Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8374-8377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03503]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-1112; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00027-T; 
Amendment 39-23256; AD 2026-03-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-08-
05, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 
Freighter, and A330-300 series airplanes; and Model A330-841 and A330-
941 airplanes. AD 2024-08-05 required revising the existing maintenance 
or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2024-08-
05, the FAA has determined that additional new and more restrictive 
airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require 
certain actions in AD 2024-08-05 until the existing maintenance or 
inspection program, as applicable, is revised to incorporate the new 
and more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 30, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 30, 
2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of July 
19, 2024 (89 FR 50505, June 14, 2024).

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-1112; 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 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    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-2025-1112.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Carreras, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3539; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2024-08-05, Amendment 39-22738 (89 FR 
50505, June 14, 2024) (AD 2024-08-05). AD 2024-08-05 applied to certain 
Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, and A330-300 series 
airplanes; and Model A330-841 and

[[Page 8375]]

A330-941 airplanes. AD 2024-08-05 required revising the existing 
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or 
more restrictive airworthiness limitations (specified in Airbus A330 
Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS), Part 3, Certification 
Maintenance Requirements (CMRs), Revision 08, dated October 2, 2023). 
The FAA issued AD 2024-08-05 to correct an unsafe condition identified 
as a safety-significant latent failure (that is not annunciated) that, 
in combination with one or more other specific failures or events, 
could result in hazardous or catastrophic failure condition.
    The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2025 (90 
FR 26460). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2025-0012, dated January 13, 
2025, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union (EASA AD 2025-0012) (also referred to as 
the MCAI). The MCAI states that new and/or more restrictive 
airworthiness limitations (specified in A330 ALS, Part 3, CMRs, 
Revision 09, dated October 1, 2024) for CMRs related to the air cooling 
temperature control and pneumatic system have been developed.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require certain 
actions in AD 2024-08-05 until the existing maintenance or inspection 
program, as applicable, is revised to incorporate the new and more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in EASA AD 2025-
0012. The FAA is issuing this AD to address a safety-significant latent 
failure (that is not annunciated) that, in combination with one or more 
other specific failures or events, could result in hazardous or 
catastrophic failure condition.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-1112.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA) and an individual who supported the NPRM without 
change.
    The FAA received an additional comment from Delta Air Lines 
(Delta). The following presents the comment received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response.

Request To Supersede AD 2022-17-08

    Delta requested that the FAA remove paragraph (b)(2) and the 
terminating action in paragraph (m) from the proposed AD and instead 
supersede FAA AD 2022-17-08, Amendment 39-22146 (87 FR 54865, September 
8, 2022) (AD 2022-17-08), to terminate the requirements corresponding 
to paragraphs (4) through (8) of EASA AD 2021-0281, dated December 17, 
2021 (EASA AD 2021-0281). Delta noted that EASA issued EASA AD 2021-
0281R2, dated January 31, 2025, to rescind those corresponding 
requirements because they were incorporated into A330 ALS, Part 3, 
CMRs, Revision 09, dated October 1, 2024. Delta stated the terminating 
action in paragraph (m) of the proposed AD is misleading because the 
applicability in paragraph (c) of the proposed AD only applies to 
airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export 
certificate of airworthiness issued on or before October 1, 2024. Based 
on this, Delta concluded airplanes with an original airworthiness 
certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued 
after October 1, 2024, must continue to comply with FAA AD 2022-17-08. 
Delta asserted that superseding FAA AD 2022-17-08 will make it clear 
that all airplanes applicable to AD 2022-17-08 no longer need to comply 
with the requirements in paragraphs (4) through (8) of EASA AD 2021-
0281.
    The FAA agrees that revising the existing maintenance or inspection 
program, as required by paragraph (j) of this AD, terminates the 
provisions in paragraphs (4) through (7) of EASA AD 2021-0281, for all 
Airbus SAS Model A330-330-201, -202, -203, -223, -223F, -243, -243F, -
301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes 
regardless of when the original airworthiness certificate or original 
export certificate of airworthiness was issued. The FAA also 
acknowledges the applicability discrepancy between this AD and AD 2022-
17-08. The FAA notes this discrepancy is addressed by global AMOC 523-
25-00060a, dated October 28, 2025. That AMOC approves incorporation of 
A330 ALS, Part 3, CMRs, Revision 09, or later revisions, as a 
terminating action for Airbus All Operators Transmission (AOT) A36L004-
20, Revision 01, dated October 27, 2021, which corresponds to 
paragraphs (4) through (7) of EASA AD 2021-0281. Since AMOC 523-25-
00060a addresses Delta's concern, the FAA has determined no change to 
this AD is necessary in this regard.

Conclusion

    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 reviewed the relevant 
data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 
None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0012, which specifies new and more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations for airplane structures.
    This AD also requires EASA AD 2023-0199, dated November 17, 2023, 
which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation 
by reference as of July 19, 2024 (89 FR 50505, June 14, 2024).
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 158 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
    The FAA estimates the cost per operator for the retained action 
from AD 2024-08-05 to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
    The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or 
inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, 
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator 
to operator. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection 
program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined 
that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane 
estimate.
    The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the new actions 
to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).

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

[[Page 8376]]

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,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-08-05, Amendment 39-22738 
(89 FR 50505, June 14, 2024); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

2026-03-07 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23256; Docket No. FAA-2025-1112; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00027-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 30, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    (1) This AD replaces AD 2024-08-05, Amendment 39-22738 (89 FR 
50505, June 14, 2024) (AD 2024-08-05).
    (2) This AD affects AD 2022-17-08, Amendment 39-22146 (87 FR 
54865, September 8, 2022) (AD 2022-17-08).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, 
-223F, -243, -243F, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, 
-343, -841, and -941 airplanes, certificated in any category, with 
an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate 
of airworthiness issued on or before October 1, 2024.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/
Maintenance Checks.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination that new and more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address a safety-significant latent failure (that 
is not annunciated) that, in combination with one or more other 
specific failures or events, could result in hazardous or 
catastrophic failure condition.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Retained Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection 
Program, With a New Terminating Action

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (p) of AD 
2024-08-05, with a new terminating action. For airplanes with an 
original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of 
airworthiness issued on or before October 2, 2023: 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 2023-0199, dated 
November 17, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0199). Accomplishing the revision of 
the existing maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph 
(j) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.

(h) Retained Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0199, With No Changes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (q) of AD 
2024-08-05, with no changes.
    (1) This AD does not adopt the requirements specified in 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2023-0199.
    (2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023-0199 specifies revising ``the 
AMP'' within 12 months after its effective date, but this AD 
requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, within 90 days after July 19, 2024 (the effective date 
of AD 2024-08-05).
    (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in 
paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023-0199 is at the applicable ``associated 
thresholds'' as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of 
EASA AD 2023-0199, or within 90 days after July 19, 2024 (the 
effective date of AD 2024-08-05), whichever occurs later.
    (4) This AD does not adopt the provisions specified in 
paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2023-0199.
    (5) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2023-0199.
    (6) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-
0199 specifies the compliance time for tasks 282400-G0001-1-C and 
282400-P0001-1-C as ``24 Months from the Effective Date of the EASA 
Airworthiness Directive that is expected to be issued to mandate 
this change, without exceeding the current 29,000 FH,'' this AD 
requires using within 24 months after July 19, 2024 (the effective 
date of AD 2024-08-05), without exceeding the current 29,000 flight 
hour interval.

(i) Retained Provisions on Alternative Actions and Intervals, With a 
New Exception

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (r) of AD 
2024-08-05, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph 
(j) of this AD, after the existing maintenance or inspection program 
has been revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no 
alternative actions (e.g., inspections) and intervals are allowed 
unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the 
``Ref. Publications'' section of EASA AD 2023-0199.

(j) New Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program

    Except as specified in paragraph (k) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, EASA AD 2025-0012, dated January 13, 2025 (EASA AD 
2025-0012). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance 
or inspection program required by this paragraph terminates the 
requirements of paragraphs (g) of this AD.

(k) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0012

    (1) This AD does not adopt paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of 
EASA AD 2025-0012.
    (2) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0012 specifies revising 
``the AMP'' within 12 months after its effective date, this AD 
requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD.
    (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in 
paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0012 is at the applicable ``associated 
thresholds'' as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of 
EASA AD 2025-0012, or within 90 days after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs later.
    (4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0012.
    (5) Where the Compliance Time column of the table in the service 
information referenced in EASA AD 2025-0012 refers to ``01 December 
2025 (Corresponding to the 24 Months from the Effective Date of the 
EASA Airworthiness Directive No.: 2023-0199), without exceeding the 
current 29 000 FH,'' this AD requires using within 24 months after 
July 19, 2024 (the effective date of AD 2024-08-05), without 
exceeding the current 29,000 flight hour interval.
    (6) Where the Compliance Time column of the table in the 
material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0012 refers to ``the Effective 
Date of

[[Page 8377]]

the EASA Airworthiness Directive that is expected to be issued to 
mandate these changes,'' this AD requires using the effective date 
of this AD.

(l) New Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals

    After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been 
revised as required by paragraph (j) of this AD, no alternative 
actions (e.g., inspections) and intervals are allowed unless they 
are approved as specified in the ``Ref. Publications'' section of 
EASA AD 2025-0012.

(m) Terminating Action for AD 2022-17-08

    For Model A330-330-201, -202, -203, -223, -223F, -243, -243F, -
301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes: 
Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (j) of this AD 
terminates the provisions in paragraphs (4) through (7) of EASA AD 
2021-0281, dated December 17, 2021, that are required by paragraph 
(g) of AD 2022-17-08.

(n) 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 (o) 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.

(o) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Frank Carreras, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 312-203-5670; email: [email protected].

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material (IBR) 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.
    (3) The following material was approved for IBR on March 30, 
2026.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0012, 
dated January 13, 2025.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) The following material was approved for IBR on July 19, 2024 
(89 FR 50505, June 14, 2024).
    (i) EASA AD 2023-0199, dated November 17, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (5) 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.
    (6) 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.
    (7) 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 February 2, 2026.
Lona C. Saccomando,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03503 Filed 2-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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