Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27189-27193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09663]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-2552; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00623-T; 
Amendment 39-23339; AD 2026-09-17]
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) 2025-03-
07, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, and A320 
series airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -
231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -
271NX, and -272NX airplanes. AD 2025-03-07 required revising the 
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to 
incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since 
the FAA issued AD 2025-03-07, the FAA has determined that new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues 
to require certain actions in AD 2025-03-07 and requires revising the 
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to 
incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, and 
expands the

[[Page 27190]]

applicability. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 18, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 18, 
2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of March 
21, 2025 (90 FR 9592, February 14, 2025).

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-2552; 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-2025-2552.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tak Kobayashi, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 
206-231-3553; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2025-03-07, Amendment 39-22955 (90 FR 9592, 
February 14, 2025) (AD 2025-03-07). AD 2025-03-07 applied to certain 
Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes; and Model A321-
111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -
271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. AD 
2025-03-07 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection 
program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA issued AD 2025-03-07 to 
address the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in 
combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank 
explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
    The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on September 24, 
2025 (90 FR 45924). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2025-0033, dated 
February 10, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0033) (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 new or more restrictive 
airworthiness limitations have been developed.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing 
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or 
more restrictive airworthiness limitations, and expand the 
applicability, which includes adding Airbus SAS Model A319-173N and 
A321-253NY airplanes, as specified in EASA AD 2025-0033. 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-2025-2552.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from the Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA) and two individuals who supported the NPRM without 
change.
    The FAA received additional comments from The Citizens Rulemaking 
Alliance. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Justify Forgoing Notice and Comment or Issue an NPRM

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA either 
provide its justification for finding good cause to bypass notice and 
comment procedures, or convert non-immediate actions to an NPRM. The 
commenter asserted the FAA has not adequately justified use of the good 
cause exemption to bypass notice and comment and the 30-day delayed 
effective date.
    The FAA notes the comment was submitted in response to an NPRM for 
which the FAA provided a 45-day comment period. This final rule is 
effective 35 days after its publication in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, no change to this AD is necessary.

Request To Make Incorporation By Reference (IBR) Materials Reasonably 
Available

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA add to the 
AD docket Airbus service information that appears to be incorporated by 
reference and include instructions in the Federal Register about how to 
obtain and review that material at no cost. The commenter stated that 
all IBR materials should be freely accessible to the public during the 
comment period.
    The FAA clarifies that this AD incorporates by reference EASA AD 
2025-0033, not the manufacturer service information referenced in EASA 
AD 2025-0033. The FAA posted EASA AD 2025-0033 to the AD docket when 
the NPRM was published in the Federal Register. The FAA notes this AD 
also retains EASA AD 2024-0047, dated February 19, 2024 (for the 
actions retained from FAA AD 2025-03-07), which was previously approved 
for incorporation by reference. That material is available under Docket 
No. FAA-2024-2138. The material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0033 may 
only be posted before the final rule's publication if it is already 
publicly available or if there is written consent from the owner of 
that material. Additionally, the FAA provided notice in the NPRM that 
the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0033 will be available in the 
AD docket after this AD is published. The FAA did not change this AD as 
a result of this comment.

Request To Comply With the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA revise the 
AD to comply with the PRA if reporting is required.
    The FAA notes this AD does not require reporting. If an AD were to 
require reporting, the preamble of the AD would include a paragraph 
titled ``Paperwork Reduction Act'' that would provide the applicable 
OMB control number, required PRA statements, and the estimated time to 
collect the required information (burden). Any costs associated with 
the reporting requirement would be included in the Costs of Compliance 
section in the preamble of the AD. Therefore, the FAA did not change 
this AD as a result of this comment.

[[Page 27191]]

Request To Consider Impact on Small Entities

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA either 
provide the factual basis for its Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 
certification that the AD will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities, or prepare an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis.
    The FAA provides the following clarification. The RFA of 1980 (5 
U.S.C. 601-612), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121) and the Small 
Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-240), requires Federal agencies 
to consider the effects of the regulatory action on small business and 
other small entities and to minimize any significant economic impact. 
The term ``small entities'' comprises small businesses and not-for-
profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are 
not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    This AD will affect 23 domestic entities, of which 8 are small 
entities. The table below displays the industries of the small 
entities, their average annual revenue, and the AD's estimated cost 
burden relative to average annual revenue.

                       Number of Small Entities Affected by Industry and Cost Significance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average      Cost per AD/
           NAICS \1\ Code                    Description          Affected small      annual          annual
                                                                     entities         revenue      revenue  (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
336412.............................  Aircraft Engine and Engine                1      $5,200,000            0.15
                                      Parts Manufacturing.
336413.............................  Other Aircraft Part and                   3       1,565,310            0.49
                                      Auxiliary Equipment
                                      Manufacturing.
481211.............................  Nonscheduled Chartered                    1     246,350,000            0.00
                                      Passenger Air
                                      Transportation.
532411.............................  Commercial Air, Rail, and                 3         769,443            0.99
                                      Water Transportation
                                      Equipment Rental and
                                      Leasing.
                                    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..........................  ...........................               8      32,319,283            0.02
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\1\ North American Industrial Classification System.

    While FAA has determined that this final AD affects a substantial 
number of small entities, the compliance cost of the AD relative to 
each small entity's annual revenue is minimal. The FAA estimates the 
total cost per affect entity to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per 
work-hour), which is 0.02% of the average small entity's annual 
revenue. Therefore, as provided in section 605(b), the FAA certifies 
this AD will not result in a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The FAA did not change this AD as 
a result of this comment.

Request To Provide Additional Cost Information

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA add to the 
AD docket the methodology and assumptions supporting the estimated cost 
of the proposed AD and reopen the comment period for public input on 
the additional cost information. The commenter stated that the FAA 
should also provide the fleet size, per airplane labor and parts cost, 
any assumed downtime or out-of-service impacts, and aggregate costs.
    In the Cost of Compliance section of the proposed AD, the FAA 
disclosed the number of airplanes affected on the U.S. registry, 
estimated number of work hours provided by the manufacturer, and the 
aggregate costs. The FAA did not disclose an estimated parts cost since 
this AD does not require any parts. Additionally, the FAA considered 
the impact that this AD will have on affected operators and determined 
this AD will not trigger any downtime costs because revising the 
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, is an 
administrative action that can be performed without impacting 
operations. Since the FAA has assessed and disclosed the total known 
costs of the AD requirements in the Costs of Compliance section of the 
proposed AD, and the commenter did not provide additional cost data for 
the FAA to consider in its cost analysis, it is not necessary to reopen 
the comment period or provide additional information in the AD docket. 
The FAA did not change this AD as a result of this comment.

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 2025-0033. This material specifies new or 
more restrictive airworthiness limitations for airplane structures and 
safe life limits.
    This AD also requires EASA AD 2024-0047, dated February 19, 2024, 
which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation 
by reference as of March 21, 2025 (90 FR 9592, February 14, 2025).
    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 1,945 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
    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. Therefore, the FAA estimates the average total cost per 
operator for the new actions to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per 
work-hour).

[[Page 27192]]

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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-03-07, Amendment 39-22955 
(90 FR 9592, February 14, 2025); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

2026-09-17 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23339; Docket No. FAA-2025-2552; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00623-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 18, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2025-03-07, Amendment 39-22955 (90 FR 9592, 
February 14, 2025) (AD 2025-03-07).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus SAS airplanes identified in paragraphs 
(c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category, with an 
original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of 
airworthiness issued on or before November 4, 2024.
    (1) Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes.
    (2) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes.
    (3) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (4) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -
251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -253NY, -
271NX, and -272NX airplanes.

(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 or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the potential of ignition sources inside 
fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could 
result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

(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 (i) of AD 
2025-03-07, with a new terminating action. For airplanes with an 
original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of 
airworthiness issued on or before November 6, 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 2024-0047, dated 
February 19, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0047). 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 2024-0047, With no Changes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (j) of AD 
2025-03-07, with no changes.
    (1) This AD does not adopt the requirements specified in 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2024-0047.
    (2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0047 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 March 21, 2025 (the effective date 
of AD 2025-03-07).
    (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in 
paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0047 is at the applicable 
``limitations'' and ``associated thresholds'' as incorporated by the 
requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0047, or within 90 
days after March 21, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-03-07), 
whichever occurs later.
    (4) This AD does not adopt the provisions specified in 
paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2024-0047.
    (5) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0047.

(i) Retained Restrictions on Alternative Actions, Intervals, and 
Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs), With a New 
Exception

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (k) of AD 
2025-03-07, 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), intervals, and CDCCLs are 
allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of 
the ``Ref. Publications'' section of EASA AD 2024-0047.

(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 2025-0033, dated February 10, 2025 (EASA AD 
2025-0033). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance 
or inspection program required by this paragraph terminates the 
requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(k) New Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0033

    (1) This AD does not adopt the requirements specified in 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2025-0033.
    (2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0033 specifies revising ``the 
approved 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 the effective date of this AD.
    (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in 
paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0033 is at the applicable 
``limitations'' and ``associated thresholds'' as incorporated by the 
requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0033, or within 90 
days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.

[[Page 27193]]

    (4) This AD does not adopt the provisions specified in 
paragraphs (4) and (5) of EASA AD 2025-0033.
    (5) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0033.

(l) New Provisions for Alternative Actions, Intervals, and CDCCLs

    After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been 
revised as required by paragraph (j) of this AD, no alternative 
actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, and CDCCLs are allowed 
unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the 
``Ref. Publications'' section of EASA AD 2025-0033.

(m) 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 (n) of this AD and email to: 
[email protected].
    (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.

(n) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Tak Kobayashi, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, 
WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3553; email: [email protected].

(o) 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.
    (3) The following material was approved for IBR on June 18, 
2026.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0033, 
dated February 10, 2025.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) The following material was approved for IBR on March 21, 
2025 (90 FR 9592, February 14, 2025).
    (i) EASA AD 2024-0047, dated February 19, 2024.
    (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 May 1, 2026.
Brian Knaup,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-09663 Filed 5-13-26; 8:45 am]
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