The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-16- 12, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A319-151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes; Model A320-251N, -252N, -253...
[Docket No. FAA-2026-3874; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01426-T; Amendment 39-23425; AD 2026-15-13]
RIN 2120-AA64
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-16-12, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A319-151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes; Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX, -253NY, and -271NY airplanes. AD 2025-16-12 required revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) and the existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL), allowed replacement of each affected high-pressure bleed valve (HPV) as an optional terminating action, and prohibited the installation of affected parts. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-16-12, the FAA has determined that repetitive replacement of the HPV clips is necessary to address the unsafe condition. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2025-16-12 and requires repetitive replacement of each affected HPV clip. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
This AD is effective September 2, 2026.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 29, 2025 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)).
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket:
You may examine the AD docket at
regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2026-3874; 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:
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; emailADs@easa.europa.eu.
You may find this material on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu.
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 atregulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2026-3874.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank Carreras, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3539; email:
Frank.Carreras@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2025-16-12, Amendment 39-23110 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)) (AD 2025-16-12). AD 2025-16-12 applied to all Airbus SAS Model A319-151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes; Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX, -253NY, and -271NY airplanes. AD 2025-16-12 required revising the existing AFM and the existing FAA-approved MEL, allowed replacement of each affected HPV as an optional terminating action, and prohibited the installation of affected parts. The FAA issued AD 2025-16-12 to address high pressure and temperatures in the duct downstream from the pressure regulating valve, which could lead to duct burst and result in damage to several systems or the airframe and consequent loss of control of the airplane.
The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register
on April 29, 2026 (91 FR 23025). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0096, dated April 28, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0096) (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 occurrences were reported of HPV butterfly seal retention clip rupture, which causes the butterfly seals to no longer be retained in the butterfly groove. This may increase internal leakage, triggering an alert that the HPV has failed in the open condition. It may also release foreign object debris, which could damage the systems (
e.g.,
engine bleed air system and pneumatic system) downstream from the HPV on the engine pylon and wing.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in AD 2025-16-12 and require repetitive replacement of each affected HPV clip, as specified in EASA AD 2025-0096. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at
regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2026-3874.
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.
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
( printed page 47787)
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
This AD requires EASA AD 2025-0096, dated April 28, 2025, which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of August 29, 2025 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)).
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 554 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
Action
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per
product
Cost on U.S.
operators
Retained actions from AD 2025-16-12
2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170
$0
$170
$94,180
New actions
5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425
383
808
447,632
Estimated Costs for Optional Terminating Action
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per product
32 work-hours × $85 per hour = $2,720
$2,800
$5,520
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:
(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.
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 2, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2025-16-12, Amendment 39-23110 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)) (AD 2025-16-12).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this AD, certificated in any category.
(1) Model A319-151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes.
(2) Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes.
(3) Model A321-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX, -253NY, and -271NY airplanes.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 36, Pneumatic.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by occurrences of high-pressure bleed valve (HPV) butterfly seal retention clip rupture. The FAA is issuing this AD to address high pressure and temperatures in the duct downstream from the pressure regulating valve, which could lead to duct burst and result in damage to several systems or the airframe and consequent loss of control 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, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0096, dated April 28, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0096).
( printed page 47788)
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0096
(1) Where paragraphs (1) and (6.2) of EASA AD 2025-0096 refer to its effective date, this AD requires August 29, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-16-12).
(2) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0096 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where paragraphs (1) and (3) of EASA AD 2025-0096 specify to “inform all flight crews, and, thereafter, operate the aeroplane accordingly,” this AD does not require those actions as those actions are already required by existing FAA operating regulations (see 14 CFR 91.9, 91.505, 121.137, and 121.628(a)(2) and (a)(5)).
(4) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0096 specifies to “implement the instructions of the MMEL update, as applicable, depending on aeroplane configuration (see Note 1 of this AD), on the basis of which the operator's MEL must be amended”, this AD requires replacing that text with “revise the operator's existing FAA-approved MEL by incorporating the applicable information identified in “The MMEL update” as defined in EASA AD 2025-0096”.
(5) Where the service information required by EASA AD 2025-0096 specifies discarding parts, this AD requires removing those parts from service.
(6) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0096.
(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)(1) of this AD and email to:
AMOC@faa.gov.
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
(1) 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:
Frank.Carreras@faa.gov.
(2) For Airbus material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference, 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
account.airworth-eas@airbus.com;
website
airbus.com.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) 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.
(3) The following material was approved for IBR on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)).
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0096, dated April 28, 2025.
(ii) [Reserved]
(4) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
ADs@easa.europa.eu.
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.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 47786
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes,” thefederalregister.org (July 29, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-15308/airworthiness-directives-airbus-sas-airplanes.