74372 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 209 / Tuesday, October 31, 2023 / Proposed Rules 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

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

easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD 

on the EASA website ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th 

Street, Des Moines, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 206–231–3195. 

(5) 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 fr.inspection@

nara.gov. 

Issued on October 20, 2023. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–23724 Filed 10–30–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1037; Project 

Identifier AD–2023–00511–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (SNPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA is revising a notice 

of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2020–26–08. AD 2020–26–08 applies to 

The Boeing Company Model 787–8, 

787–9, and 787–10 airplanes powered 

by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. This 

action revises the NPRM by proposing 

replacement of an additional upper 

splitter fairing assembly. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. Since these 

actions would impose an additional 

burden over those in the NPRM, the 

FAA is requesting comments on this 

SNPRM. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this SNPRM by December 15, 2023. 

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–2023–1037; 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 SNPRM, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations is 

listed above. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For service information identified 

in this SNPRM, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: 

Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 

2600 Westminster Boulevard, MC 110– 

SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; website: 

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 at 

regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2023–1037. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tak 

Kobayashi, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 

WA 98198; phone: 206–231–3553; 

email: takahisa.kobayashi@faa.gov. 

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–2023–1037; Project Identifier AD– 

2023–00511–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 again revise 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 proposed AD. 

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 SNPRM 

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 SNPRM, 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 SNPRM. Submissions containing 

CBI should be sent to Tak Kobayashi, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

phone: 206–231–3553; email: 

takahisa.kobayashi@faa.gov. 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 an NPRM to amend 

14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD to 

supersede AD 2020–26–08, Amendment 

39–21363 (85 FR 83755, December 23, 

2020) (AD 2020–26–08). AD 2020–26– 

08 applies to The Boeing Company 

Model 787–8, 787–9, and 787–10 

airplanes powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 

1000 engines. AD 2020–26–08 requires 

repetitive inspections of the inner fixed 

structure (IFS) forward upper fire seal 

and thermal insulation blankets in the 

forward upper area of the thrust reverser 

(TR) for damage and applicable oncondition actions. 

The NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on May 25, 2023 (88 FR 33851). 

The NPRM was prompted by a 

determination that a new upper splitter 

fairing assembly is needed to prevent 

damage to the fire seal and thermal 

insulation blanket. In the NPRM, the 

FAA proposed to continue to require the 

actions specified in AD 2020–26–08 and 

proposed to require determining if an 

affected part number of the upper 

splitter fairing assembly is installed on 

the engine, replacing an affected upper 

splitter fairing assembly part number 

with a new upper splitter fairing 

assembly part number, inspecting the 

IFS forward upper fire seal and thermal 

insulation blanket for any damage, and 


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1EASA subsequently revised its AD and issued 

EASA AD 2019–0099R2, dated September 6, 2019. 

As a result, the FAA issued AD 2020–05–01, 

Amendment 39–21102 (85 FR 13727, March 10, 

2020). 

applicable on-condition actions. This 

NPRM also proposed to prohibit the 

installation of affected parts. 

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued 

Since the FAA issued the NPRM, the 

FAA identified an additional affected 

upper splitter fairing assembly part 

number (P/N) that must be replaced to 

address the unsafe condition. The 

NPRM proposed to require, among other 

actions, replacing upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH60375. However, as 

explained in the ‘‘Request to Add Part 

Number’’ discussion below, P/N 

KH11560 is also subject to the unsafe 

condition. 

Comments 

The following discussion presents the 

comments received on the NPRM and 

the FAA’s response. 

Support 

The Air Line Pilots Association, 

International supported the NPRM 

without change. 

Request To Add a Part Number 

Boeing requested that the FAA revise 

all references of P/N KH60375 to both 

P/N KH60375 and KH11560. Boeing 

stated that P/N KH11560 is the original 

approved configuration of the upper 

splitter fairing and is still in use in 

service; P/N KH60375 is the 

configuration introduced after P/N 

KH11560. 

The FAA agrees. Upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH11560 is similar in 

design to P/N KH60375 and does not 

have a design feature to address the 

unsafe condition. Although Rolls Royce 

Alert Service Bulletin Trent 1000 72– 

AK759, dated July 28, 2022 (which is 

the service information referenced in 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated December 12, 2022), only 

specifies removing and replacing upper 

splitter fairing assembly P/N KH60375, 

the FAA contacted Boeing and 

confirmed that those same procedures 

can also be used to remove and replace 

P/N KH11560. The FAA has revised 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (2) of this 

proposed AD to refer to both P/N 

KH60375 and P/N KH11560. In 

addition, the FAA added paragraph 

(j)(2) to this proposed AD to clarify that 

although the service information 

referenced in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

December 12, 2022, does not specify 

both part numbers, this AD requires 

removing existing upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH60375 or P/N 

KH11560. Lastly, the FAA revised the 

parts installation prohibition in 

paragraph (k) of this proposed AD to 

refer to both P/N KH60375 and P/N 

KH11560. 

Request To Clarify the Parts 

Installation Prohibition 

An individual requested that the FAA 

change the part installation prohibition 

in paragraph (k) of the proposed AD 

from the airframe level to the engine 

level. The commenter stated that 

operators of airplanes powered by Trent 

1000 engines continue to comply with 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2019–0099 1 and that 

engines removed as part of the de-pair 

requirement of the EASA AD do not 

always have a long lead time for 

accomplishing the upper splitter fairing 

modification and do not always undergo 

a shop visit. The commenter further 

requested that the FAA allow the 

compliance time for the retained 

inspections in paragraph (g) of this 

proposed AD to ‘‘restart’’ if an engine 

with upper splitter fairing assembly P/ 

N KH99185 is replaced by another 

engine with upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH60375. 

The FAA disagrees with the changes 

to the proposed AD requested by the 

commenter. Paragraph (k) of this 

proposed AD is intended to address a 

rotability issue: an operator might take 

an affected part from another airplane or 

from an operator’s spare parts and 

unknowingly install it on an airplane or 

engine without the affected part, which 

would introduce the unsafe condition 

onto that airplane or engine. The final 

configuration intended by this proposed 

AD is an airplane with both engines that 

have an airworthy upper splitter fairing 

assembly installed. 

Paragraph (k)(1) of this proposed AD 

would impose the parts installation 

prohibition on airplanes with original 

airworthiness certificate or original 

export certificate of airworthiness 

issued after the effective date of this AD, 

except for airplanes listed in Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin B787– 

81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, 

dated December 12, 2022. This 

proposed prohibition at the airplane 

level would prevent introducing the 

unsafe condition onto airplanes that 

have the final configuration intended by 

the AD at the time of airplane delivery. 

Therefore, the FAA has not revised 

paragraph (k)(1) of this proposed AD. 

However, the FAA has revised 

paragraph (k)(2) of this proposed AD to 

simplify the installation prohibition for 

airplanes on which it is determined no 

affected parts are installed during the 

actions required by paragraph (i)(1) of 

this proposed AD. 

Request To Clarify Terminology 

Boeing requested the FAA correct the 

text in paragraph (j) of the proposed AD 

from ‘‘the original issue date of 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB720007–00 RB’’ to ‘‘the issue 001 date 

of Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB720007–00 RB.’’ Boeing stated that 

table in the ‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated December 12, 2022, does not 

use the phrase quoted in the proposed 

AD. 

The FAA agrees and has revised 

paragraph (j) of this proposed AD 

accordingly. 

Request To Fix Typographical Error 

Boeing requested the FAA correct the 

phrase under ‘‘Differences between This 

proposed AD and the Service 

Information’’ in the NPRM from ‘‘all 

Boeing Model 787–7, –8, and –9 

airplanes’’ to ‘‘all Boeing Model 787–8, 

–9, and –10 airplanes.’’ Boeing stated 

this is a typographical error because the 

applicable Boeing airplanes are Model 

787–8, –9, and –10. 

The FAA agrees and has revised the 

preamble text accordingly. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is proposing this AD after 

determining the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. Certain changes described 

above expand the scope of the NPRM. 

As a result, it is necessary to reopen the 

comment period to provide additional 

opportunity for the public to comment 

on this SNPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

December 12, 2022. This service 

information specifies replacing the 

upper splitter fairing assembly with a 

new upper splitter fairing assembly with 

ramp fairing incorporated and doing a 

general visual inspection of the IFS 

forward upper fire seal and thermal 

insulation blanket of the left and right 

TR halves for any damage. This service 

information also specifies applicable oncondition actions, including replacing 

the IFS forward upper fire seal and 

thermal insulation blanket of each TR 

half if damage is found. The procedures 


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in the service information apply to each 

affected engine. 

The FAA also reviewed Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780041–00, Issue 002, dated 

December 21, 2021. This service 

information contains procedures for 

repetitive inspections of the IFS forward 

upper fire seal and thermal insulation 

blanket of the left and right TR halves 

for any damage. This service 

information also specifies applicable oncondition actions, including replacing 

the IFS forward upper fire seal and 

thermal insulation blanket of each TR 

half if damage is found. The procedures 

in the service information apply to each 

affected engine. 

This proposed AD would also require 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB780041–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated March 31, 2020, which the 

Director of the Federal Register 

approved for incorporation by reference 

as of January 27, 2021 (85 FR 83755, 

December 23, 2020). 

This service information 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 

SNPRM 

This proposed AD would retain all 

requirements of AD 2020–26–08. 

Accomplishing the new actions 

proposed in this AD would terminate 

the requirements of AD 2020–26–08. 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information already 

described, except as discussed under 

‘‘Differences Between this Proposed AD 

and the Service Information’’ and 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. With this SNPRM, the FAA is 

proposing replacement of an additional 

upper splitter fairing assembly. For 

information on the procedures and 

compliance times, see this service 

information at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2023–1037. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

The effectivity of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

December 12, 2022, is limited to Model 

787–8, –9 and –10 airplanes having 

certain line numbers. However, the 

applicability of this proposed AD 

includes all Boeing Model 787–8, –9, 

and –10 airplanes with Rolls-Royce 

Trent 1000 engines installed. Because 

the affected upper splitter fairing 

assembly are rotable parts, the FAA has 

determined that these parts could later 

be installed on airplanes that were 

initially delivered with acceptable 

upper splitter fairing assembly, thereby 

subjecting those airplanes to the unsafe 

condition. The FAA has determined that 

the Accomplishment Instructions in 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated December 12, 2022, can be 

applied to airplanes outside the 

effectivity of the service information if 

an affected part is installed on those 

airplanes. This proposed AD includes 

an inspection or records review to 

determine if an affected part is installed. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 13 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA 

estimates the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators 

Inspection (retained actions 

from AD 2020–26–08).

2 work-hours × $85 per hour 

= $170 per inspection cycle.

$0 $170 per inspection cycle ...... $2,210 per inspection cycle. 

Inspection or records review 

(new proposed action).

1 work-hour × $85 per hour = 

$85.

0 $85 ......................................... $1,105. 

Replacement of each upper 

splitter fairing assembly 

(new proposed action).

71 work-hours × $85 per hour 

= $6,035.

230,000 $236,035 ................................ $3,068,455. 

Inspection (new proposed action).2 work-hours × $85 per hour 

= $170.

0 $170 ....................................... $2,210. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary 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 

Fire seal replacement .................... 2 work-hours × $85 per hour = 

$170 per TR half.

$1,383 per TR half ....................... $1,553 per TR half (4 TR halves 

per airplane). 

Thermal insulation blanket replacement.1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 

per TR half.

$18,214 per TR half ..................... $18,299 per TR half. 

According to the manufacturer, some 

of the costs of this proposed AD may be 

covered under warranty by Goodrich, 

thereby reducing the cost impact on 

affected operators. The FAA does not 

control warranty coverage for affected 

operators. As a result, the FAA has 

included all known costs in the cost 

estimate. 

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 


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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 

■ 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: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) 2020–26–08, Amendment 39– 

21363 (85 FR 83755, December 23, 

2020); and 

■ b. Adding the following new AD: 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2023–1037; Project Identifier AD–2023– 

00511–T. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by December 15, 

2023. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2020–26–08, 

Amendment 39–21363 (85 FR 83755, 

December 23, 2020) (AD 2020–26–08). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to The Boeing Company 

Model 787–8, 787–9, and 787–10 airplanes, 

certificated in any category, with Rolls-Royce 

Trent 1000 engines installed. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 72, Turbine/turboprop engine. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of RollsRoyce Trent 1000 powered airplanes having 

damage to the thrust reverser inner fixed 

structure (IFS) forward upper fire seal and 

damage to thermal insulation blankets in the 

forward upper area of the thrust reverser 

(TR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the damage to the IFS forward upper fire seal 

and the thermal insulation blankets of the TR 

due to airflow through structural gapping 

that could occur at the interface between the 

leading edge of the IFS and the engine 

splitter structure during flight. Failure of the 

IFS forward upper fire seal could cause the 

loss of seal pressurization and degrade the 

ability to detect and extinguish an engine 

fire, resulting in an uncontrolled fire. Damage 

to the TR insulation blanket could result in 

thermal damage to the TR inner wall, the 

subsequent release of engine exhaust 

components, and consequent damage to 

critical areas of the airplane. Furthermore, 

damage to the TR inner wall and IFS forward 

upper fire seal could compromise the 

integrity of the firewall and its ability to 

contain an engine fire, resulting in an 

uncontrolled fire. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Retained Actions, With Additional 

Service Information, Revised Affected 

Airplanes, and New Terminating Action 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (g) of AD 2020–26–08, with 

additional service information, revised 

affected airplanes, and new terminating 

action. For airplanes with an original 

airworthiness certificate or original export 

certificate of airworthiness issued on or 

before the effective date of this AD and for 

airplanes listed in the ‘‘Effectivity’’ section of 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787– 

81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

December 12, 2022: 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–SB780041–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated March 31, 2020, or Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780041–00, Issue 002, dated December 21, 

2021, do all applicable actions identified in, 

and in accordance with, the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin B787–81205–SB780041–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated March 31, 2020, or Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780041–00, Issue 002, dated December 21, 

2021. Accomplishing the actions required by 

paragraph (i)(2) of this AD terminates 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– 

SB780041–00, Issue 001, dated March 31, 

2020, which is referred to in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780041–00 RB, Issue 001, dated March 31, 

2020; or in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB780041–00, Issue 002, dated 

December 21, 2021, which is referred to in 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787– 

81205–SB780041–00, Issue 002, dated 

December 21, 2021. 

(h) Retained Exceptions to Service 

Information Specifications for Paragraph (g) 

of This AD, With Additional Service 

Information 

This paragraph restates the exceptions 

specified in paragraph (h) of AD 2020–26–08, 

with additional service information. Where 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787– 

81205–SB780041–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

March 31, 2020, or Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780041–00, Issue 002, dated December 21, 

2021, uses the phrase ‘‘the Issue 001 date of 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780041–00 RB,’’ this AD requires using 

January 27, 2021, (the effective date of AD 

2020–26–08). 

(i) New Required Actions 

(1) For airplanes with original 

airworthiness certificate or original export 

certificate of airworthiness issued on or 

before the effective date of this AD and for 

airplanes listed in the ‘‘Effectivity’’ section of 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787– 

81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

December 12, 2022: Within 7 years after the 

effective date of this AD, or within 7 years 

after the date of issuance of the original 

airworthiness certificate or original export 

certificate of airworthiness, whichever occurs 

later, inspect the airplane to determine the 

part number of the upper splitter fairing 

assembly installed on each engine. A review 

of airplane maintenance records is acceptable 

in lieu of this inspection if the part number 

of the upper splitter fairing assembly can be 

conclusively determined from that review. 

For engines on which no upper splitter 

fairing assembly part number (P/N) KH60375 

or P/N KH11560 is installed, the actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD are no 

longer required for that engine. 

(2) If, during any inspection or records 

review required by paragraph (i)(1) of this 

AD, an upper splitter fairing assembly P/N 

KH60375 or P/N KH11560 is found on any 

engine of an airplane: 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–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated December 12, 2022, do all 

applicable actions identified in, and in 

accordance with, the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements 


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Bulletin B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated December 12, 2022, for each 

affected engine. Accomplishing the actions 

required by this paragraph on all affected 

engines of an airplane terminates the actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD for that 

airplane. 

Note 2 to paragraph (i)(2): Guidance for 

accomplishing the actions required by 

paragraph (i)(2) of this AD can be found in 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB720007–00, Issue 001, dated December 12, 

2022, which is referred to in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated December 

12, 2022. 

(j) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications for Paragraph (i)(2) of This 

AD 

(1) Where the ‘‘Compliance Time column 

of table 5 in the ‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787– 

81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, dated 

December 12, 2022, uses the phrase ‘‘the 

Issue 001 date of Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB,’’ this AD 

requires using ‘‘the effective date of this AD.’’ 

(2) Where the service information 

referenced in Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated December 12, 2022, specifies to 

remove the existing upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH60375, this AD requires 

removing the existing upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH60375 or P/N KH11560. 

(k) Parts Installation Prohibition 

(1) For airplanes with an original 

airworthiness certificate or original export 

certificate of airworthiness issued after the 

effective date of this AD, except for airplanes 

listed in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, 

dated December 12, 2022: As of the effective 

date of this AD, no person may install an 

engine with an upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH60375 or P/N KH11560 on 

any airplane. 

(2) For airplanes with original 

airworthiness certificate or original export 

certificate of airworthiness issued on or 

before the effective date of this AD and for 

airplanes listed in Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 

001, dated December 12, 2022, on which, 

during the actions required by paragraph 

(i)(1) of this AD, no upper splitter fairing 

assembly P/N KH60375 or P/N KH11560 was 

installed on both engines: After 

accomplishing the inspection or records 

review required by paragraph (i)(1) of this 

AD, no person may install an engine with an 

upper splitter fairing assembly P/N KH60375 

or P/N KH11560 for replacement of an engine 

on those airplanes. 

(l) 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 AIR–520, Continued 

Operational Safety Branch, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (m) of this AD. Information may be 

emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@faa.gov. 

(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, 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. 

(m) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Tak Kobayashi, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206–231–3553; 

email: takahisa.kobayashi@faa.gov. 

(n) 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. 

(3) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on [DATE 35 DAYS AFTER 

PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE]. 

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB720007–00 RB, Issue 001, 

dated December 12, 2022. 

(ii) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB780041–00, Issue 002, dated 

December 21, 2021. 

(4) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on January 27, 2021 (85 FR 

83755, December 23, 2020). 

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

B787–81205–SB780041–00 RB, Issue 001, 

dated March 31, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(5) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster 

Boulevard, MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 

90740–5600; telephone 562–797–1717; 

website: myboeingfleet.com. 

(6) 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. 

(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 fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on October 19, 2023. 

Caitlin Locke, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–23520 Filed 10–30–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–2138; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00870–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, 

A320, and A321 airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a 

determination that new or more 

restrictive airworthiness limitations are 

necessary. This proposed AD would 

require revising the existing 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate new or more 

restrictive airworthiness limitations, as 

specified in a European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is 

proposed for incorporation by reference 

(IBR). 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 December 15, 

2023. 

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–2023–2138; or in person at 

Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1