FAA Airworthiness Directive: Airbus Canada BD-500 Series Outflow Valve DC Motor Safety Restriction

The FAA has issued a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) targeting all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes (formerly under Bombardier's C Series program). The directive was triggered by the discovery that the outflow valve (OFV) direct current (DC) motor may fail to operate correctly under high differential pressure conditions, posing a potential unsafe condition related to cabin pressurization. To mitigate the risk, the AD imposes two key operational prohibitions: airlines and operators are forbidden from dispatching affected aircraft under certain Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) relief items that would otherwise permit flight with degraded OFV functionality, and dispatch is also prohibited when a specific Crew Alerting System (CAS) message associated with the OFV is active and displayed in the cockpit. The directive applies to all BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airframes regardless of age or cycle count. Operators must comply with the dispatch restrictions immediately upon the AD's effective date. Non-compliance could result in flight with a malfunctioning pressurization outflow valve, which carries serious safety implications for passengers and crew. This AD is part of the FAA's ongoing airworthiness oversight of the Airbus Canada (formerly Bombardier C Series) fleet operating in the United States and follows a safety finding that necessitated regulatory action beyond manufacturer service guidance alone.

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