Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 157 (Monday, August 18, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40035-40037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15687]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-1731; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00491-T; 
Amendment 39-23109; AD 2025-16-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus SAS Model A321-271NY airplanes. This AD was prompted by the 
determination that affected parts addressed by other ADs could be 
installed in service on this airplane model. This AD requires 
corrective action if necessary and prohibits the installation of 
affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address unsafe conditions 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 2, 2025.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 2, 
2025.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by October 2, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-1731; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material 
identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 
Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]. 
You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-1731.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3225; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-1731; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2025-00491-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The 
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dan 
Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3225; email: [email protected]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2025-0075R1, dated July 21, 2025 
(EASA AD 2025-0075R1) (also referred to as ``the MCAI''), to correct 
unsafe conditions for all Model A321-271NY airplanes. The MCAI states 
that EASA issued several ADs to address various possible unsafe 
conditions. Those EASA ADs include

[[Page 40036]]

requirements to prohibit installation of affected parts (i.e., certain 
overheat detection system (OHDS) sensing elements, SafeLav gaseous 
oxygen containers (SLOGCs), chemical oxygen generators, and trimmable 
horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs)) on Model A321 series airplanes 
(among other models). Since those EASA ADs were issued, a new airplane 
model, A321-271NY, has been certified, on which the affected parts 
could be installed in service.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address the following unsafe 
conditions:
    <bullet> OHDS sensing elements that do not properly detect thermal 
bleed leak events. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in an air leak remaining undetected by the OHDS at an affected 
position and not being isolated during flight, possibly resulting in 
localized areas of the main landing gear bay and keel beam being 
exposed to high temperatures and consequent reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane.
    <bullet> Missing heat treatment of the actuation pin of the SLOGC, 
which could cause its jamming, with consequent failure of oxygen flow 
activation. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
lack of supplemental oxygen supply in case of decompression in the 
cabin/lavatory, possibly resulting in injury to lavatory occupants.
    <bullet> Poor reactivity of the start powder used inside the 
affected oxygen generators. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could lead to a reduction of the available oxygen capacity of the 
airplane and could result in injury to airplane occupants.
    <bullet> Improper installation of the THSA ball screw jack, which 
can compromise the failsafe design of the THSA. This unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in uncontrolled movement of the 
horizontal stabilizer as a result of a single failure of the THSA and 
consequent loss of control of the airplane.
    <bullet> Erroneous accumulated life information in the THSA release 
certificate, which could lead to operation of the THSA beyond the 
certificated life limit. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in failure of the THSA and consequent reduced controllability of 
the airplane.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-1731.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0075R1, which specifies procedures 
for obtaining approved instructions if an affected part is installed 
and prohibits installation of affected parts. This material is 
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it 
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in 
the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority 
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition 
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD 
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Requirements of This AD

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 
2025-0075R1 described previously, except for any differences identified 
as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation 
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance 
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been 
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, 
EASA AD 2025-0075R1 is incorporated by reference in this AD. This AD 
requires compliance with EASA AD 2025-0075R1 in its entirety through 
that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions 
in the regulatory text of this AD. Using common terms that are the same 
as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2025-0075R1 does not 
mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, 
where the AD requirement refers to ``all required actions and 
compliance times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited 
to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in 
EASA AD 2025-0075R1. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0075R1 for 
compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-
2025-1731 after this AD is published.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment 
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that 
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    There are currently no domestic operators of these products. 
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
unnecessary, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the 
foregoing reason(s), the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The requirements of the RFA do not apply when an agency finds good 
cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without prior notice and 
comment. Because the FAA has determined that it has good cause to adopt 
this rule without notice and comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    Currently, there are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. The FAA 
has received no definitive data on which to base the cost estimate for 
addressing an affected part installed on an airplane, nor has any way 
to determine the number of airplanes that may have an affected part 
installed.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. 
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight 
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an

[[Page 40037]]

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products 
identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2025-16-11 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23109; Docket No. FAA-2025-1731; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00491-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 2, 
2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A321-271NY airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight 
Controls; 32, Landing Gear; 35, Oxygen; 36, Pneumatic.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the determination that affected parts 
addressed by other ADs could also be installed in service on this 
airplane model. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
conditions identified in paragraphs (e)(1) through (5) of this AD.
    (1) Overheat detection system (OHDS) sensing elements that do 
not properly detect thermal bleed leak events. This unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in an air leak remaining 
undetected by the OHDS at an affected position and not being 
isolated during flight, possibly resulting in localized areas of the 
main landing gear bay and keel beam being exposed to high 
temperatures and consequent reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane.
    (2) Missing heat treatment of the actuation pin of the SafeLav 
gaseous oxygen container, which could cause its jamming, with 
consequent failure of oxygen flow activation. This unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in lack of supplemental oxygen supply 
in case of decompression in the cabin/lavatory, possibly resulting 
in injury to lavatory occupants.
    (3) Poor reactivity of the start powder used inside the affected 
oxygen generators. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
lead to a reduction of the available oxygen capacity of the airplane 
and could result in injury to airplane occupants.
    (4) Improper installation of the trimmable horizontal stabilizer 
actuator (THSA) ball screw jack, which can compromise the failsafe 
design of the THSA. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in uncontrolled movement of the horizontal stabilizer as a 
result of a single failure of the THSA and consequent loss of 
control of the airplane.
    (5) Erroneous accumulated life information in the THSA release 
certificate, which could lead to operation of the THSA beyond the 
certificated life limit. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in failure of the THSA and consequent reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2025-0075R1, dated July 21, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0075R1).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0075R1

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0075R1 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0075R1.

(i) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, 
as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of 
the Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, 
Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS's 
EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the 
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone: 206-231-3225; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0075R1, 
dated July 21, 2025.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]. You may find this material on 
the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on August 5, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-15687 Filed 8-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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