraft horizontal stabiliser free to move according to aerodynamic loads, which may result in loss of control of the aircraft,” the directive states.

Operators must promptly inspect affected aircraft to confirm correct pitch trim system operation. Where any fault or abnormal behaviour is detected, the aircraft must be grounded until replacement of the defective component and system retesting are completed. Even where no defects are identified, further inspections remain required within defined time limits, with the results reported to the authorities.

The FAA issued EAD #2026-08-52 based on ANAC's EAD, with additional requirements, while the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Transport Canada both issued EADs aligned with ANAC requirements without modification.

Embraer stated that the airworthiness directive “is not associated with any in-service safety events or operational disruptions” and added that it is working closely with authorities. The manufacturer also said a service bulletin and operational guidance were issued in advance of the directive to support data collection and compliance.

The Brazilian manufacturer further stated that the Praetor series' redundant system architecture ensures continued safe operation, that required actions consist of straightforward operational verification, and that the global fleet continues to operate normally, with production aircraft unaffected.

Flexjet is the largest fleet operator of both models, with a total of 112 aircraft comprising four Legacy 500s, seventy-nine Praetor 500s, and twenty-nine Praetor 600s, operated across the United States, Flexjet (Ireland), Flexjet Operations (Malta), and Flexjet Operations (United Kingdom).

NetJets Aviation follows with eighteen Praetor 500s, while Canada's AirSprint Private Aviation operates 17 aircraft, including five Legacy 450s, three Legacy 500s, eight Praetor 500s, and a Praetor 600.