Rule2025-19891
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
November 14, 2025
Effective
December 1, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 218 (Friday, November 14, 2025)</title>
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[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 [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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 <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. 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 <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 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:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f6b986938497829f9998979aa5979093828fb6909797d8919980"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdf2cdd8cfdcc9d4d2d3dcd1eedcdbd8c9c4fddbdcdc93dad2cb">[email protected]</span></a>.
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
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, 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:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#efa09f8a9d8e9b8680818e83bc8e898a9b96af898e8ec1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="561926332437223f3938373a05373033222f1630373778313920">[email protected]</span></a>. 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
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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:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cf8e82808c8fa9aeaee1a8a0b9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1455595b57547275753a737b62">[email protected]</span></a>. 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:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81cef1e4f3e0f5e8eeefe0edd2e0e7e4f5f8c1e7e0e0afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f4bb84918695809d9b9a9598a7959291808db4929595da939b82">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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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