Rule2025-22629
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 12, 2025
Effective
January 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-09- 04, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, - 700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, and certain Model 737-8 and -9 airplanes. AD 2023-09-04 required inspecting all escape slide assemblies to identify affected parts and replacing affected escape slide assemblies with different assemblies. This AD was prompted by the determination that additional airplanes might be affected by the unsafe condition. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2023-09-04 and requires those actions for additional airplanes, including Model 737- 8200 airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 237 (Friday, December 12, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 237 (Friday, December 12, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57685-57688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22629]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0481; Project Identifier AD-2024-00614-T;
Amendment 39-23212; AD 2025-25-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-09-
04, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, and certain Model 737-8
and -9 airplanes. AD 2023-09-04 required inspecting all escape slide
assemblies to identify affected parts and replacing affected escape
slide assemblies with different assemblies. This AD was prompted by the
determination that additional airplanes might be affected by the unsafe
condition. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2023-09-04 and
requires those actions for additional airplanes, including Model 737-
8200 airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 16, 2026.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 16,
2026.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of June
29, 2023 (88 FR 33817, May 25, 2023).
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0481; 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 final rule, any comments received, and other
information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For Boeing material identified in this AD, contact Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services (C&DS),
2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600;
telephone 562-797-1717; website <a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0481.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Venegas, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-
627-5353; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#503b3124383522393e357e26353e35373123103631317e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cf7fde8f4f9eef5f2f9b2eaf9f2f9fbfdefdcfafdfdb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2023-09-04, Amendment 39-22427 (88 FR
33817, May 25, 2023) (AD 2023-09-04). AD 2023-09-04 applied to certain
The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER
series airplanes, and certain Model 737-8 and -9 airplanes. The NPRM
was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2025 (90 FR 15321).
The NPRM was prompted by the determination that additional airplanes
might be affected by the unsafe condition. In the NPRM, the FAA
proposed to continue to require the actions in AD 2023-09-04 and
requires those actions for additional airplanes, including Model 737-
8200 airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address inflation of the
escape slide while it is in the escape slide compartment, which could
result in injury to passengers and crew during normal operation, or
impede an emergency evacuation by rendering the exit unusable.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from the Air Line Pilots Association,
International (ALPA), Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), Boeing, ProTech
Aero Services Limited (ProTech), and United Airlines who supported the
NPRM without change.
The FAA received an additional comment from the Turkish Airlines.
The following presents the comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to the comment.
Request To Revise the Credit for Previous Actions Paragraph
Turkish Airlines requested that the FAA revise paragraph (j)(1) of
the proposed AD to provide credit for the actions specified in
paragraph (g) of the proposed AD if those actions were performed before
the effective date of the proposed AD, using Boeing Special Attention
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, dated August 31, 2021; or Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, dated September
27, 2021; as applicable. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to provide
credit only if those actions were performed before June 29, 2023 (the
effective date of AD 2023-09-04). The commenter stated that paragraph
(j)(1) of the proposed AD does not cover actions performed between June
29, 2023, and the effective date of the proposed AD.
The FAA disagrees with the request. Paragraphs (g) and (j)(1) of
this AD retain the requirements of paragraphs (g) and (i),
respectively, of AD 2023-09-04 with no changes. Accordingly, paragraph
(j)(1) of this AD provides credit for the requirements of paragraph (g)
of this AD using the original issue of the applicable requirements
bulletin, only if performed before June 29, 2023. After June 29, 2023,
the requirements of paragraph (g) must be accomplished using Revision 1
of the applicable requirements bulletin. If operators would like to use
the original issue of the applicable requirements bulletin after June
29, 2023, operators must request approval to use that service
information as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) under the
provisions of paragraph (k) of this AD. The FAA has not changed the AD
in this regard.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this
AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will
[[Page 57686]]
increase the economic burden on any operator.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin
737-25-1866 RB, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2024. This material
specifies procedures for inspecting all escape slide assemblies to
identify any escape slide assembly having part number (P/N) 5A3307-7
and replacing it with an assembly having P/N 5A3307-9 or P/N 5A3307-
701. Escape slide assembly P/N 5A3307-701 is one on which a firing
cable retention has been modified and the assembly has been
reidentified with a new part number.
This AD also requires Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022; and Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1,
dated April 11, 2022, which the Director of the Federal Register
approved for incorporation by reference as of June 29, 2023 (88 FR
33817, May 25, 2023).
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 2,666 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection or maintenance records 2 work-hours x $85 per $0 $170 $425,340 (2,502
review (retained action from AD hour = $170. airplanes)
2023-09-04).
Inspection or maintenance records 2 work-hours x $85 per 0 170 $27,880 (164 airplanes)
review (new action). hour = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any replacements that
would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency
has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these
replacements:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement.................... Up to 1 work hour x Up to $19,000.................. Up to $19,085 per
$85 per hour = up to escape slide
$85. assembly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States,
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-09-04, Amendment 39-22427
(88 FR 33817, May 25, 2023); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
2025-25-04 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-23212; Docket No. FAA-
2025-0481; Project Identifier AD-2024-00614-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 16, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2023-09-04, Amendment 39-22427 (88 FR 33817,
May 25, 2023) (AD 2023-09-04).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, and Model 737-8, 737-
9, and 737-8200 airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of uncommanded escape slide
deployments in the passenger compartment, caused by too much tension
in the inflation cable and the movement of the escape slide assembly
in the escape slide compartment. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address inflation of the
[[Page 57687]]
escape slide while it is in the escape slide compartment, which
could result in injury to passengers and crew during normal
operation, or impede an emergency evacuation by rendering the exit
unusable.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Retained Inspection, With No Changes
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD
2023-09-04, with no changes. For airplanes identified in Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1,
dated April 13, 2022; and Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2022: Except as
specified in paragraph (i) of this AD, at the applicable times
specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Special
Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated
April 13, 2022; and Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin
737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2022, do all applicable
actions identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-
25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022 (for Model 737-600, -
700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes); and Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1,
dated April 11, 2022 (for Model 737-8 and -9 airplanes); as
applicable.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by paragraph (g) of this AD can be found in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1855, Revision 1, dated April 13,
2022, which is referred to in Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022.
Note 2 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by paragraph (g) of this AD can be found in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1866, Revision 1, dated April 11,
2022, which is referred to in Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2022.
(h) New Required Actions
For airplanes not identified in Boeing Special Attention
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13,
2022; or Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866
RB, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2022: Except as specified in
paragraph (i) of this AD, at the applicable times specified in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022; and
Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB,
Revision 2, dated July 19, 2024, do all applicable actions
identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-
25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022 (for Model 737-600, -
700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes), and Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 2,
dated July 19, 2024 (for Model 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200
airplanes); as applicable.
Note 3 to paragraph (h): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by paragraph (h) of this AD can be found in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1855, Revision 1, dated April 13,
2022, which is referred to in Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022.
Note 4 to paragraph (h): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by paragraph (h) of this AD can be found in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1866, Revision 2, dated July 19,
2024, which is referred to in Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2024.
(i) Exceptions to Requirements Bulletin Specifications
(1) For paragraph (g) of this AD: Where the Compliance Time
columns of the tables in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1,
dated April 13, 2022, use the phrase ``the Original Issue date of
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB,'' this AD requires using June
29, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-09-04).
(2) For paragraph (g) of this AD: Where the Compliance Time
columns of the tables in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1,
dated April 11, 2022, use the phrase ``the Original Issue date of
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB,'' this AD requires using June
29, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-09-04).
(3) For paragraph (h) of this AD: Where the Compliance Time
columns of the tables in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, Revision 1,
dated April 13, 2022, use the phrase ``the Original Issue date of
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB,'' this AD requires using the
effective date of this AD.
(4) For paragraph (h) of this AD: Where the Compliance Time
columns of the tables in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 2,
dated July 19, 2024, use the phrase ``the Original Issue date of
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB,'' this AD requires using the
effective date of this AD.
(5) Where Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-
1855 RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022; Boeing Special Attention
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1, dated April 11,
2022; and Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866
RB, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2024, specify doing an inspection of
the escape slide assembly to determine whether P/N 5A3307-7 is
installed, for this AD a review of airplane maintenance records is
acceptable in lieu of this inspection, provided the part number of
the escape slide assembly can be conclusively determined from that
review.
(j) Credit for Previous Actions
(1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before
June 29, 2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-09-04) using Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, dated August
31, 2021; or Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-
1866 RB, dated September 27, 2021; as applicable.
(2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in
paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the
effective date of this AD using Boeing Special Attention
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855 RB, dated August 31, 2021; Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, dated
September 27, 2021; or Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 737-25-1866 RB, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2022; as
applicable.
(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch,
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or
responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the certification office,
send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph
(l)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6d2c20222e2d0b0c0c430a021b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="67262a28242701060649000811">[email protected]</span></a>.
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the
responsible Flight Standards Office.
(2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair, modification, or alteration required by this AD
if it is approved by The Boeing Company Organization Designation
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, to make those
findings. To be approved, the repair method, modification deviation,
or alteration deviation must meet the certification basis of the
airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.
(3) AMOCs approved for AD 2023-09-04 are approved as AMOCs for
the corresponding provisions of paragraph (g) of this AD.
(l) Additional Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Katherine
Venegas, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-627-5353; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#167d77627e73647f787338607378737177655670777738717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="325953465a57405b5c571c44575c57555341725453531c555d44">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (m)(5)
this AD.
(m) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(3) The following material was approved for IBR on January 16,
2026.
[[Page 57688]]
(i) Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866
RB, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(4) The following material was approved for IBR on June 29, 2023
(88 FR 33817, May 25, 2023).
(i) Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1855
RB, Revision 1, dated April 13, 2022.
(ii) Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1866
RB, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2022.
(5) For the material identified in this AD, contact Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services (C&DS),
2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600;
telephone 562-797-1717; website <a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
(6) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St.,
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
(7) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6402164a0d0a17140107100d0b0a240a0516054a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dabca8f4b3b4a9aabfb9aeb3b5b49ab4bba8bbf4bdb5ac">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on December 3, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-22629 Filed 12-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 12, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.