FAA Orders Airbus Planes to Patch Engine Leak Risks
Published Date: 2/23/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you fly or work with Airbus Canada BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 planes, listen up! The FAA wants to update safety rules by keeping the current flight manual changes and adding a new software update to the engines that helps prevent leaks. This means safer flights, but operators need to act before April 9, 2026, or risk falling behind on safety—and yes, there might be some costs to install the update.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory EEC Software Update
If you operate Airbus Canada Model BD-500-1A10 or BD-500-1A11 airplanes, this proposed AD requires installing Pratt & Whitney EEC software version 2.12.1 (part number 5324158-15) on both engines. The AD says updating the EEC software to version 2.12.1 on both engines is a terminating action to the flight manual change and must be done by following Transport Canada AD CF-2025-12 as incorporated by this FAA NPRM.
FAA Cost Estimates for U.S. Fleet
The FAA estimates this proposed AD would affect 152 U.S.-registered airplanes. The FAA estimates the retained AFM action costs $85 per airplane (1 work-hour x $85) totaling $12,920 across U.S. operators, and the new EEC software upgrade labor is estimated at $850 per airplane (10 work-hours x $85) totaling $129,200 across U.S. operators.
EEC Replacement Optional but Costly
The FAA lists replacing the EEC as an optional action but says it is not likely operators would need to replace the EEC to complete the software upgrade. The table shows EEC replacement labor as 9 work-hours x $85 per hour = $765 per product. The FAA also notes manufacturer warranty may cover some or all costs.
AFM Revision Requirement Remains
This proposed AD retains the existing requirement to revise the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to add procedures for the flightcrew to manually isolate the opposite engine in the event of a large engine bleed duct leak. That AFM revision remains required until the EEC software version 2.12.1 is installed on both engines (the AD states the software installation is a terminating action to the AFM revision).
Regulatory Compliance and Deadline Notes
This is a proposed AD that incorporates Transport Canada AD CF-2025-12 by reference; operators must comply with the actions and times in that Transport Canada AD as applied by this FAA NPRM. The FAA will accept comments on the proposal through April 9, 2026, and this FAA AD makes limited exceptions (for example, references to an earlier effective date are changed to April 22, 2025).
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