[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 114 (Monday, June 16, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25166-25169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11050]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-1103; Project Identifier AD-2024-00141-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)
2024-01-01, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8,
787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. AD 2024-01-01 requires repetitive general
visual inspections (GVIs) of the area under all lavatory washbasins for
evidence of intermittent and active leaks at the faucet control module
(FCM) and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA has determined that
the affected FCMs must be replaced with an improved design FCM to
address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to
require the actions of AD 2024-01-01 and would require replacing the
FCM as terminating action for the repetitive GVIs, performing a leak
test, installing moisture management devices, and performing applicable
on-condition actions. 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 July 31,
2025.
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-2025-1103; 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 the Boeing material identified in this proposed 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.
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 under
Docket No. FAA-2025-1103.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Tuck, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3986; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 25167]]
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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-1103;
Project Identifier AD-2024-00141-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 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
Courtney Tuck, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3986; 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 2024-01-01, Amendment 39-22652 (89 FR 6422,
February 1, 2024) (AD 2024-01-01), for The Boeing Company Model 787-8,
787-9, and 787-10 airplanes with certain line numbers. AD 2024-01-01
was prompted by reports of undetected water leaks from the FCM
migrating below the passenger floor in multiple lavatory locations
during flight, and into the electronic equipment bay(s). AD 2024-01-01
requires repetitive GVIs of the area under all lavatory washbasins for
evidence of intermittent and active leaks at the FCM. If there are
leaks, AD 2024-01-01 requires replacing the FCM with a new or
serviceable FCM and doing a leak test. The agency issued AD 2024-01-01
to address undetected water leaks, which could damage flight critical
equipment.
Investigation identified the o-ring seal at the top of the FCM
mixing chamber as the source of the leaking. As a result, Boeing
developed an FCM with an improved design that is not susceptible to
leaking. The FAA has determined that replacing FCM part number (P/N)
AFUT000200A0001 or AFUT000200A0002 with the new FCM P/N AFUT000200A0004
is necessary to address the unsafe condition and would be terminating
action for the GVIs required by AD 2024-01-01.
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.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB250290-00 RB, Issue 002, dated January 31, 2025. This material
specifies procedures for a repetitive general visual inspection of the
area under all lavatory washbasins for evidence of intermittent and
active leaks at the FCM and applicable on-condition actions. On-
condition actions include replacing the affected FCM with new or
serviceable FCM at affected lavatory washbasin(s) and performing a leak
test. If a leak is found during the leak test, this material specifies
completing applicable corrective action, repeating the leak test, and
making sure no leak is found.
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002, dated November 22, 2024. This material
specifies procedures for replacing the FCM, performing a leak test and
repairing any leaks, and installing moisture management devices if not
previously installed. This material also specifies procedures for
reviewing and updating, if necessary, the existing maintenance program
documentation to include Maintenance Review Board Report item number
38-025-00. This material specifies that replacement of the FCM
terminates the repetitive inspections (which are required by AD 2024-
01-01).
This proposed AD would also require Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787-81205-SB250290-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 1, 2022,
which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation
by reference as of March 7, 2024 (89 FR 6422, February 1, 2024).
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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would retain the repetitive inspections and all
other requirements in AD 2024-01-01. This proposed AD would also
require replacing the FCM as specified in the material already
described, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this proposed AD. The FCM replacement would be
terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this
material at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-1103.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 155 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts
Action Labor cost cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators
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GVI of area under all 2 work-hour x $0 $170 per inspection cycle $26,350 per inspection
lavatory washbasins $85 per hour = cycle.
(retained actions from AD $170 per
2024-01-01). inspection
cycle.
[[Page 25168]]
Replacement of FCM (new 3 work-hours x 6,021 $6,276................... $972,780.
proposed action). $85 per hour =
$255.
Install moisture management 79 work-hours x 1,610 $8,325................... $432,900 (52 airplanes).
devices (new proposed $85 per hour =
action). $6,715.
Review maintenance program 1 work-hour x 0 $85...................... $13,175.
documentation (new proposed $85 per hour =
action). $85.
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* The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost estimate for the FCM replacement parts.
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any replacements 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 replacements:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement................................ 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $6,021 $6,106
$85.
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The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program would take an average of 90 work-hours per operator,
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator
to operator. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection
program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined
that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane
estimate. Therefore, the FAA estimates the average total cost per
operator would be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected operators.
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) 2024-01-01, Amendment 39-22652
(89 FR 6422, February 1, 2024), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2025-1103; Project Identifier AD-
2024-00141-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by July 31, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2024-01-01, Amendment 39-22652 (89 FR 6422,
February 1, 2024) (AD 2024-01-01).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and
787-10 airplanes, certificated in any category, having line numbers
6 through 687 inclusive, 689 through 954 inclusive, 956 through 970
inclusive, 972 through 982 inclusive, 984 through 989 inclusive, 991
through 996 inclusive, 999, 1001 through 1008 inclusive, 1012, 1013,
1016 through 1019 inclusive, 1021, 1022, 1024 through 1026
inclusive, 1029 through 1032 inclusive, 1038, 1040, 1041, 1044,
1045, 1047, 1048, 1054 through 1062 inclusive, 1071, 1072, 1074,
1075, 1082, 1085, 1087, 1091, 1094, 1095, 1098, 1099, 1103, 1109,
1112 through 1114 inclusive, 1117, 1118, 1121, 1122, 1125, 1126,
1128 through 1134 inclusive, 1136 through 1145 inclusive, 1147,
1148, 1151, 1161, and 1167.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 38, Water/waste.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of undetected water leaks from
the faucet control module migrating below the passenger floor in
multiple lavatory locations
[[Page 25169]]
during flight, and into the electronic equipment bay(s). The FAA is
issuing this AD to address undetected water leaks, which could
damage flight critical equipment. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in loss of multiple line replaceable units
and subsequent loss of continued safe flight and landing.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Retained Inspection, With Revised Service Information
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD
2024-01-01, with revised service information. 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-SB250290-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 1, 2022, do all
applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
B787-81205-SB250290-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 1, 2022, or
Issue 002, dated January 31, 2025. As of the effective date of this
AD, only use Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250290-
00 RB, Issue 002, dated January 31, 2025, for the actions required
by this paragraph.
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-SB250290-00, Issue 002, dated January
31, 2025, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
B787-81205-SB250290-00 RB, Issue 002, dated January 31, 2025.
(h) Retained Exception to Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250290-00
RB, With No Change
This paragraph restates the exception in paragraph (h) of AD
2024-01-01, with no change. Where the Compliance Time column of the
table in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787-81205-SB250290-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 1,
2022, uses the phrase ``the Issue 001 date of the Requirements
Bulletin B787-81205-SB250290-00 RB,'' this AD requires using March
7, 2024 (the effective date of AD 2024-01-01).
(i) New Required Actions
Except as specified by paragraph (j) of this AD: At the
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002,
dated November 22, 2024, do all applicable actions identified in,
and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002,
dated November 22, 2024.
Note 1 to paragraph (i): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by paragraph (i) of this AD can be found in Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00, Issue 002, dated November
22, 2024, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002, dated November 22, 2024.
(j) Exception to Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB
(1) Where the Boeing Recommended Compliance Time columns of the
tables in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002, dated November 22,
2024, refer to the Issue 001 date of Requirements Bulletin B787-
81205-SB250291-00 RB, this AD requires using the effective date of
this AD.
(2) For Group 4, Configuration 3 airplanes identified in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002,
dated November 22, 2024: The actions in Table 1 and Table 2 of the
Accomplishment Instructions in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002, dated November 22, 2024, are
not required by this AD.
(k) Terminating Action for Repetitive Inspections
Replacing faucet control module (FCM) part number (P/N)
AFUT000200A0001 or AFUT000200A0002 with FCM P/N AFUT000200A0004
terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (g) of
this AD.
(l) Credit for Previous Actions
For Group 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 airplanes and Group 4,
Configuration 1 and 2 airplanes, as identified in Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 002, dated
November 22, 2024: This paragraph provides credit for the actions
required by paragraph (i) of this AD, if those actions were
performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00 RB, Issue 001, dated
August 30, 2023.
(m) 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 Continued Operational
Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in
paragraph (n)(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 2024-01-01 are approved as AMOCs for
the corresponding provisions of paragraph (g) of this AD.
(n) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Courtney Tuck,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 206 231 3986; email: [email protected].
(2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (o)(5)
of this AD.
(o) 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 [DATE 35 DAYS
AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE].
(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250291-00
RB, Issue 002, dated November 22, 2024.
(ii) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250290-00
RB, Issue 002, dated January 31, 2025.
(4) The following material was approved for IBR on March 7, 2024
(89 FR 6422, February 1, 2024).
(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250290-00
RB, Issue 001, dated November 1, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(5) For the 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 June 11, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-11050 Filed 6-13-25; 8:45 am]
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