AD 2025-10-05

This AD is effective June 26, 2025.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 26, 2025.

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0197; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• 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.

• 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. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0197.

Timothy Dowling, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3667; email: timothy.p.dowling@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus SAS Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2025 (90 FR 9291). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2024-0151, dated July 31, 2024, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union (EASA AD 2024-0151) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states an erroneous value of the MLG tire width has been identified in the aircraft data files used for aircraft performance computation. The MLG tire width is used for the calculation of performance on contaminated runways (water, slush, dry snow, and wet snow runway states), especially for drag modelling. An erroneous value of the MLG tire width, if not corrected, could result in the erroneous calculation of certain data, including, but not limited to, takeoff distance and accelerate stop distance, possibly leading to runway excursions.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing AFM to incorporate a CPDF update, as specified in EASA AD 2024-0151. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0197.

The FAA received comments from United Airlines and the Air Lines Pilot Association, International, who supported the NPRM without change.

Since the NPRM published, the FAA realized the language in the MCAI regarding the CPDF update may be confusing. As a result, the FAA added paragraph (h)(3) of this AD to clarify that this AD requires revising the AFM to include the updated CPDF pages.

The FAA also added paragraph (h)(4) of this AD to clarify that, in order to use a later AFM revision to comply with this AD, the content must be identical (not similar) to the information in the updated CPDF pages.

These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes, and any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2024-0151. This material specifies procedures for revising the existing AFM to incorporate a CPDF update. This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 742 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: