EASA AD US-2025-23-53
Nacelles / Pylons - Suspension of Flight Operations
Summary
Nacelles / Pylons - Suspension of Flight Operations is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD 2025-23-53) addressing a critical safety issue affecting The Boeing Company Model MD-11, MD-11F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, and DC-10-40F airplanes. This AD mandates immediate inspection and corrective actions due to an unsafe condition where the left-hand engine and pylon detached during takeoff. The directive prohibits further flight until compliance is achieved to ensure continued safe flight and landing.
What Changed
This AD supersedes Emergency AD 2025-23-51 by expanding the applicability to include additional Boeing MD-10 and DC-10 series airplanes that share similar engine-pylon structures. It continues to require inspections and corrective actions previously mandated but now applies to a broader range of aircraft models. The AD was issued as an emergency rule effective immediately for known operators and formally published with an effective date of December 1, 2025.
Why It Matters
This AD is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a severe safety risk that could lead to catastrophic engine and pylon separation during flight. Operators and maintenance organizations must prioritize compliance to prevent accidents and ensure regulatory adherence. The directive impacts flight operations by grounding affected aircraft until inspections and repairs are completed, affecting scheduling and maintenance planning.
What To Do
Affected operators must immediately suspend flight operations of the listed aircraft models until inspections are performed and all corrective actions approved by the FAA's Manager of the Continued Operational Safety Branch are completed. Compliance with this AD is mandatory by December 1, 2025, for those who did not receive prior actual notice. Operators should submit comments by January 8, 2026, and coordinate with the FAA for approved repair methods.