Proposed Rule2026-06085
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
March 30, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a missing main landing gear (MLG) brake rod center pin nut sub-assembly detected during an inspection. This proposed AD would require, depending on airplane configuration, inspection of the MLG brake rod center pin nut, lock ring, and end plate, inspection of the MLG brake rod center pin and nut, and applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would also require additional work for certain airplanes. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 60 (Monday, March 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15569-15572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06085]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-2729; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00726-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This proposed AD was
prompted by a report of a missing main landing gear (MLG) brake rod
center pin nut sub-assembly detected during an inspection. This
proposed AD would require, depending on airplane configuration,
inspection of the MLG brake rod center pin nut, lock ring, and end
plate, inspection of the MLG brake rod center pin and nut, and
applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would also require
additional work for certain airplanes. The FAA is proposing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 14,
2026.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
[[Page 15570]]
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-2026-2729; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material
identified in this proposed AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b0a0f380b2e2a382a652e3e39243b2a652e3e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e5a4a196a580849684cb8090978a9584cb8090">[email protected]</span></a>. You may find this material on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket
No. FAA-2026-2729.
<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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Younglove, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3644; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#55343b312730227b307b2c3a203b32393a2330153334347b323a23"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e5848b81978092cb80cb9c8a908b82898a9380a5838484cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-2729;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00726-T'' at the beginning of your
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the
proposal, 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 proposal 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 NPRM.
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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Andrew Younglove, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St.,
Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3644; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8beae5eff9eefca5eea5f2e4fee5ece7e4fdeecbedeaeaa5ece4fd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b2a252f392e3c652e6532243e252c27243d2e0b2d2a2a652c243d">[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.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2025-0150, dated July 14, 2025 (EASA
AD 2025-0150) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe
condition for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. The MCAI
states an occurrence was reported of a missing MLG brake rod center pin
nut sub-assembly detected during an inspection. Further investigation
revealed severe corrosion on the threads and splines of the MLG brake
rod center pin and nut sub-assemblies that could have led to the
detachment of the MLG brake rod center pin nut sub-assembly. However,
the root cause investigation is still ongoing. This condition, if not
addressed, could prevent the extension of the MLG, possibly resulting
in damage to the airplane and injury to occupants.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2026-2729.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2025-0150 specifies procedures for detailed visual
inspection of the right-hand (RH) and left-hand (LH) MLG brake rod
center pin nut, lock ring, and end plate for discrepancies (which
include damage to the painted surface, the sealant, or the lockwire;
gaps or separations in the sealant; or external corrosion) and
applicable corrective actions; and detailed visual inspection of the RH
and LH MLG brake rod center pin and nut for discrepancies (which
include corrosion of the pin or nut threads, damage or distortion of
the threads and splines, deep gouges or scratches penetrating the
surface protection, exposure of base material, or need for repair of
the cadmium plating), and applicable corrective actions. Corrective
actions include replacement of the brake rod pin sub-assembly.
EASA AD 2025-0150 introduces additional work for airplanes with any
MLG brake rod pin sub-assembly that has been reinstalled without
reinstalling lockwire and applying sealant. The additional work is
contacting Airbus for instructions and accomplishing those
instructions. EASA AD 2025-0150 also specifies reporting the results of
the inspections (including no findings) to the manufacturer.
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.
FAA's Determination
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 is issuing this NPRM
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2025-0150 described previously, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
[[Page 15571]]
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2025-0150 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2025-0150 in its entirety through that incorporation, except
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of
this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading
of a particular section in EASA AD 2025-0150 does not mean that
operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD
requirement refers to ``all required actions and compliance times,''
compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section
titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 2025-
0150. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0150 for compliance will be
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2026-2729 after the
FAA final rule is published.
Interim Action
The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 3 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators
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Up to 7 work-hours x $85 per hour = $595 $0 Up to $595................ Up to $1,785.
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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
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Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
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20 work-hours x $85 per hour = $30,399 $32,099
$1,700............................
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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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.
[[Page 15572]]
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2026-2729; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-
00726-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by May 14, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0150, dated July 14, 2025
(EASA AD 2025-0150).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing
gear.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of a missing main landing gear
(MLG) brake rod center pin nut sub-assembly detected during an
inspection. The FAA is issuing this AD to address discrepancies of
the MLG brake rod center pin and nut that could lead to detachment
of the MLG brake rod center pin nut sub-assembly. This condition, if
not addressed, could prevent the extension of the MLG, possibly
resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to occupants.
(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, EASA AD 2025-0150.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0150
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0150 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0150 refers to May 9, 2025 (the effective
date of EASA AD 2025-0095), this AD requires using the effective
date of this AD.
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2025-0150.
(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
the Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of
the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#51101c1e12113730307f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6524282a26250304044b020a13">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 referenced in EASA AD
2025-0150 contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, the
instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under an RC
paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD; any paragraphs,
including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, that are not
identified as RC are recommended. The instructions in paragraphs,
including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, 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 instructions identified as RC can
be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition.
Any substitutions or changes to instructions identified as RC
require approval of an AMOC.
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Andrew Younglove,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 206-231-3644; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbbab5bfa9beacf5bef5a2b4aeb5bcb7b4adbe9bbdbabaf5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bddcd3d9cfd8ca93d893c4d2c8d3dad1d2cbd8fddbdcdc93dad2cb">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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 2025-0150,
dated July 14, 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fbbabf88bb9e9a889ad59e8e89948b9ad59e8e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="19585d6a597c786a78377c6c6b766978377c6c">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0d6c29ed9dec3c0d5d3c4d9dfdef0ded1c2d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ccaabee2a5a2bfbca9afb8a5a3a28ca2adbeade2aba3ba">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on March 25, 2026.
Lona C. Saccomando,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-06085 Filed 3-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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