Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23102 · Equipment/furnishings
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model airplanes specified 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, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -271NY, -272N, and -272NX airplanes.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a heavy maintenance check that found elongation on the upper section of the vertical member's assembly at the frame (FR) 24A cargo panel sub-structure. This AD requires a check for certain repairs, and as applicable, repetitive detailed visual inspections of the vertical member's upper part and the upper fittings at FR 24A in the forward cargo compartment and corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -and 232 airplanes: Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD, at the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E. Compliance of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024, do all applicable actions identified as “RC” (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024.
(2) For Model A319-151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes; Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321-251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, -253NY, -271N, -271NX, -271NY, -272N, and -272NX airplanes: Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD, at the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E. Compliance of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024, or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, Revision 01, dated July 2, 2025, do all applicable actions identified as “RC” in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024, or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, Revision 01, dated July 2, 2025.
(1) Where paragraph 1.E. Compliance of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024, Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024, and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, Revision 01, dated July 2, 2025, refer to “the effective date of the AD,” this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where paragraph 1.E. Compliance of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024, and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024, refer to a compliance time “since aircraft entry into service (EIS)” or “since aircraft EIS”, this AD requires replacing that text with “since airplane date of manufacture”.
(3) Where the Conditions column of Table 2 in paragraph 1.E. Compliance of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, Revision 01, dated July 2, 2025; refers to “All aircraft”, this AD requires replacing that text with “All aircraft on which the vertical member has not been repaired as per RDAF and it has not been repaired in accordance with SRM 53-21-29-300-002”.
(4) Where the Conditions column of Table 3 in paragraph 1.E. Compliance of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, Revision 01, dated July 2, 2025; refers to “All aircraft”, this AD requires replacing that text with “All aircraft on which the upper fitting has not been repaired in accordance with SRM 53-21-29-283-003”.
(5) Where paragraph 1.E. Compliance and the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, Revision 01, dated July 2, 2025; specify “should be replaced”, this AD requires replacing that text with “must be replaced”.
Although Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFU, dated September 26, 2024; Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, dated September 26, 2024; and Airbus Service Bulletin A320-25-1CFV, Revision 01, dated July 2, 2025; specify to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
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, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) 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 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 paragraph (j)(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.
For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; email dan.rodina@faa.gov.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
