Rule2025-20590
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 21, 2025
Effective
November 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-05-14, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2025-05-14 required repetitively testing the pre-cooler exchanger (PCE) for air leaks and reporting the results, and, depending on findings, inspecting the thermal blankets for damage and replacing the PCE. The FAA issued AD 2025-05-14 to address PCE leaking air, which could result in thermal blanket damage that, if combined with an independent event of engine fire, could lead to a temporary uncontrolled fire. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-05-14, a risk re-assessment has shown that the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that warrants an AD. Accordingly, AD 2025-05-14 is removed.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52560-52562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20590]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5029; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00153-T;
Amendment 39-23201; AD 2025-05-14R1]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
[[Page 52561]]
ACTION: Final rule; removal; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-05-14,
which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD
2025-05-14 required repetitively testing the pre-cooler exchanger (PCE)
for air leaks and reporting the results, and, depending on findings,
inspecting the thermal blankets for damage and replacing the PCE. The
FAA issued AD 2025-05-14 to address PCE leaking air, which could result
in thermal blanket damage that, if combined with an independent event
of engine fire, could lead to a temporary uncontrolled fire. Since the
FAA issued AD 2025-05-14, a risk re-assessment has shown that the
airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that warrants an AD.
Accordingly, AD 2025-05-14 is removed.
DATES: This AD becomes effective November 21, 2025.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by January 5, 2026.
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> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-5029; 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
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tak Kobayashi, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3553; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2c6d3d9d3dadbc1d39cd9ddd0d3cbd3c1dadbf2d4d3d39cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="63170208020b0a10024d080c01021a02100b0a230502024d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-5029; Project
Identifier MCAI-2024-00153-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, 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 Tak
Kobayashi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3553; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ed998c868c85849e8cc386828f8c948c9e8584ad8b8c8cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5c1d4ded4dddcc6d49bdedad7d4ccd4c6dddcf5d3d4d49bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that the FAA receives which
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public
docket for this rulemaking.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, previously
issued EASA AD 2024-0058R2, dated October 4, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-
0058R2), to correct an unsafe condition on all Airbus SAS Model A350-
941 and -1041 airplanes. The FAA issued corresponding AD 2025-05-14,
Amendment 39-22986 (90 FR 12449, March 18, 2025); corrected April 1,
2025 (90 FR 14331) (AD 2025-05-14), for those airplanes, as an interim
AD. AD 2025-05-14 required repetitively testing the PCE for air leaks
and reporting the results, and, depending on findings, inspecting the
thermal blankets for damage and replacing the PCE. AD 2025-05-14 was
prompted by a report indicating that the thrust reverser and pylon
thermal blankets were found damaged due to air leaking from the PCE.
The FAA issued AD 2025-05-14 to address PCE leaking air, which could
result in thermal blanket damage that, if combined with an independent
event of an engine fire, could lead to a temporary uncontrolled fire.
Actions Since AD 2025-05-14 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2025-05-14, EASA issued AD 2024-0058R2-CN,
dated August 20, 2025 (EASA AD 2024-0058R2-CN), to cancel EASA AD 2024-
0058R2. EASA AD 2024-0058R2-CN states that further investigations
confirmed that the fire barrier function of the inner fixed structure
remained effective, and that the observed PCE air leakages are not
impacting the fire detection/extinguishing capability. Consequently,
the subsequent risk re-assessment has determined that the safety issue
addressed by EASA AD 2024-0058R2 does not qualify as an unsafe
condition.
FAA's Conclusions
Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that AD 2025-05-
14 is no longer appropriate. Accordingly, this AD removes AD 2025-05-
14. Removal of AD 2025-05-14 does not preclude the FAA from issuing
another related action or commit the FAA to any course of action in the
future. This AD removes all actions of AD 2025-05-14. Therefore, this
AD terminates all requirements of AD 2025-05-14.
Justification for Immediate Adoption 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 dispense with 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.
The actions required by interim AD 2025-05-14 are unnecessary
because further investigations and the subsequent risk re-assessment
have
[[Page 52562]]
shown that the airworthiness concern addressed by that AD is not an
unsafe condition that warrants an AD. Accordingly, notice and
opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the foregoing reason, 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.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (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 FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.
Related Costs of Compliance
This AD adds no costs. This AD removes AD 2025-05-14 from 14 CFR
part 39; therefore, operators are no longer required to show compliance
with that 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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that 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.
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) 2025-05-14, Amendment 39-22986
(90 FR 12449, March 18, 2025); corrected April 1, 2025 (90 FR 14331),
and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
2025-05-14R1 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23201; Docket No. FAA-2025-
5029; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00153-T.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective November 21, 2025.
(b) Affected AD
This AD replaces AD 2025-05-14, Amendment 39-22986 (90 FR 12449,
March 18, 2025); corrected April 1, 2025 (90 FR 14331) (AD 2025-05-
14).
(c) Applicability
This action applies to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041
airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 36, Pneumatic.
(e) Terminating Action
This AD terminates all requirements of AD 2025-05-14.
(f) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Tak Kobayashi,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 206-231-3553; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4531242e242d2c36246b2e2a27243c24362d2c052324246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b6f7a707a7372687a357074797a627a6873725b7d7a7a357c746d">[email protected]</span></a>.
(g) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on November 19, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-20590 Filed 11-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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