Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23478 · Stabilizers
Airbus SAS Airplanes
This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0073, dated April 3, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0073).
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-03- 08, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2021-03-08 required repetitive inspections for migration of the bushings of the horizontal tail plane (HTP) lateral load fittings (LLFs) on the left- and right-hand sides and terminating repair or modification of any affected bushing. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-03-08, new occurrences of bushing migration on HTP LLFs were reported, and a determination was made that certain repairs can no longer be considered terminating action to the repetitive inspections. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-03-08, removes a certain terminating action, and expands the applicability. 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, EASA AD 2025-0073.
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0073 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where paragraphs (3) and (6) of EASA AD 2025-0073 refer to discrepancies, this AD defines discrepancies as broken sealant and bush migration.
(3) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0073.
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) 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.
For more information about this AD, contact Andrew Younglove, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3644; email: andrew.e.younglove@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
