Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 131 (Friday, July 10, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42647-42649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-13982]



[[Page 42647]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-3480; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01031-T; 
Amendment 39-23405; AD 2026-14-04]
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) 2025-10-
12, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -
115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320 series airplanes; Model 
A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, 
-253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes; Model A330-
200 series airplanes; Model A330-300 series airplanes; Model A330-800 
series airplanes; Model A330-900 series airplanes; Model A350-941 and -
1041 airplanes; and Model A380-800 series airplanes. AD 2025-10-12 
required repetitive general visual inspections of the broadband antenna 
adapter plate, skirt, vents, and attachment fittings, and applicable 
corrective actions, and limited the installation of affected parts 
under certain conditions. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-10-12, a new 
Model A321-271NY airplanes has been certified, on which the affected 
parts could be installed in service. This AD continues to require the 
actions in AD 2025-10-12, adds Model A321-271NY airplanes to the 
applicability, and prohibits the installation of affected parts under 
certain conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 14, 2026. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain 
publication listed in this AD as of August 14, 2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-3480; 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-2026-3480.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Ashforth, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2025-10-12, Amendment 39-23046 (90 FR 
22457, May 28, 2025) (AD 2025-10-12). AD 2025-10-12 applied to all 
Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 
airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; Model A321-211, -212, -
213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -
271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes; Model A330-201, -202, -203, 
-223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -841, 
and -941 airplanes; Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes; and Model A380-
841, -842, and -861 airplanes. AD 2025-10-12 required repetitive 
general visual inspections of the broadband antenna adapter plate, 
skirt, vents, and attachment fittings, and applicable corrective 
actions, and limited the installation of affected parts under certain 
conditions. The FAA issued AD 2025-10-12 to address the corrosion and 
cracks on the broadband antenna adapter plate and skirt assembly-
adapter. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to in-
flight detachment of the radome, antenna, and affected parts (e.g., the 
broadband antenna adapter plate, skirt, vents and attachment fittings), 
which could impact the tail section of the airplane, possibly resulting 
in damage and reduced control of the airplane.
    The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2026 
(91 FR 18333). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0120, dated May 
26, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0120) (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 a new model, A321-271NY, has been 
certified, on which affected parts could be installed in service. 
Airbus has released Airbus Service Bulletin A320-44-1103 Revision 03, 
dated February 25, 2026, to include certain Model A321-271NY airplanes. 
EASA AD 2025-0120 is still considered to be an interim action, and 
further EASA AD action may follow.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in 
AD 2025-10-12, add Model A321-271NY airplanes to the applicability, and 
prohibit the installation of affected parts under certain conditions, 
as specified in EASA AD 2025-0120. 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-2026-3480.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from the Airline Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA) who supported the NPRM without change.

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

    EASA AD 2025-0120 specifies procedures for repetitive general 
visual inspections for cracks and corrosion of the broadband antenna 
adapter plate, skirt, vents, and attachment fittings, and, depending on 
findings, corrective actions, including repair or replacement

[[Page 42648]]

of the affected parts. EASA AD 2025-0120 also limits the installation 
of affected parts under certain conditions and requires reporting of 
both positive and negative inspection results after the initial 
inspection and thereafter reporting the positive inspection results 
after each subsequent inspection.
    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.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this AD is an interim action. The FAA 
anticipates that further AD action will follow.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 8 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Action                  Labor cost      Parts cost      Cost per product     Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained actions from AD 2025-   Up to 61 work-              $0  Up to $5,185...........  Up to $20,740.
 10-12 (4 airplanes).             hours x $85 per
                                  hour = $5,185.
New actions (4 airplanes)......  Up to 61 work-              $0  Up to $5,185...........  Up to $20,740.
                                  hours x $85 per
                                  hour = $5,185.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition action that would be required based on the results of any 
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need this on-condition action:

                 Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Labor cost                 Parts cost     Cost per product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 work-hours x $85 per hour =              $10,000             $14,250
 $4,250............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the repairs specified in this AD.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public 
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take 
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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) 2025-10-12, Amendment 39-23046 
(90 FR 22457, May 28, 2025); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

2026-14-04 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23405; Docket No. FAA-2026-3480; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01031-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 14, 2026.

[[Page 42649]]

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2025-10-12, Amendment 39-23046 (90 FR 22457, 
May 28, 2025) (AD 2025-10-12).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes specified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) through (6) of this AD, certificated in any 
category.
    (1) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 
airplanes.
    (2) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
    (3) Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -
252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -271NY, -272N, 
and -272NX airplanes.
    (4) Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, -302, -303, -
321, -322, -323, -341, -342, -343, -841, and -941 airplanes.
    (5) Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes.
    (6) Model A380-841, -842, and -861 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that found corrosion and cracks 
on the broadband antenna adapter plate during an inspection. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the corrosion and cracks on the 
broadband antenna adapter plate and skirt assembly-adapter. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to in-flight 
detachment of the radome, antenna, and affected parts, which could 
impact the tail section of the airplane, possibly resulting in 
damage and reduced control 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 
2025-0120, dated May 26, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0120).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0120

    (1) Where Appendix A in ``the applicable SB'' identified in EASA 
AD 2025-0120 specifies a compliance time ``from SB publication 
date'' or ``from 14 June 2024 [the effective date of the EASA AD 
2024-0106],'' this AD requires using July 2, 2025 (the effective 
date of AD 2025-10-12), except for Model A321-271NY airplanes this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0120 specifies ``14 June 2024 [the 
effective date of EASA AD 2024-0106],'' this AD requires using July 
2, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-10-12), except for Model 
A321-271NY airplanes this AD requires using the effective date of 
this AD.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0120.
    (4) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0120 specifies ``any 
crack and/or corrosion are detected on an affected part'', this AD 
requires replacing that text with ``any crack or corrosion is 
detected on an affected part''.
    (5) Paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0120 specifies to report 
inspection results to Airbus within a certain compliance time. For 
this AD, report inspection results at the applicable time specified 
in paragraph (h)(5)(i) or (ii) of this AD.
    (i) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD.

(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 
AIR-520, 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.
    (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except as required by 
paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if any material contains procedures or 
tests that are identified as RC, those procedures and tests must be 
done to comply with this AD; any procedures or tests that are not 
identified as RC are recommended. Those procedures and tests that 
are not identified as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods 
in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program 
without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the procedures and 
tests identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back 
in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to 
procedures or tests identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Bill Ashforth, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 206-231-3520; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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 2025-0120, 
dated May 26, 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 July 6, 2026.
Brian Knaup,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-13982 Filed 7-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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