FAA Updates Rules for Wobbly Airbus A350 Tails
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating safety rules for certain Airbus A350 airplanes because some parts in the tail have been moving when they shouldn’t. They’re keeping the regular checks but removing a fix that no longer works and including more planes in the rules. Airlines need to follow these new steps soon to keep flights safe, but it might cost some time and money to do the extra inspections and repairs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
A350 tail-bushing inspections continue and expand
If you operate Airbus A350-941 or -1041 airplanes, the FAA proposes to keep repetitive inspections for migration of the horizontal tail plane (HTP) lateral load fitting (LLF) bushings, remove a previously allowed terminating repair, and expand which airplanes are covered (including airplanes with modification 110669). This proposal references EASA AD 2025-0073 and applies to the airplanes identified there; comments are due April 3, 2026.
FAA cost and paperwork estimates for A350 AD
The FAA estimates this proposed AD would affect 36 U.S.-registered A350 airplanes. Retained actions are estimated at 10 work-hours × $85 = $850 per airplane (total $30,600 for U.S. operators); optional actions are estimated at 56 work-hours × $85 = $4,760 plus $23,000 parts = $27,760 per airplane; on-condition actions are estimated up to 93 work-hours × $85 = $7,905 plus up to $4,480 parts = up to $12,385 per airplane. The rule also requires reporting inspection results (estimated 1 hour per response; OMB Control Number 2120-0056).
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