Are there any .htaccess directives that could cause or help resolve this type of fatal error/timeout?

Yes, `.htaccess` can both cause and help resolve. Incorrect `php_value` or `php_flag` directives in `.htaccess` (e.g., setting `memory_limit` too low or with a syntax error) can cause issues. Conversely, you can use `.htaccess` to increase some PHP limits if your hosting allows it (e.g., `php_value max_execution_time 300` or `php_value memory_limit 256M`), but using cPanel's PHP Selector is generally preferred as it's more reliable. Apache-specific timeout directives (like `Timeout`) are usually controlled by the host and not directly editable via `.htaccess` by users.