2026-18-09: Power Plant

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 adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2026-18-09 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39-23464; Docket No. FAA-2026-7201; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01290-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 22, 2026. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A330-243, A330-243F, A330-341, A330-342, and A330-343 airplanes, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 71, Power Plant. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports of cracked and broken restraint brackets of the anti-ice piccolo tube found during maintenance on affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition which, if not addressed, could result in a thermal anti-ice feed pipe disengagement and decrease the effectiveness of the thermal anti-ice system, allowing ice build-up on the inlet lip skin, which could result in damage to the engine and reduced control of the airplane. (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 2025-0164, dated July 29, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0164). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0164 (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0164 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0164 defines a serviceable part as a "Nacelle Inlet Cowl, eligible for installation in accordance with Airbus instructions, which is not an affected part", for this AD replace that text with "Nacelle Inlet Cowl, eligible for installation, which is not an affected part". (3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0164 specifies "any discrepancy, as identified in the SB, is found on an affected part", this AD requires replacing that text with "any discrepancy is found on an affected part". (4) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2025-0164. (i) No Reporting Requirement Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0164 specifies to submit certain information 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 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. (k) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Anthony Decaro, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-627-5374; email: Anthony.D.Decaro@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 2025-0164, dated July 29, 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 September 3, 2026. Brian Knaup, Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2026-19084 Filed 9-16-26; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P