2025-20-05: Wings

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) 2023-14-09, Amendment 39-22509 (88 FR 51227, August 3, 2023); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2025-20-05 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23158; Docket No. FAA-2025-0340; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00462-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 30, 2025. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2023-14-09, Amendment 39-22509 (88 FR 51227, August 3, 2023) (AD 2023-14-09). (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, certificated in any category, with manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) identified in any service bulletin listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (6) of this AD. (1) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P067, dated September 17, 2020. (2) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P070, Revision 01, dated March 14, 2022. (3) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P072, dated June 24, 2022. (4) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P073, dated June 24, 2022. (5) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P074, dated June 24, 2022. (6) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P091, dated May 30, 2024. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports of missing or incorrect application of the lightning strike edge glow sealant protection at specific locations on the wing tanks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address missing or incorrectly applied sealant. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the affected fuel tank and consequent loss 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 2024-0155, dated August 13, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0155). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0155 (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0155 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since aeroplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 27 October 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 2020-0220]," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(2)(i) and (ii) of this AD. (i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since airplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after September 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-03, Amendment 39-21665 (86 FR 47555, August 26, 2021) (AD 2021-16-03)). (ii) Within 12 months after September 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-16-03). (3) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since aeroplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 04 February 2022 [the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0011]," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(3)(i) and (ii) of this AD. (i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since airplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after November 29, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-17-09, Amendment 39-22147 (87 FR 64375, October 25, 2022) (AD 2022-17-09)). (ii) Within 12 months after November 29, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-17-09). (4) Where paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since aeroplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after 28 December 2022 [the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0250]," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD. (i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months since airplane date of manufacture, whichever occurs first after September 7, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-14-09). (ii) Within 12 months after September 7, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-14-09). (5) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0155 gives a compliance time of "the next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months after the effective date of this [EASA] AD," for this AD, the compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(5)(i) and (ii) of this AD. (i) The next scheduled maintenance tank entry, or before exceeding 78 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first. (ii) Within 2 months after the effective date of this AD. (6) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0155 refers to "discrepancies," for this AD, discrepancies include missing or incorrectly applied sealant. (7) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0155. (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]. (i) 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 Promita Dey, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 316-946-4106; 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) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P067, dated September 17, 2020. (ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P070, Revision 01, dated March 14, 2022. (iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P072, dated June 24, 2022. (iv) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P073, dated June 24, 2022. (v) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P074, dated June 24, 2022. (vi) Airbus Service Bulletin A350-57-P091, dated May 30, 2024. (vii) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0155, dated August 13, 2024. (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]; website easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) For Airbus material identified in this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office-EAL, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email [email protected]; website airbus.com. (5) 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. (6) 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 September 24, 2025. Peter A. White, Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2025-20910 Filed 11-24-25; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P