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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 2 (Monday, January 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 199-202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-24242]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5395; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01770-T;
Amendment 39-23223; AD 2025-24-51]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus SAS Model A319 and A320 series airplanes; and Model A321-211, -
212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -
271N, -272N, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. This emergency AD was
prompted by an uncommanded and limited pitch down event that occurred
on an Airbus A320 airplane, where the autopilot remained engaged with a
brief and limited loss of altitude. This emergency AD requires
replacement or modification of each affected elevator aileron computer
(ELAC). The emergency AD also prohibits the installation of affected
parts on certain airplane configurations. The FAA previously sent an
emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes.
The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 6, 2026. Emergency AD 2025-24-51,
issued on November 28, 2025, which contains the requirements of this
amendment, was effective with actual notice.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 6,
2026.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by February 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-2025-5395; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> 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#ee8f8d8d819b809ac08f879c99819c9a86c38b8f9daed28fce869c8b88d3" 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>.
<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 8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5312172013363220327d3626213c23327d3626"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e7a6a394a782869486c9829295889786c98292">[email 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-2025-5395.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Knaup, Manager, AIR-520,
[[Page 200]]
Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5390; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9dd2edf8effce9f4f2f3fcf1cefcfbf8e9e4ddfbfcfcb3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="024d72677063766b6d6c636e51636467767b426463632c656d74">[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-2025-5395; Project
Identifier MCAI-2025-01770-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 Brian
Knaup, Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5390; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d798a7b2a5b6a3beb8b9b6bb84b6b1b2a3ae97b1b6b6f9b0b8a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6926190c1b081d00060708053a080f0c1d10290f0808470e061f">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued Emergency AD 2025-24-51, dated November 28, 2025
(Emergency AD 2025-24-51), to address an unsafe condition on all Airbus
SAS Model A319 and A320 series airplanes; and Model A321-211, -212, -
213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271N, -
272N, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. The FAA sent the emergency AD to
all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. The Emergency
AD 2025-24-51 requires replacement or modification of each affected
ELAC with a serviceable ELAC. The emergency AD also prohibits the
installation of affected parts on certain airplane configurations.
Emergency AD 2025-24-51 was prompted by EASA Emergency AD 2025-
0268-E, dated November 28, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E) (also
referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe
condition on all Airbus SAS Model A319 series airplanes; A320-211, -
212, -214, -215, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -
272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232,
-251N, -252N, -253N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271N, -272N, -271NX, and
-272NX airplanes. Model A320-215 airplanes are not certificated by the
FAA and are not included on the U.S. type certificate data sheet; this
emergency AD therefore does not include those airplanes in the
applicability. The MCAI states an Airbus A320 airplane recently
experienced an uncommanded and limited pitch down event. The autopilot
remained engaged throughout the event, with a brief and limited loss of
altitude, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. Preliminary
technical assessment done by Airbus identified a malfunction of the
affected ELAC as a possible contributing factor.
The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address a malfunction of
the affected ELAC. The unsafe condition could lead to an uncommanded
elevator movement that may result in exceeding the aircraft's
structural capability and consequent loss of continued safe flight and
landing.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-5395.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E. This material
specifies procedures for replacing or modifying each affected ELAC with
a serviceable ELAC. EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E also prohibits the
installation of affected parts on certain airplane configurations.
The FAA also reviewed Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT)
A27N022-25, Revision 01, dated November 28, 2025. This material lists
airplane configurations that are part of the Group 1 definition in EASA
Emergency AD 2025-0268-E.
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 described above. The FAA is issuing this
emergency AD after determining that the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
AD Requirements
This emergency AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in
the MCAI described previously.
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,
EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E is incorporated by reference in this
emergency AD. This AD requires compliance with EASA Emergency AD 2025-
0268-E in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any
differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this
emergency AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a
particular section in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E does not mean that
operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the
emergency AD requirement refers to ``all required actions and
compliance times,'' compliance with this emergency AD requirement is
not limited to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance
Time(s)'' in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E. Material required by EASA
Emergency AD 2025-0268-E for compliance will be available at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No.
[[Page 201]]
FAA-2025-5395 after this emergency AD is published.
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 forgo 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.
An unsafe condition exists that required the immediate adoption of
Emergency AD 2025-24-51, issued on November 28, 2025, to all known U.S.
owners and operators of these airplanes. The FAA found that the risk to
the flying public justified forgoing notice and comment prior to
adoption of this rule because malfunction of the affected ELAC could
lead to an uncommanded elevator movement that may result in exceeding
the aircraft's structural capability and consequent loss of continued
safe flight and landing. These conditions still exist, and the AD is
hereby published in the Federal Register as an amendment to 14 CFR
39.13 to make it effective to all persons. Given the significance of
the risk presented by this unsafe condition, it must be immediately
addressed. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment
are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b).
In addition, 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,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and
comment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
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 the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment,
RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this emergency AD affects 2,007 airplanes of
U.S. registry. Of those, approximately 550 airplanes are Group 1
airplanes that may require modification or replacement. The FAA
estimates the following costs to comply with this emergency AD:
Estimated Costs of Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement or modification 3 work-hours x $85 Unknown *.............. $255 $140,250
(Group 1 airplanes). per hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the part cost estimate for the required actions
specified in this emergency 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 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, 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
2025-24-51 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23223; Docket No. FAA-2025-5395;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01770-T.
(a) Effective Date
The FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-24-51
on November 28, 2025, directly to affected owners and operators. As
a result of such actual notice, that emergency AD was effective for
those owners and operators on the date it was received. This
emergency AD contains the same requirements as that emergency AD
and, for those who did not receive actual notice, is effective on
January 6, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This emergency AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified
in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this emergency AD, certificated
in any category.
(1) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -
151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes.
(2) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -
252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(3) Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N,
-251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271N, -272N, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight
controls.
[[Page 202]]
(e) Unsafe Condition
This emergency AD was prompted by an uncommanded and limited
pitch down event that occurred on an Airbus A320 airplane, where the
autopilot remained engaged with a brief and limited loss of
altitude. The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address a
malfunction of the affected elevator aileron computer (ELAC). The
unsafe condition could lead to an uncommanded elevator movement that
may result in exceeding the aircraft's structural capability and
consequent loss of continued safe flight and landing.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this emergency AD within the compliance times
specified, unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this emergency AD:
Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in,
and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
Emergency AD 2025-0268-E, dated November 28, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD
2025-0268-E).
(h) Exceptions to EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E
(1) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E refers to its effective
date, this emergency AD requires using the effective date of this
emergency AD.
(2) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E specifies a compliance
time of before next flight after the effective date of this AD, this
emergency AD requires a compliance time of before further flight
after the effective date of this emergency AD.
(3) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E defines Group 1
airplanes as those having an affected ELAC installed and being in
one of the configurations defined in the AOT, this emergency AD
defines Group 1 airplanes as those having an affected ELAC installed
and being in one of the configurations defined in paragraph 1 of
Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A27N022-25, Revision 01,
dated November 28, 2025.
(4) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0268-E specifies a ferry flight
is permitted, this emergency AD allows special flight permits to be
issued in accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the
airplane without passengers and in non-ETOPS operations to a
location where the airplane can be modified (if the operator elects
to do so), for no more than 3 flight cycles.
(i) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this emergency AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this emergency 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
emergency AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#42030f0d01022423236c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0445494b47446265652a636b72">[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
emergency 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 the
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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
paragraphs (i)(2) of this emergency AD, if any material referenced
in Emergency AD 2025-0268-E that 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 emergency 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 emergency AD, contact Brian
Knaup, Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA,
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 817-222-5390;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f1be8194839085989e9f909da29097948588b1979090df969e87"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5817283d2a392c31373639340b393e3d2c21183e3939763f372e">[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) Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) A27N022-25,
Revision 01, dated November 28, 2025.
(ii) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD
2025-0268-E, dated November 28, 2025.
(3) 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#96f7f5f5f9e3f8e2b8f7ffe4e1f9e4e2febbf3f7e5d6aaf7b6fee4f3f0ab" 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>.
(4) 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#56171225163337253778332324392637783323"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="09484d7a496c687a68276c7c7b667968276c7c">[email protected]</span></a>. You may find this material on
the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(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#5b3d29753235282b3e382f3234351b353a293a753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7513075b1c1b06051016011c1a1b351b1407145b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on December 17, 2025.
Lona C. Saccomando,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-24242 Filed 1-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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Document
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A319 and A320 series airplanes; and Model A321-211, - 212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N,...
Legal Citation
Federal Register Citation
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 199
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes,” thefederalregister.org (January 5, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2025-24242/airworthiness-directives-airbus-sas-airplanes.