2025-16-10: Flight controls

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-06-18, Amendment 39-19887 (85 FR 18428, April 2, 2020); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2025-16-10 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23108; Docket No. FAA-2025-0755; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00633-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 22, 2025. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2020-06-18, Amendment 39-19887 (85 FR 18428, April 2, 2020) (AD 2020-06-18). (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes identified 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, and -171N 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, -272N, and -272NX airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight controls. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a maintenance repair organization's report of deviations from the component maintenance manual acceptance test procedure for certain trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs). This AD was also prompted by a determination that affected parts could also be installed on Model A321-253NY airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address improper installation of the THSA ball screw jack, which can compromise the failsafe design of the THSA. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontrolled movement of the horizontal stabilizer as a result of a single failure of the THSA, 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 2024-0203, dated October 22, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0203). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0203 (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0203 refers to "02 April 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0073]", this AD requires using "April 2, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-26-18)". (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0203 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (3) Where EASA AD 2024-0203 defines a serviceable part as "Any THSA, eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus instructions, which is not an affected part" this AD requires replacing that text with "Any THSA, eligible for installation, that is not an affected part". (4) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0203. (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) of this AD and email to: [email protected] . 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 For more information about this AD, contact Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3667; email [email protected]. (k) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference 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. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0203, dated October 22, 2024. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) 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. (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected]. Issued on August 4, 2025. Peter A. White, Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2025-15689 Filed 8-15-25; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P