Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-03- 08, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2021-03-08 required repetitive inspections for migration of the bushings of the horizontal tail plane (HTP) lateral load fittings (LLFs) on the left- and right-hand sides and terminating repair or modification of any affected bushing. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-03-08, new occurrences of bushing migration on HTP LLFs were reported, and a determination was made that certain repairs can no longer be considered terminating action to the repetitive inspections. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-03-08, removes a certain terminating action, and expands the applicability. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62304-62307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20119]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-1328; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00462-T; 
Amendment 39-23478; AD 2026-20-05]
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) 2021-03-
08, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 
airplanes. AD 2021-03-08 required repetitive inspections for migration 
of the bushings of the horizontal tail plane (HTP) lateral load 
fittings (LLFs) on the left- and right-hand sides and terminating 
repair or modification of any affected bushing. Since the FAA issued AD 
2021-03-08, new occurrences of bushing migration on HTP LLFs were 
reported, and a determination was made that certain repairs can no 
longer be considered terminating action to the repetitive inspections. 
This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-03-08, removes a 
certain terminating action, and expands the applicability. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 5, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 5, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-1328; 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

[[Page 62305]]

8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b4a4f784b6e6a786a256e7e79647b6a256e7e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f0e0b3c0f2a2e3c2e612a3a3d203f2e612a3a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. 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 <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-1328.

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#caaba4aeb8afbde4afe4b3a5bfa4ada6a5bcaf8aacababe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="74151a100611035a115a0d1b011a13181b0211341215155a131b02">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-03-08, Amendment 39-21411 (86 FR 
16038, March 26, 2021) (AD 2021-03-08). AD 2021-03-08 applied to 
certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2021-03-08 
required repetitive inspections for migration of the bushings of the 
HTP LLFs on the left- and right-hand sides and terminating repair or 
modification of any affected bushing. The FAA issued AD 2021-03-08 to 
address combined corrosion and fatigue damage of the primary structure, 
possibly resulting in failure of the HTP LLF and damage to adjacent 
structure, which could result in reduced controllability of the 
airplane.
    The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 17, 2026 
(91 FR 7183). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0073, dated April 
3, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0073) (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 that new occurrences of bushing 
migration on HTP LLF have been reported on airplanes with modification 
110669, which were not in the applicability of EASA AD 2020-0139R1, 
dated July 3, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0139R1). Additionally, it has been 
determined that the repair instructions provided by Airbus Service 
Bulletin A350-55-P013 at any revision can no longer be considered 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in 
AD 2021-03-08, remove a certain terminating action, and expand the 
applicability, as specified in EASA AD 2025-0073. The FAA is issuing 
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-2026-1328.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from the Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA) who supported the NPRM without change.
    The FAA received an additional comment from The Foundation for 
Aviation Safety. The following presents the comment received on the 
NPRM and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request for Clarification of Extended Compliance Time

    The Foundation for Aviation Safety asked why the rulemaking process 
took six years. The commenter further stated, if safety is the top 
priority, conducting immediate inspections of the bushings should have 
been the first step, rather than allowing operators to defer 
inspections for up to six years or thousands of flight cycles.
    The FAA disagrees that the rulemaking process took six years. AD 
2021-03-08 was published on March 26, 2021, to address the unsafe 
condition on all airplanes known to be affected by the unsafe condition 
at that time. After issuance of AD 2021-03-08, new occurrences of 
bushing migration were reported on airplanes that were excluded from 
the applicability of AD 2021-03-08, and it was also determined that 
certain repairs can no longer be considered terminating action to the 
repetitive inspections, as specified in EASA AD 2025-0073. For these 
reasons, the FAA initiated a new rulemaking to supersede AD 2021-03-08.
    The FAA also disagrees that the initial inspection should be 
accomplished immediately. EASA is the State of Design Authority for 
Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. Pursuant to the FAA's 
bilateral agreement with EASA, EASA notified the FAA of the unsafe 
condition described in EASA AD 2025-0073. EASA, as the state of design 
authority for these airplanes, analyzed the data, considered the 
recommendations of the manufacturer, and determined that the initial 
inspection timeframe was appropriate based on the safety implications 
of the identified unsafe condition. The FAA concurs with EASA's 
determination. The FAA has not changed this AD in response to this 
comment.

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 2025-0073 specifies procedures for repetitive detailed 
inspections for discrepancies (e.g., broken sealant and migration) of 
the bushings of the HTP LLF on the left- and right-hand sides, and 
repair or modification of any affected bushings. EASA AD 2025-0073 
specifies that modification of affected bushings terminates the 
repetitive inspections. EASA AD 2025-0073 also requires reporting 
inspection results to Airbus. EASA AD 2025-0073 also provides, for 
certain airplanes, an optional method of compliance for doing the 
initial inspections. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 36 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 62306]]



                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Cost per
               Action                        Labor cost         Parts cost    product     Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained actions from AD 2021-03-08.  10 work-hours x $85 per           $0         $850  $30,600 per inspection
                                       hour = $850.                                       cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                  Estimated Costs for Optional Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Labor cost                 Parts cost     Cost per product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
56 work-hours x $85 per hour =               $23,000             $27,760
 $4,760.............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 93 work-hours x $85 per  Up to $4,480     Up to $12,385.
 hour = $7,905.                 (for four
                                bushings).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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) 2021-03-08, Amendment 39-21411 
(86 FR 16038, March 26, 2021); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

2026-20-05 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23478; Docket No. FAA-2026-1328; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00462-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 5, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2021-03-08, Amendment 39-21411 (86 FR 16038, 
March 26, 2021) (AD 2021-03-08).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in European 
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0073, dated April 3, 
2025 (EASA AD 2025-0073).

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers.

[[Page 62307]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of migration of the bushings of 
the horizontal tail plane (HTP) lateral load fittings (LLFs) on the 
left- and right-hand sides during flight test. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address combined corrosion and fatigue damage of the 
primary structure, possibly resulting in failure of the HTP LLF and 
damage to adjacent structure. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in reduced controllability 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, EASA AD 2025-0073.

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0073

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0073 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where paragraphs (3) and (6) of EASA AD 2025-0073 refer to 
discrepancies, this AD defines discrepancies as broken sealant and 
bush migration.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0073.

(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#5b1a1614181b3d3a3a753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5a1b1715191a3c3b3b743d352c">[email&#160;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 changes to 
procedures or tests 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#70111e140215075e155e091f051e171c1f0615301611115e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="62030c061007154c074c1b0d170c050e0d1407220403034c050d14">[email&#160;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 2025-0073, 
dated April 3, 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#89c8cdfac9ece8fae8a7ecfcfbe6f9e8a7ecfc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="28696c5b684d495b49064d5d5a475849064d5d">[email&#160;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#5137237f383f2221343225383e3f113f3023307f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82e4f0acebecf1f2e7e1f6ebedecc2ece3f0e3ace5edf4">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

    Issued on September 23, 2026.
Brian Knaup,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20119 Filed 9-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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