Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 10787 

(k) 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 service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 717– 

30A0009, dated March 31, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information 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; internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

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. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

email fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https:// 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on January 14, 2021. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03591 Filed 2–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0673; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–076–AD; Amendment 

39–21395; AD 2021–02–12] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus SAS Model A330–200 series 

airplanes, Model A330–200 Freighter 

series airplanes, Model A330–300 series 

airplanes, Model A330–900 series 

airplanes, Model A340–200 series 

airplanes, Model A340–300 series 

airplanes, Model A340–500 series 

airplanes, Model A340–600 series 

airplanes, Model A380–800 series 

airplanes; and Model A350–941 and 

–1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by a report of a quality issue with a 

certain repair method of damagethrough honeycomb core cargo linings 

by speed patches applied to both sides. 

This AD requires repair of each affected 

part, or replacement with a serviceable 

part, as specified in a European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, 

which is incorporated by reference. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 30, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 30, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 8999 000; email ADs@

easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may 

view this IBR 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 in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0673. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0673; 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large 

Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

phone and fax: 206–231–3225; email: 

dan.rodina@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2020–100R1, dated November 4, 2020 

(EASA AD 2020–100R1) (also referred to 

as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or the 

MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Airbus SAS Model A330–200 

series airplanes, Model A330–200 

Freighter series airplanes, Model A330– 

300 series airplanes, Model A330–900 

series airplanes, Model A340–200 series 

airplanes, Model A340–300 series 

airplanes, Model A340–500 series 

airplanes, Model A340–600 series 

airplanes, Model A380–800 series 

airplanes; and Model A350–941 and 

–1041 airplanes. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to all Airbus SAS Model A330– 

200 series airplanes, Model A330–200 

Freighter series airplanes, Model A330– 

300 series airplanes, Model A330–900 

series airplanes, Model A340–200 series 

airplanes, Model A340–300 series 

airplanes, Model A340–500 series 

airplanes, Model A340–600 series 

airplanes, Model A380–800 series 

airplanes; and Model A350–941 and 

–1041 airplanes. The NPRM published 

in the Federal Register on July 28, 2020 

(85 FR 45350). The NPRM was 

prompted by a report of a quality issue 

with a certain repair method of damagethrough honeycomb core cargo linings 

by speed patches applied to both sides. 

The NPRM proposed to require a 

detailed inspection of each affected part 

and, depending on findings, repair of 

each affected part, or replacement with 

a serviceable part, as specified in an 

EASA AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

reduced ability of repaired linings to 

contain smoke or fire, resulting in an 

increased risk of an uncontained fire in 

the cargo compartment and consequent 

structural damage to the airplane. See 

the MCAI for additional background 

information. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The following presents 

the comments received on the NPRM 

and the FAA’s response to each 

comment. 

Requests To Reference Revised EASA 

AD 

American Airlines and Delta Airlines 

(DAL) requested that the FAA revise the 

proposed AD to reference EASA AD 

2020–100R1. DAL pointed out that there 

are several instances where the 

requirements in EASA AD 2020–0100 

are unclear, contradictory to the source 

10788 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

documents, or unnecessarily restrictive 

to operators. DAL further asserted that, 

if the final rule is published using EASA 

AD 2020–0100, it will have to request 

several alternative methods of 

compliance (AMOCs) in order to 

comply with the proposed 

requirements. In addition, DAL 

provided a detailed discussion of the 

changes identified in EASA AD 2020– 

100R1 and how those changes would 

favorably impact operators, pointing out 

that certain inspection and repair 

requirements necessary to complete the 

actions specified in the proposed AD are 

clarified. 

The FAA agrees with the requests for 

the reasons provided. The FAA has 

determined that the changes in EASA 

AD 2020–100R1 are relieving in nature 

(removing the requirement for a onetime detailed inspection (DET) of each 

affected part) and that this final rule 

should reference the revised EASA AD. 

Therefore, the FAA has revised this AD 

to refer to EASA AD 2020–100R1, dated 

November 4, 2020. The FAA has also 

revised the SUMMARY and Related 

Service Information under 1 CFR part 51 

and Costs of Compliance sections of this 

AD to remove reference to the one-time 

detailed inspection that is no longer 

required by this AD. 

Request To Use Flight Days Instead of 

Calendar Days 

DAL requested that the proposed AD 

be revised to use flight days instead of 

calendar days to ensure that the 

requirements can be easily 

accomplished within a C-Check 

schedule. DAL noted that the inspection 

and rework of the ceiling, partition, and 

sidewall linings in the forward, aft and 

bulk cargo compartments is a laborintensive activity that will be difficult to 

accomplish in any check shorter than a 

C-check without jeopardizing the ‘return 

to service’ dates for affected aircraft. 

Further, DAL noted that the required 

rework might then require special visits 

in order to be fully accomplished. DAL 

stated that due to the current global 

circumstances with the pandemic, some 

operators have grounded airplanes and 

reduced workforces to help account for 

decreased flying demand, so 

accommodating a special visit will be 

more difficult than during normal 

operations. DAL noted that, for 

operators that are affected by global 

circumstances, the flammability risk of 

the discrepant repair should not be 

present when the airplane is parked 

with no power and cargo, and that 

additional time for compliance should 

be granted with an equivalent level of 

safety present. 

The FAA disagrees with the request. 

Using flight days versus calendar days 

would be difficult for operators to track 

AD compliance. AD compliance 

requirements are calculated 

independently of scheduled 

maintenance periods. Also, showing 

compliance with the AD does not 

require the airplane to be on a C-check 

schedule. The FAA has determined that 

a compliance time of 23 months from 

the effective date of the AD represents 

an adequate amount of time to 

accomplish the actions required. If an 

operator is unable to accomplish the 

actions for whatever reason or has the 

airplane in storage, it may request 

approval of an AMOC under the 

provisions of paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. 

We have not changed this AD in this 

regard. 

Request To Add Exceptions To Address 

Errors in Required for Compliance (RC) 

Procedures 

DAL requested that the FAA add two 

exceptions to paragraph (h) of the 

proposed AD to address errors in RC 

procedures specified in the service 

information referenced in EASA AD 

2020–100R1. DAL pointed out that 

Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) 

Task A330–A–25–XX–3743–02001– 

690A–C specified in Airbus Service 

Bulletin A330–25–3743, dated 

September 23, 2019, includes a 

typographical error in a measurement. 

Additionally, DAL pointed out that 

AMM Task A330–A–25–XX–3743– 

01001–520A–A specified in Airbus 

Service Bulletin A330–25–3743, dated 

September 23, 2019, also specifies an 

incorrect AMM task reference for 

removing cargo liners in the forward 

cargo compartment. DAL suggested 

wording for the requested exceptions. 

The FAA has confirmed the 

typographical errors and agrees with the 

request for the reasons provided. The 

FAA has revised paragraph (h) of this 

AD accordingly. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule with the changes described 

previously and minor editorial changes. 

The FAA has determined that these 

minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

The FAA also determined that these 

changes will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator or increase the 

scope of this final rule. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2020–100R1, dated 

November 4, 2020, describes procedures 

for repair of each affected part, or 

replacement with a serviceable part. 

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 127 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Repair ................ 2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 ........................................................... * $ $170 $21,590 

* The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable the FAA to provide cost estimates for the parts required for the repairs specified in 

this AD. 

The FAA has received no definitive 

data that would enable the FAA to 

provide cost estimates for the 

replacements specified in this AD. 

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. 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 10789 

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. 

Adoption of 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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2021–02–12 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39– 

21395; Docket No. FAA–2020–0673; 

Product Identifier 2020–NM–076–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective March 30, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Airbus SAS 

airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 

through (10) of this AD, certificated in any 

category. 

(1) Model A330–201, –202, –203, –223, and 

–243 airplanes. 

(2) Model A330–223F and –243F airplanes. 

(3) Model A330–301, –302, –303, –321, 

–322, –323, –341, –342, and –343 airplanes. 

(4) Model A330–941 airplanes. 

(5) Model A340–211, –212, and –213 

airplanes. 

(6) Model A340–311, –312, and –313 

airplanes. 

(7) Model A340–541 airplanes. 

(8) Model A340–642 airplanes. 

(9) Model A350–941 and –1041 airplanes. 

(10) Model A380–841, –842, and –861 

airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25, Equipment/furnishings. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a report of a 

quality issue with a certain repair method of 

damage-through honeycomb core cargo 

linings by speed patches applied to both 

sides. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

reduced ability of repaired linings to contain 

smoke or fire, resulting in an increased risk 

of an uncontained fire in the cargo 

compartment and consequent structural 

damage to the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020–100R1, 

dated November 4, 2020 (EASA AD 2020– 

100R1). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020–100R1 

(1) Where EASA AD 2020–100R1 refers to 

its effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2020–100R1 refers to 

‘‘19 May 2020 [the effective date of EASA AD 

2020–0100 at original issue],’’ this AD 

requires using the effective date of this AD. 

(3) Where task Aircraft Maintenance 

Manual (AMM) A330–A–25–XX–3743– 

02001–690A–C specified in Airbus Service 

Bulletin A330–25–3743, dated September 23, 

2019, states the measured dimension shall be 

equal to or more than ‘‘30 mm (1.81 in),’’ this 

AD requires using the measured dimension 

of ‘‘30 mm (1.18 in).’’ 

(4) Where AMM task A330–A–25–XX– 

3743–01001–520A–A of Airbus Service 

Bulletin A330–25–3743, dated September 23, 

2019, states, ‘‘For the FWD cargocompartment, refer to Ref. AMM Task 25–54– 

00–000–801,’’ this AD requires using, ‘‘For 

the FWD cargo-compartment, refer to Ref. 

AMM Task 25–52–00–000–801.’’ 

(5) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2020–100R1 does not apply to this AD. 

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation 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 Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any 

approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the responsible 

Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Airbus SAS’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except 

as required by paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if 

any service information contains procedures 

or tests that are identified as RC, those 

procedures and tests must be done to comply 

with this AD; any procedures or tests that are 

not identified as RC are recommended. Those 

procedures and tests that are not identified 

as RC may be deviated from using accepted 

methods in accordance with the operator’s 

maintenance or inspection program without 

obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided 

the procedures and tests identified as RC can 

be done and the airplane can be put back in 

an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or 

changes to procedures or tests identified as 

RC require approval of an AMOC. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 

206–231–3225; email: dan.rodina@faa.gov. 

(k) 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 service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–100R1, dated November 4, 

2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2020–100R1, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

10790 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) 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. This material may be found 

in the AD docket on the internet at https:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2020–0673. 

(5) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on January 14, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03594 Filed 2–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0580; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–052–AD; Amendment 

39–21389; AD 2021–02–06] 

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) 2019–02– 

03, which applied to all The Boeing 

Company Model 787–8, 787–9, and 

787–10 airplanes. AD 2019–02–03 

required revising the existing 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate new or more 

restrictive airworthiness limitations. 

This AD retains the requirements of AD 

2019–02–03 and requires incorporation 

of an airworthiness limitation that 

applies only to certain airplanes. This 

AD also requires replacing or modifying 

certain engine fire control panels, which 

terminates the revised airworthiness 

limitation added in this final rule when 

a certain condition is met. Since the 

FAA issued AD 2019–02–03, the 

manufacturer has developed a new fire 

handle design that will eliminate the 

need for the airworthiness limitations 

required by AD 2019–02–03. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 30, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 30, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, 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; internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may view this service information 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 on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0580. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0580; 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tak 

Kobayashi, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206– 

231–3553; email: takahisa.kobayashi@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to supersede AD 2019–02–03, 

Amendment 39–19550 (84 FR 2437, 

February 7, 2019) (AD 2019–02–03). AD 

2019–02–03 applied to all The Boeing 

Company Model 787–8, 787–9, and 

787–10 airplanes. The NPRM published 

in the Federal Register on July 15, 2020 

(85 FR 42749). The NPRM was 

prompted by reports of warpage of 

internal engine fire handle components 

that can cause binding and prevent 

proper operation, and by the 

development of a new fire handle 

design that will eliminate the need for 

the airworthiness limitations required 

by AD 2019–02–03. The NPRM 

proposed to retain the requirements of 

AD 2019–02–03 and to require 

incorporation of an airworthiness 

limitation that applies only to certain 

airplanes. The NPRM also proposed to 

require replacing or modifying certain 

engine fire control panels, which would 

terminate the revised airworthiness 

limitation added in this final rule when 

a certain condition is met. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address a latent 

failure of the engine fire handle, which 

could result in the inability to 

extinguish an engine fire that, if 

uncontrollable, could lead to wing 

failure. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this AD. The following presents the 

comments received on the NPRM and 

the FAA’s response to each comment. 

Request To Expand Approved 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

Boeing asked that paragraph (o)(4) of 

the proposed AD (paragraph (p)(4) of 

this AD), which specifies ‘‘AMOCs 

approved previously for AD 2019–02–03 

are approved as AMOCs for the 

corresponding provisions of paragraph 

(g) of this AD,’’ also include approval of 

AMOCs for the corresponding 

provisions of paragraph (k) of the 

proposed AD. Boeing stated that 

approved AMOC RA–19–00263 (Boeing 

letter requesting an AMOC for AD 2019– 

02–03) provides inspection instructions 

equivalent to Airworthiness Limitation 

28–AWL–FIRE in figure 1 to paragraph 

(g) of the proposed AD. Boeing added 

that the inspection instructions of 28– 

AWL–FIRE in figure 1 to paragraph (g) 

of the proposed AD and in figure 2 to 

paragraph (k) of the proposed AD are 

identical. 

The FAA partially agrees with the 

commenter’s request. The FAA 

previously approved Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB260007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

February 22, 2019, as an AMOC to the 

requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 

2019–02–03. The inspection 

instructions provided in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB260007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

February 22, 2019, are equivalent to 28– 

AWL–FIRE in figure 1 to paragraph (g) 

of this AD and in figure 2 to paragraph 

(k) of this AD. Because paragraph (k) is 

a new requirement of this AD, the FAA 

has instead added the action as an 

alternative terminating action, 

paragraph (l) of this AD, for the 

repetitive inspections for airplanes 

equipped with an engine fire control 

panel having part number (P/N)