Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23220 · Flight controls
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-13- 12, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2025-13-12 required replacement of any affected elevator flight control remote module (FCRM), prohibited the installation of aileron or spoiler FCRMs in place of elevator or rudder FCRMs, and limited the installation of FCRMs under certain conditions. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-13-12, the manufacturer developed a modification that eliminates the unsafe condition. This AD continues to require the actions of AD 2025-13-12. This AD also requires installation of the flight control and guidance system (FCGS) primary computer (PRIM) P14.1.3 and secondary computer (SEC) S14.1.2 software standards and prohibits installation of earlier software standards. 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 2025-0197R1, dated September 26, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0197R1).
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0197R1 refers to “07 May 2025 [the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0099],” this AD requires using July 25, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-13-12).
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0197R1 refers to “12 June 2025 [the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0129],” this AD requires using July 25, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-13-12).
(3) Where EASA AD 2025-0197R1 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(4) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2025-0197R1 states “do not swap”, this AD requires replacing that text with “do not replace”.
(5) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0197R1 states “is reported on an aeroplane”, this AD requires replacing that text with “is documented in the aircraft maintenance records or has been reported to Airbus”.
(6) Where table 1 of EASA AD 2025-0197R1 states “close to”, this AD requires replacing that text with “adjacent to”.
(7) Where paragraph (13) of EASA AD 2025-0197R1 specifies installing certain software standards on the airplane in accordance with Airbus approved instructions, for this AD, those instructions must be approved using a method specified in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD.
(8) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0197R1.
Although material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0197R1 specifies 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 of the 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.
(i) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2025-13-12 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2025-0197R1 that are required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(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 (j)(2) of this AD, where the service bulletins referenced in EASA AD 2025-0197R1 contain procedures or tests that are identified as RC, those procedures and tests must be done to comply with this AD; and where the alert operators transmission (AOT) referenced in EASA AD 2025-0197R1 contains paragraphs that are labeled as RC, the instructions in RC paragraphs, including subparagraphs under and RC paragraph, must be done to comply with this AD. Any procedures or tests, and instructions in paragraphs including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, as applicable, that are not identified as RC are recommended. Procedures and tests, and instructions in paragraphs including subparagraphs under those paragraphs, as applicable, 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, tests, and instructions, as applicable, identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures, tests, or instructions, as applicable, identified as RC require approval of an AMOC.
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.
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.
Aircraft
