Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23127 · Landing gear
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 determination that a batch of main landing gear (MLG) aft pintle pins did not have nickel plating applied to the inner bore during manufacturing. This AD requires replacing affected parts with serviceable parts and also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
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 2025-0167, dated July 30, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0167).
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0167 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0167 defines a serviceable part as “MLG Aft Pintle Pin eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus instructions, which is not an affected part”, this AD requires replacing that text with “MLG Aft Pintle Pin eligible for installation, which is not an affected part”.
(3) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2025-0167 specifies to replace an affected part “in accordance with the instructions of the AOT”, this AD requires replacing that text with “in accordance with paragraphs 5.5 of the instructions of the AOT”.
(4) Where the definition of affected part in EASA AD 2025-0167 specifies “a serial number as listed in the Appendix 1 of the AOT, as defined in this AD”, this AD requires replacing that text with “a serial number as listed in the Appendix 1 of Airbus AOT A32N036-25, dated July 23, 2025”.
(5) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0167.
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 Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) 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 referenced in EASA AD 2025-0167 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 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.
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.
