Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 218 (Friday, November 14, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51019-51021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19891]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-4002; Project Identifier AD-2025-01671-T; 
Amendment 39-23193; AD 2025-23-51]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company 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 
The Boeing Company Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by an accident where the left-hand engine and pylon detached 
from the airplane during takeoff. This AD prohibits further flight 
until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions 
are performed using a method approved by the FAA. The FAA previously 
sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these 
airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective on December 1, 2025. Emergency AD 2025-23-
51, issued on November 8, 2025, which contains the requirements of this 
amendment, was effective with actual notice.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by December 29, 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 by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2025-4002; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Knaup, Manager, AIR-520, 
Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5390; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments using a method listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-4002; Project 
Identifier AD-2025-01671-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,

[[Page 51020]]

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 Brian Knaup, 
Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5390; email: 
[email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued Emergency AD 2025-23-51, dated November 8, 2025 
(Emergency AD 2025-23-51), to address an unsafe condition on all The 
Boeing Company Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. The FAA sent the 
emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. 
Emergency AD 2025-23-51 prohibits further flight until the airplane is 
inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a 
method approved by the FAA.
    Emergency AD 2025-23-51 was prompted by an accident where the left-
hand engine and pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff. The 
cause of the detachment is currently under investigation. This 
condition could result in loss of continued safe flight and landing.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the 
unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the 
same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD prohibits further flight until the airplane is inspected 
and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method 
approved by the Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, 
FAA.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. If final action 
is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking then.

FAA's Justification 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 forgo 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.
    An unsafe condition exists that required the immediate adoption of 
Emergency AD 2025-23-51 issued on November 8, 2025, to all known U.S. 
owners and operators of these airplanes. The FAA found that the risk to 
the flying public and safety in air commerce justified forgoing notice 
and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the severity of the 
unsafe condition necessitates prohibiting further flight until the 
airplane is inspected and the applicable corrective actions are 
performed. These conditions still exist, and the AD is hereby published 
in the Federal Register as an amendment to 14 CFR 39.13 to make it 
effective to all persons. Given the significance of the risk presented 
by this unsafe condition, it must be immediately addressed. 
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(b).
    In addition, 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, 
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and 
comment.

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

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 109 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA has no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the inspection and corrective actions specified in this 
AD.

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 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.

Adoption of 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:

2025-23-51 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-23193; Docket No. FAA-
2025-4002; Project Identifier AD-2025-01671-T.

(a) Effective Date

    The FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-23-51 
on November 8, 2025, directly to affected owners and operators. As a 
result of such actual notice, that emergency AD was effective for 
those owners and operators on the date it was received. This AD 
contains the same requirements as that emergency AD and, for

[[Page 51021]]

those who did not receive actual notice, is effective on December 1, 
2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model MD-11 and MD-11F 
airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 54, Nacelles/
pylons.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an accident where the left-hand engine 
and pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff. The cause of 
the detachment is currently under investigation. The unsafe 
condition could result in loss of continued safe flight and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection and Other Action

    As of the effective date of this AD, further flight is 
prohibited until the airplane is inspected and all applicable 
corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the 
Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA.

(h) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 
21.199, are not allowed unless approved in accordance with the 
procedures specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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. Information may be emailed to: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office/
certificate holding district office.
    (2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair, modification, or alteration required by this AD 
if it is approved by The Boeing Company Organization Designation 
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, to make those 
findings. To be approved, the repair method, modification deviation, 
or alteration deviation must meet the certification basis of the 
airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Brian Knaup, 
Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5390; email: 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on November 12, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-19891 Filed 11-13-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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