Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

Issuing agencies

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 a finding that severe corrosion could occur on affected slotted nuts located at the wing thrust spigots. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the affected slotted nuts and applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. 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 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64318-64320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20700]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-11803; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01392-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 all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. 
This proposed AD was prompted by a finding that severe corrosion could 
occur on affected slotted nuts located at the wing thrust spigots. This 
proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the affected 
slotted nuts and applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would 
also prohibit the installation of affected parts. 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 November 
23, 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-2026-11803; 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#7435300734111507155a1101061b04155a1101"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="09484d7a496c687a68276c7c7b667968276c7c">[email&#160;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-2026-11803.
    <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: Camille Seay, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-
222-5149; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4221232f2b2e2e276c2e6c3127233b022423236c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b787a767277777e357735687e7a625b7d7a7a357c746d">[email&#160;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-2026-11803; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01392-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 
Camille Seay, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5149; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#583b39353134343d7634762b3d3921183e3939763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a595b575356565f145614495f5b437a5c5b5b145d554c">[email&#160;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 2025-0185, dated August 26, 2025 
(EASA AD 2025-0185) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an 
unsafe condition for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, and A321 series 
airplanes; and Model A320-211, -212, -214, -215, -216, -231, 232, 233, 
-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N 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 manufacturer service 
information states

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that following three in-service occurrences of severely corroded 
slotted nuts that lead to loss of the interfacing portion with the 
spigot sleeve, a risk of complete migration of the spigot sleeve has 
been identified. Further, the MCAI states, following these occurrences, 
it was identified that severe corrosion could occur on slotted nuts 
having part number (P/N) D57250182200 (i.e., affected parts), located 
at the wing thrust spigot of both wings. Corrosion of an affected part, 
if not detected and corrected, could lead to loss or migration of the 
spigot sleeve. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
degraded pylon and wing structure integrity.
    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-2026-11803.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2025-0185 specifies procedures for conducting repetitive 
inspections of each slotted nut having P/N D57250182200 on the left-
hand and right-hand sides (i.e., repetitive general visual inspections 
of the wing spigot fitting area of each wing fitted with an affected 
slotted nut for a migrated or missing spigot sleeve) and corrective 
actions. Corrective actions include contacting Airbus for repair 
instructions and accomplishing those instructions accordingly if the 
spigot sleeve has migrated or is missing. EASA AD 2025-0185 also 
prohibits the installation of affected parts and requires reporting 
inspection results.
    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 2025-0185 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 2025-0185 by reference in the FAA 
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with 
EASA AD 2025-0185 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 2025-0185 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-
0185. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0185 for compliance will be 
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2026-11803 after the 
FAA final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 1,987 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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2 work-hour x $85 per hour = $170 per               $0  $170 per inspection cycle..  $337,790 per inspection
 inspection cycle.                                                                    cycle.
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    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed AD.

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

[[Page 64320]]

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-2026-11803; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-
01392-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 23, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in any 
category, as identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD.
    (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, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -
271NY, -272N, and -272NX airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a finding that severe corrosion could 
occur on affected slotted nuts located at the wing thrust spigots. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address corrosion of affected slotted 
nuts located at the wing thrust spigots of both wings, which could 
lead to loss or migration of the spigot sleeve. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in degraded pylon and wing 
structure integrity.

(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 
2025-0185, dated August 26, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0185).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0185

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0185 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0185 defines a serviceable part as ``any 
slotted nut, eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus 
approved instructions, that is not an affected part'', this AD 
requires replacing that text with ``any slotted nut, eligible for 
installation, that is not an affected part''.
    (3) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0185 states 
``discrepancies are detected, as defined in the AOT'', this AD 
requires replacing that text with ``any migrated or missing spigot 
sleeve is detected''.
    (4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0185.

(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#10515d5f53507671713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f6e62606c6f494e4e01484059">[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 referenced in EASA AD 
2025-0185 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 Camille Seay, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 817-222-5149; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6d5d7dbdfdadad398da98c5d3d7cff6d0d7d798d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c6f6d61656060692260227f696d754c6a6d6d226b637a">[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 2025-0185, 
dated August 26, 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#99d8ddead9fcf8eaf8b7fcecebf6e9f8b7fcec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5e4e1d6e5c0c4d6c48bc0d0d7cad5c48bc0d0">[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#7c1a0e5215120f0c191f081513123c121d0e1d521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="accade82c5c2dfdcc9cfd8c5c3c2ecc2cddecd82cbc3da">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

    Issued on October 6, 2026.
Brian Knaup,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20700 Filed 10-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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