2026-17-04: Landing Gear

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) 2024-25-06, Amendment 39-22908 (89 FR 100734, December 13, 2024); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2026-17-04 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23447; Docket No. FAA-2025-1353; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00236-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 1, 2026. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2024-25-06, Amendment 39-22908 (89 FR 100734, December 13, 2024) (AD 2024-25-06). (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus SAS airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD. (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, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX, -253NY, and -271NY airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing Gear. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports of jamming of, or inability to open, the main landing gear (MLG) door during maintenance operations. Investigations identified that certain MLG door actuators may not have been assembled correctly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address this condition, which, if not detected and corrected, could prevent the extension of the MLG, possibly resulting in significant damage to the airplane, and potentially causing a fire that will involve emergency evacuation of the passengers. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Requirements Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0158R1, dated September 12, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0158R1). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0158R1 (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0158R1 refers to August 4, 2025 (the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0158, dated July 21, 2025), this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0158R1 refers to November 22, 2024 (the effective date of EASA AD 2024-0216, dated November 15, 2024), this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (3) Where EASA AD 2025-0158R1 defines a serviceable part as an "MLG door actuator, eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus instructions, which is not an affected part", this AD requires replacing that text with "MLG door actuator, eligible for installation, which is not an affected part". (4) Where paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 2025-0158R1 specify to accomplish an inspection "in accordance with the instructions of the AOT", this AD requires replacing that text with "in accordance with step 5.6.2 of the instructions of the AOT". (5) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0158R1 specifies "any discrepancy on an affected MLG door (1 or 2) is detected, as defined in the AOT", this AD requires replacing that text with "any MLG door actuator that does not meet all the results specified in the table in paragraph 5.6.2.2 in the referenced AOT". (6) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2025-0158R1. (i) No Reporting or Return of Parts Requirement Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0158R1 specifies to submit certain information and send removed parts to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. (j) 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 (k) 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 paragraphs (i) and (j)(2) of this AD, if any material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0158R1 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. (k) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3225; email: dan.rodina@faa.gov. (l) 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 2025-0158R1, dated September 12, 2025. (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 ADs@easa.europa.eu. 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 fr.inspection@nara.gov. Issued on August 21, 2026. Brian Knaup, Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2026-17551 Filed 8-26-26; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P