Proposed Rule2025-02069
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
February 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-08-04, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. The NPRM was prompted by reports of a loss of water pressure during flight and water leaks that affected multiple pieces of electronic equipment, and by the discovery that some clamshell couplings did not have the required safety strap. The NPRM would have required inspecting all door 1 and door 3 lavatory and galley potable water systems for missing or incorrectly installed clamshell couplings, inspecting all clamshell couplings for the presence and correct installation of safety straps at door 1 and door 3 lavatories and galleys with a potable water system, and performing applicable on- condition actions. The NPRM would have also prohibited the installation of affected parts at inspection locations and removed Model 787-10 airplanes from the applicability. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has determined that the identified service information may not adequately address the unsafe condition on one of the galleys, and Model 787-10 airplanes should be included in the applicability. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 22 (Tuesday, February 4, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 4, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8914-8915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02069]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-1884; Project Identifier AD-2023-00948-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
that proposed to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-08-04,
which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and
787-10 airplanes. The NPRM was prompted by reports of a loss of water
pressure during flight and water leaks that affected multiple pieces of
electronic equipment, and by the discovery that some clamshell
couplings did not have the required safety strap. The NPRM would have
required inspecting all door 1 and door 3 lavatory and galley potable
water systems for missing or incorrectly installed clamshell couplings,
inspecting all clamshell couplings for the presence and correct
installation of safety straps at door 1 and door 3 lavatories and
galleys with a potable water system, and performing applicable on-
condition actions. The NPRM would have also prohibited the installation
of affected parts at inspection locations and removed Model 787-10
airplanes from the applicability. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA
has determined that the identified service information may not
adequately address the unsafe condition on one of the galleys, and
Model 787-10 airplanes should be included in the applicability.
Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.
DATES: As of February 4, 2025, the proposed rule, which was published
in the Federal Register on July 15, 2024 (89 FR 57374), is withdrawn.
ADDRESSES: AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2024-1884; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD action, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Tuck, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3986; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#efac809a9d9b818a96c1a4c1bb9a8c84af898e8ec1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="084b677d7a7c666d712643265c7d6b63486e6969266f677e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD
2023-08-04, Amendment 39-22419 (88 FR 33823, May 25, 2023) (AD 2023-08-
04). AD 2023-08-04 applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8,
787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on July 15, 2024 (89 FR 57374). The NPRM was prompted by
reports of a loss of water pressure during flight and water leaks that
affected multiple pieces of electronic equipment. The NPRM was further
prompted by the discovery that some clamshell couplings did not have
the required safety strap and by the development of a design solution
that replaces the strapless clamshell couplings with clamshell
couplings that have safety straps to address the unsafe condition. In
the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require inspecting all door 1
and door 3 lavatory and galley potable water systems for missing or
incorrectly installed clamshell couplings, and performing applicable
on-condition actions. The NPRM also proposed to require inspecting all
clamshell couplings for the presence and correct installation of safety
straps at door 1 and door 3 lavatories and galleys with a potable water
system, and performing applicable on-condition actions. The NPRM would
have also prohibited the installation of affected parts at inspection
locations and removed Model 787-10 airplanes from the applicability.
The proposed actions were intended to address water leaks and water
migration to critical flight equipment, which may affect the continued
safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued
Since issuance of the NPRM, Boeing advised the FAA that an
inspection area is missing from Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023(as specified
in paragraph (j) of the proposed AD). As a result, the NPRM may not
adequately address the unsafe condition on one of the galleys.
Specifically, Task 3, Figure 10, needs to be updated to add an
inspection area to the FWD galley located at Door 1. According to
Boeing, the current figure specifies inspection of only Detail K, the
area above the galley carts, so Detail L will be added in a revised
requirements bulletin to specify an inspection of the area behind all
of the galley carts. Boeing anticipates release of the revised bulletin
in the middle of 2025.
Since the NPRM does not address the unsafe condition and the unsafe
condition still exists, the FAA is withdrawing the NPRM and considering
additional rulemaking to require the revised service information. The
FAA has determined that any new AD will be issued within the timeframe
established by the safety assessment.
Withdrawal of the NPRM constitutes only such action and does not
preclude the FAA from further rulemaking on this issue, nor does it
commit the FAA to any course of action in the future.
Comments
The FAA received comments from United Airlines, the Air Line Pilots
Association, International (ALPA), and an individual, who supported the
NPRM without change.
The FAA also received a comment from The Boeing Company. The
following presents the comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to the comment.
Request To Include Model 787-10 Airplanes
Boeing noted that some Model 787-10 airplanes could be in storage
or are otherwise inactive and requested that
[[Page 8915]]
the proposed AD clarify that those airplanes that have not yet met the
requirements of AD 2023-08-04 must still meet the inspection
requirements of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-
00 RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022.
The FAA agrees that the applicability of the NPRM did not include
Model 787-10 airplanes. Those airplanes had been removed from the
applicability of the proposed AD because Boeing had originally stated
that Model 787-10 airplanes were delivered with safety-strap clamshell
couplings on affected potable water lines, so those airplanes were not
included in Boeing Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB,
Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023 (the service information specified in
paragraph (j) of the proposed AD). Accordingly, the NPRM stated that
Model 787-10 airplanes were no longer subject to the unsafe condition
and therefore not included in the applicability. However, as Boeing
stated, there is a possibility that some Model 787-10 airplanes may
have been in storage and not inspected as required by AD 2023-08-04
(and restated in retained paragraph (g) of the proposed AD). Therefore,
if appropriate, those airplanes will be included in future rulemaking
that addresses the unsafe condition. Because the NPRM is withdrawn, no
further action is necessary for this NPRM.
FAA's Conclusions
Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that the NPRM
would not adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn. AD 2023-08-04 remains in effect
unless it is later superseded.
Regulatory Findings
Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed
nor a final rule. This action therefore is not covered under Executive
Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Withdrawal
0
Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking (Docket No. FAA-2024-
1884), which was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2024 (89
FR 57374), is withdrawn.
Issued on January 28, 2025.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02069 Filed 2-3-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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