Rule2026-19956
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
September 29, 2026
Effective
October 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of the lack of data to substantiate engine operability when an airplane is dispatched under a certain master minimum equipment list (MMEL) item. This AD prohibits dispatching an airplane under the operational procedures of the operator's minimum equipment list item corresponding to a certain MMEL item. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 187 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61302-61304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19956]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-11785; Project Identifier AD-2026-00916-T;
Amendment 39-23475; AD 2026-20-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes. This AD was
prompted by a report of the lack of data to substantiate engine
operability when an airplane is dispatched under a certain master
minimum equipment list (MMEL) item. This AD prohibits dispatching an
airplane under the operational procedures of the operator's minimum
equipment list item corresponding to a certain MMEL item. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective October 14, 2026. The FAA must receive
comments on this AD by November 13, 2026
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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-2026-11785; 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 street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shaan Brar, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3558;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f6859e979798d885d894849784b6909797d8919980"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83f0ebe2e2edadf0ade1f1e2f1c3e5e2e2ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include Docket No. FAA-2026-11785 and Project
Identifier AD-2026-00916-T at the beginning of your comments. The most
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this final rule.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Shaan
Brar, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3558; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a7d4cfc6c6c989d489c5d5c6d5e7c1c6c689c0c8d1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90e3f8f1f1febee3bef2e2f1e2d0f6f1f1bef7ffe6">[email protected]</span></a>. Any
commentary that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as
CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA received a report from Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
of the lack of data to substantiate engine operability, including
compressor stability, relight capability, surge recovery, and inclement
weather capability, when Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes equipped with
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG engines are dispatched
under MMEL item 75-33-01. MMEL item 75-33-01 (``Engine Intermediate
Pressure (IP) Bleed Valves (RR)'') allows an aircraft to be dispatched
for three days with one intermediate pressure bleed valve (IPBV)
inoperative on each engine, provided appropriate performance
adjustments are applied. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the risk
of MMEL dispatch with an inoperative engine IPBV on one or both
engines. This condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of
engine thrust control and consequent loss of control of the airplane.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in
other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD prohibits dispatching an airplane under the operational
procedures of the operator's minimum equipment list item corresponding
to MMEL item 75-33-01.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date
Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C.
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
[[Page 61303]]
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because dispatching an airplane with an inoperative engine IPBV could
result in loss of engine thrust control and consequent loss of control
of the airplane. The FAA has determined that due to the lack of
substantiating data, Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes equipped with
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG engines dispatched with an
inoperative IPBV are not assured to provide recovery from surges or
flameouts or maintain continued operation under any anticipated
operating environment. An airplane dispatched under MMEL item 75-33-01
with an inoperative IPBV on both engines could experience a loss of
thrust control on both engines. An airplane dispatched with an
inoperative IPBV on a single engine could experience a loss of thrust
control on the engine with the inoperative IPBV, which would leave the
airplane a single failure away from a catastrophic outcome (loss of the
remaining engine due to any cause).
Additionally, the compliance time in this AD is shorter than the
time necessary for the public to comment and for publication of the
final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public
comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment,
RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 16 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Dispatch prohibition...................... 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $0 $85 $1,360
$85.
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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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
2026-20-02 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-23475; Docket No. FAA-
2026-11785; Project Identifier AD-2026-00916-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 14, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9
airplanes, certificated in any category, equipped with Rolls-Royce
Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model Trent 1000-A, Trent 1000-A2, Trent
1000-AE, Trent 1000-AE2, Trent 1000-C, Trent 1000-C2, Trent 1000-CE,
Trent 1000-CE2, Trent 1000-D, Trent 1000-D2, Trent 1000-E, Trent
1000-G, Trent 1000-G2, Trent 1000-H, Trent 1000-H2, Trent 1000-J2,
Trent 1000-K2, and Trent 1000-L2 engines.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 75, Air.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that there is no data to
substantiate engine operability, including compressor stability,
relight capability, surge recovery, and inclement weather
capability, when an airplane is dispatched under Master Minimum
Equipment List (MMEL) item 75-33-01. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the risk of MMEL dispatch with an inoperative engine
intermediate pressure bleed valve (IPBV) on one or both engines. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of engine
thrust control and consequent loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Dispatch Prohibitions
As of 60 days after the effective date of this AD: No person may
dispatch an airplane under the operational procedures of the
operator's minimum equipment list item corresponding to MMEL 75-33-
01 (``Engine Intermediate Pressure (IP) Bleed Valves (RR)'').
[[Page 61304]]
(h) 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 (i)
of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2a3afada1a2848383cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a4b4745494a6c6b6b246d657c">[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.
(i) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Shaan Brar, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone: 206-231-3558; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#30435851515e1e431e52425142705651511e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90e3f8f1f1febee3bef2e2f1e2d0f6f1f1bef7ffe6">[email protected]</span></a>.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on September 24, 2026.
Lona C. Saccomando,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-19956 Filed 9-25-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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