Airworthiness Directives; Extra Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12684-12686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05169]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-5386; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01227-A; 
Amendment 39-23272; AD 2026-04-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Extra Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Extra Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH (Extra) Model EXTRA NG airplanes. This AD 
was prompted by reports of the canopy opening or detaching in flight 
because of a partially or improperly locked canopy. This AD requires 
replacing the canopy placards and revising the Limitations Section of 
the Pilot Operating Handbook/Airplane Flight Manual (POH/AFM). The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 21, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 21, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5386; 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 EXTRA Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH material identified in 
this AD, contact Extra, Schwarze Heide 21, 46569 H[uuml]nxe, Germany; 
phone: +49 2858 9137 0; email: [email protected].
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5386.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (816) 329-4059; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Extra Model EXTRA 
NG airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
December 10, 2025 (90 FR 57168). The NPRM was prompted by European 
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0156, dated July 21, 2025 
(EASA AD 2025-0156) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, 
which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European 
Union. The MCAI states that there are reports of canopies opening or 
detaching during flight. Further investigation revealed that, in most 
cases, the root cause was a partially or improperly locked canopy. This 
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in canopy 
separation, possibly leading to damage to the airplane structure, loss 
of control of the airplane, or injuries to people on the ground.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing the canopy 
placards and revising the Limitations Section of the POH/AFM. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5386.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

[[Page 12685]]

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. This AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EXTRA Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH Service Bulletin No. 
SB-NG-1-24, Issue A, dated December 19, 2024. This material specifies 
procedures for revising the Limitations Section of the POH/AFM to 
include the newly mandated placard. Compliance shall be accomplished by 
incorporating Revision 16 or later approved revisions of the POH/AFM. 
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 30 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Cost per    Cost on U.S.
                  Action                            Labor cost           Parts cost    product       operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace canopy placards..................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour           $10          $95          $2,850
                                            = $85.
Revise POH/AFM...........................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour             0           85           2,550
                                            = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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,
    (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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2026-04-12 Extra Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH: Amendment 39-23272; Docket 
No. FAA-2025-5386; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01227-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 21, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Extra Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH Model EXTRA 
NG airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 1100, Placards and 
Markings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of the canopy opening or 
detaching in flight because of a partially or improperly locked 
canopy. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and address placards/
design that did not provide adequate positive canopy locking or 
confirmation. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result 
in canopy separation, possibly leading to damage to the airplane 
structure, loss of control of the airplane, or injuries to people on 
the ground.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For airplanes without canopy placard part number (P/N) EX-
01106.01-Canopy installed, within 3 months or 25 hours time-in-
service, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the affected canopy placards at the front and rear canopy 
handles in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS, steps 1 and 2, in EXTRA 
Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH Service Bulletin No. SB-NG-1-24, Issue A, 
dated December 19, 2024 (EXTRA SB-NG-1-24).
    (2) Before next flight, after the replacement of the affected 
canopy placards required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, revise the 
Limitations Section of the existing pilot's operating handbook/
airplane flight manual (POH/AFM) to include canopy placard P/N EX-
01106.01-Canopy in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS, step 3, in 
EXTRA SB-NG-1-24. The owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a 
private pilot certificate may revise the existing POH/AFM for the 
airplane and must enter compliance with the applicable paragraph of 
this AD into the airplane maintenance records in accordance with 14 
CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v).
    (3) Amending the existing POH/AFM by incorporating a later POH/
AFM revision that includes information identical to that required by 
paragraph (g)(2) is an acceptable

[[Page 12686]]

method to comply with the requirements of paragraph (g)(2) of this 
AD.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, do not replace any canopy 
placard with a placard that is not P/N EX-01106.01-Canopy.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, International Validation 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 local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Validation 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 local flight standards district 
office/certificate holding district office.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329-4059; 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 the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) EXTRA Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH Service Bulletin No. SB-NG-1-
24, Issue A, dated December 19, 2024.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EXTRA Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH material identified in 
this AD, contact Extra Aerobatic Aircraft GmbH, Schwarze Heide 21, 
46569 H[uuml]nxe, Germany; phone: +49 2858 9137 0; email: 
[email protected].
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (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 February 19, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-05169 Filed 3-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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