Airbus A350s Fix Confusing Landing Gear Numbers Fast
Published Date: 3/12/2026
Rule
Summary
The FAA is making a new rule for certain Airbus A350-941 airplanes because some landing gear parts have confusing serial numbers, which makes tracking them tricky. Airlines must check, inspect, and update records for these parts by March 27, 2026, to keep planes safe. This fix helps avoid safety risks without big costs but needs quick action from operators.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Immediate inspections and record updates
If you operate Airbus A350-941 airplanes, you must check and identify the part number and serial number of certain main landing gear (MLG) fuse pins and retaining pins, inspect those pins, record the combination of work order number and original serial number as the new serial number, and update maintenance records by the AD effective date of March 27, 2026. These actions must be done in accordance with EASA AD 2026-0018 as incorporated by reference in this FAA AD.
Estimated compliance cost for U.S. operators
The FAA estimates this AD affects 2 U.S.-registered Airbus A350-941 airplanes and estimates 6 work-hours per product at $85 per hour (labor cost $510) with $0 parts cost, for a cost of $510 per airplane and $1,020 total on U.S. operators. The FAA provided this cost estimate in the Costs of Compliance section.
Mandatory reporting and paperwork burden
You must report the inspection results to the manufacturer as specified in EASA AD 2026-0018 and update maintenance records. The Paperwork Reduction Act information states public reporting is estimated to take about 1 hour per response under OMB Control Number 2120-0056 and that all responses are mandatory.
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