AD 2026-15-13

This AD is effective September 2, 2026.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 29, 2025 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)).

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-3874; 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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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-2026-3874.

Frank Carreras, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3539; email: Frank.Carreras@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2025-16-12, Amendment 39-23110 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)) (AD 2025-16-12). AD 2025-16-12 applied to all Airbus SAS Model A319-151N, -153N, -171N, and -173N airplanes; Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, -272NX, -253NY, and -271NY airplanes. AD 2025-16-12 required revising the existing AFM and the existing FAA-approved MEL, allowed replacement of each affected HPV as an optional terminating action, and prohibited the installation of affected parts. The FAA issued AD 2025-16-12 to address high pressure and temperatures in the duct downstream from the pressure regulating valve, which could lead to duct burst and result in damage to several systems or the airframe and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2026 (91 FR 23025). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0096, dated April 28, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0096) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that occurrences were reported of HPV butterfly seal retention clip rupture, which causes the butterfly seals to no longer be retained in the butterfly groove. This may increase internal leakage, triggering an alert that the HPV has failed in the open condition. It may also release foreign object debris, which could damage the systems ( e.g., engine bleed air system and pneumatic system) downstream from the HPV on the engine pylon and wing.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in AD 2025-16-12 and require repetitive replacement of each affected HPV clip, as specified in EASA AD 2025-0096. 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-2026-3874.

The FAA received a comment from the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) who supported the NPRM without change.

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 these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

This AD requires EASA AD 2025-0096, dated April 28, 2025, which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of August 29, 2025 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)).

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 554 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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-16-12, Amendment 39-23110 (90 FR 39102, August 14, 2025; corrected August 22, 2025 (90 FR 40964)); and

b. Adding the following new AD: