[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 135 (Monday, July 15, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57374-57377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15235]


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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: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2023-08-04, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 
787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. AD 2023-08-04 requires a detailed visual 
inspection of all door 1 and door 3 lavatory and galley potable water 
systems for any missing or incorrectly installed clamshell couplings, 
and applicable on-condition actions. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-08-
04, Boeing has discovered that some couplings did not have the required 
safety strap and has developed a design solution that replaces the 
couplings with couplings that have safety straps to address the unsafe 
condition. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2023-
08-04 and require a detailed inspection of 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 
applicable on-condition actions. The AD would also prohibit the 
installation of affected parts at inspection locations and remove Model 
787-10 airplanes from the applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD 
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 29, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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.
     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 regulations.gov under 
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 NPRM, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For Boeing material identified in this NPRM, 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 myboeingfleet.com.
     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 regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2024-1884.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon Lucero, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3569; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-1884; Project Identifier 
AD-2023-00948-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 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 proposal 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 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and

[[Page 57375]]

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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Brandon Lucero, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3569; email: 
[email protected]. 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 issued AD 2023-08-04, Amendment 39-22419 (88 FR 33823, May 
25, 2023) (AD 2023-08-04), for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 
787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. AD 2023-08-04 was prompted by reports of a 
loss of water pressure during flight and water leaks that affected 
multiple pieces of electronic equipment. AD 2023-08-04 requires a 
detailed visual inspection of all door 1 and door 3 lavatory and galley 
potable water systems for any missing or incorrectly installed 
clamshell couplings, and applicable on-condition actions. The agency 
issued AD 2023-08-04 to address incorrectly installed or missing 
lavatory and galley clamshell couplings that could lead to water leaks 
and water migration to critical flight equipment, which may affect the 
continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

Actions Since AD 2023-08-04 Was Issued

    The FAA issued AD 2023-08-04 as an interim action and indicated 
that the FAA might consider additional rulemaking. AD 2023-08-04 
requires an inspection of the potable water clamshell couplings, 
regardless of the safety-strap configuration. Boeing has determined 
that some clamshell couplings do not have the required safety straps 
and has since developed procedures to ensure that affected clamshell 
couplings have correctly installed safety straps. The FAA has now 
determined that further rulemaking is necessary, and this proposed AD 
follows from that determination.
    Model 787-10 airplanes, which are all delivered with the safety-
strap coupling, are no longer subject to the unsafe condition, and do 
not need the new proposed inspections. Therefore, those airplanes are 
not included in the applicability.
    The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent a loss of water pressure 
during flight and water leaks that can affect multiple pieces of 
electronic equipment. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
lead to water migration to critical flight equipment, which may affect 
the continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Material Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023. This material specifies 
procedures for a detailed inspection for the presence and correct 
installation of safety straps at the clamshell couplings at door 1 and 
door 3 lavatories and galleys with a potable water system. The material 
also specifies applicable on-condition actions including correcting the 
installation of the safety strap, replacing any clamshell coupling that 
does not have a strap with a new clamshell coupling that has a safety 
strap, and performing a water leak test.
    This proposed AD would also require Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-00 RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022, 
which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation 
by reference as of June 29, 2023 (88 FR 33823, 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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would retain all of the requirements of AD 2023-
08-04. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions 
specified in the material already described, except for any differences 
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. 
This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts 
at inspection locations and remove Model 787-10 airplanes from the 
applicability. For information on the procedures and compliance times, 
see this material at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1884.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 165 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                   Cost on U.S.
           Action                Labor cost     Parts cost            Cost per product               operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clamshell coupling            1 work-hour x             $0  $85.................................         $14,025
 inspection, per lavatory or   $85 per hour =
 galley (retained actions      $85.
 from AD 2023-08-04).
Safety strap inspection, per  2 work-hours x             0  $170, per lavatory/galley...........          28,050
 lavatory/galley (new          $85 per hour =
 proposed action).             $170, per
                               lavatory/
                               galley.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these actions:

[[Page 57376]]



                           On-Condition Costs
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                                                                Cost per
            Action                 Labor cost      Parts cost   product
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Correct installation for        0.25 work-hour x           $0     $21.25
 clamshell coupling with         $85 per hour =
 safety strap that was           $21.25.
 installed incorrectly.
Install clamshell coupling      0.25 work-hour x          267     288.25
 14C34-08C.                      85 per hour =
                                 21.25.
Install clamshell coupling      0.25 work-hour x           47      68.25
 14C33-08.                       85 per hour =
                                 21.25.
Leak test.....................  0.5 work-hour x             0      42.50
                                 85 per hour =
                                 42.50.
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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

    The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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) 2023-08-04, Amendment 39-22419 
(88 FR 33823, May 25, 2023), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2024-1884; Project Identifier AD-
2023-00948-T.

 (a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by August 29, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2023-08-04, Amendment 39-22419 (88 FR 33823, 
May 25, 2023) (AD 2023-08-04).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as specified in Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-00 RB, Issue 001, 
dated August 12, 2022.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 38, Water/waste.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of a loss of water pressure 
during flight and water leaks that affected multiple pieces of 
electronic equipment. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a loss 
of water pressure during flight and water leaks that can affect 
multiple pieces of electronic equipment. The unsafe condition, if 
not addressed, could lead to water leaks and water migration to 
critical flight equipment, which may affect the continued safe 
flight and landing of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Retained Clamshell Coupling Inspection, With No Changes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 
2023-08-04, with no changes. Except as specified by paragraph (h) of 
this AD: At the applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' 
paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-
00 RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022, do all applicable actions 
identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB380021-00 RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD can be found in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-00, Issue 001, dated August 12, 
2022, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB380021-00 RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022.

(h) Retained Exception to Service Information Specifications, With No 
Changes

    This paragraph restates the exceptions of paragraph (h) of AD 
2023-08-04, with no changes. Where the Compliance Time columns of 
the table in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert 
Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-00 RB, Issue 001, dated 
August 12, 2022, refer to the Issue 001 date of Requirements 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-00 RB, this AD requires using June 29, 
2023 (the effective date of AD 2023-08-04).

(i) Retained Credit for Previous Actions, With No Changes

    This paragraph restates paragraph (i) of AD 2023-08-04, with no 
changes. 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 2023-08-04), using Multi 
Operator Message MOM-MOM-21-0554-01B, dated December 14, 2021 (for 
lavatory inspections); and MOM-MOM-22-0229-01B, dated April 29, 2022 
(for galley inspections).

(j) New Required Actions

    For airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023: Except as 
specified by paragraph (k) of this AD, at the applicable times 
specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert 
Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated 
July 31, 2023, do all applicable actions identified in,

[[Page 57377]]

and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, 
dated July 31, 2023.
    Note 2 to paragraph (j): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB250299-00, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023, which is 
referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023.

(k) New Exception to Service Information Specifications

    Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-
81205-SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023, use the phrase 
``the Issue 001 date of Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250299-00 
RB,'' this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(l) Terminating Action for Clamshell Coupling Inspection

    For the airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023: 
Accomplishment of the actions required by paragraph (j) of this AD 
terminates the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(m) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
clamshell coupling, part number (P/N) 14C02-08C or P/N AS1655A08, at 
inspection locations where P/N 14C02-08C or P/N AS1655A08 was 
replaced with P/N 14C34-08C or P/N 14C33-08 on any airplane in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023.

(n) 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 
(o)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (3) 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.
    (4) AMOCs approved for AD 2023-08-04 are approved as AMOCs for 
the corresponding provisions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB380021-00 RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022, that 
are required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(o) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Brandon Lucero, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 206-231-3569; email: [email protected].
    (2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by 
reference is available at the addresses specified in paragraph 
(p)(5) of this AD.

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (3) The following material was approved for IBR on [DATE 35 DAYS 
AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE].
    (i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250299-00 
RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) The following material was approved for IBR on June 29, 2023 
(88 FR 33823, May 25, 2023).
    (i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-00 
RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (5) 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 myboeingfleet.com.
    (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 www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on July 2, 2024.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15235 Filed 7-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P