Proposed Rule2026-18072
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
September 3, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of one engine fire switch self-releasing, causing an uncommanded in-flight shut down to one engine. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, replacement of certain fire panels, and for certain other airplanes, a general visual inspection of certain fire panels, and applicable on- condition actions. This proposed AD would also limit the installation of affected parts under certain conditions.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56601-56604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18072]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 170 / Thursday, September 3, 2026 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 56601]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-8795; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01636-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of one engine fire switch
self-releasing, causing an uncommanded in-flight shut down to one
engine. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes,
replacement of certain fire panels, and for certain other airplanes, a
general visual inspection of certain fire panels, and applicable on-
condition actions. This proposed AD would also limit the installation
of affected parts under certain conditions.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 19,
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-2026-8795; 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#aeefeaddeecbcfddcf80cbdbdcc1decf80cbdb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="37767344775256445619524245584756195242">[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-2026-8795.
<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: Frank Carreras, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3539; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85c3f7e4ebeeabc6e4f7f7e0f7e4f6c5e3e4e4abe2eaf3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="094f7b686762274a687b7b6c7b687a496f6868276e667f">[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-2026-8795;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01636-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 Frank
Carreras, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3539; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#084e7a696663264b697a7a6d7a697b486e6969266f677e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e0a692818e8bcea381929285928193a0868181ce878f96">[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 2025-0274R1, dated July 7, 2026
(EASA AD 2025-0274R1) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -
122 airplanes; A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes; A320-211, -212, -214, -215, -
216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N
airplanes; A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, 252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX, -
253NY, and -271NY airplanes. Model A320-215 airplanes are not
certificated by the FAA and are not included on the U.S. type
certificate data sheet; this proposed AD therefore does not include
those airplanes in the applicability. The MCAI states that there have
been reports of one engine fire switch self-releasing which has caused
an uncommanded in-flight shut down to one engine. This
[[Page 56602]]
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in an in-flight
engine shut down and consequently reduce airplane controllability.
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-2026-8795.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2025-0274R1 specifies procedures, for certain airplanes, to
replace certain fire panels, and for certain other airplanes, to do a
general visual inspection of certain fire panels for damage (scratch or
dent on the front face, bent metal sheet and front face with damaged
(e.g., worn) corners or broken front face, red guard is not aligned
with the fire switch), and applicable on-condition actions (i.e.
sending affected fire panels to the vendor for repair and replacing
affected fire panels). EASA AD 2025-0274R1 also specifies reporting all
inspection results to the manufacturer.
EASA AD 2025-0274R1 also specifies accomplishment of Airbus
Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) task 26-12-12-210-802-A ``General
Visual Inspection (GVI) of the ENG/APU FIRE Panel on an airplane'', is
an acceptable method of compliance for the fire panel general visual
inspection for that affected part.
EASA AD 2025-0274R1 also limits the installation of affected parts
under certain conditions.
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 2025-0274R1 described previously, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
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 2025-0274R1 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2025-0274R1 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 2025-0274R1 does not mean that
operators need to 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-
0274R1. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0274R1 for compliance will be
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>under Docket No. FAA-2026-8795 after the
FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 1,996 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the
following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement...................... 3 work-hours x $85 $13,097 $13,352............ $1,669,290.
(125 airplanes).................. per hour = $255.
Inspection....................... Up to 7 work-hours 0 Up to $595......... Up to $1,113,245.
(1,871 airplanes)................ x $85 per hour =
$595.
Reporting........................ 1 work-hour x $85 0 $85................ $159,035.
(1,871 airplanes)................ per hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Costs for Optional Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 7 work-hours x $85 per hour $0 Up to $595.
= $595.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Replacement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Labor cost Parts cost product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255.... $13,097 $13,352
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 56603]]
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Airbus SAS: Docket No. FAA-2026-8795; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-
01636-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 19, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified in
paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any
category.
(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, -271NX, -
272NX, -253NY, and -271NY airplanes.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 26, Fire
Protection.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of one engine fire switch self-
releasing, causing an uncommanded in-flight shut down to one engine.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address self-releasing engine fire
switches. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in an
in-flight engine shut down and consequently reduce airplane
controllability.
(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
2025-0274R1, dated July 7, 2026 (EASA AD 2025-0274R1).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0274R1
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0274R1 defines a serviceable part as
``Fire panels, eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus
instructions'', for this AD replace that text with ``Fire panels,
eligible for installation''.
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0274R1 specifies ``06 November 2025 [the
effective date of EASA AD 2025-0234],'' this AD requires using the
effective date of this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2025-0274R1 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2025-0274R1.
(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#bcfdf1f3fffcdadddd92dbd3ca"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e3f33313d3e181f1f50191108">[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 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
[[Page 56604]]
changes to procedures or tests identified as RC require approval of
an AMOC.
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Frank Carreras,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 206-231-3539; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5b1d293a353075183a29293e293a281b3d3a3a753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ccafeede2e7a2cfedfefee9feedffcceaededa2ebe3fa">[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 2025-0274R1,
dated July 7, 2026.
(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#e7a6a394a782869486c9829295889786c98292"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3574714675505446541b5040475a45541b5040">[email protected]</span></a>. You may find this material on
the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) For Airbus material identified in this AD, contact Airbus
SAS, Airworthiness Office--EIAS, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2,
31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5
61 93 44 51; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0c1c3c3cfd5ced48ec1c9d2d7cfd2d4c88dc5c1d3e09cc180c8d2c5c69d" http: airbus.com">airbus.com</a>">account.airworth-eas@<a href="http://airbus.com">airbus.com</a></a>; website
<a href="http://airbus.com">airbus.com</a>.
(5) 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.
(6) 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#3f594d1156514c4f5a5c4b5650517f515e4d5e11585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3452461a5d5a47445157405d5b5a745a5546551a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on August 31, 2026.
Brian Knaup,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-18072 Filed 9-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 3, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.