This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

34753 

Vol. 83, No. 141 

Monday, July 23, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0114; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–167–AD; Amendment 

39–19335; AD 2018–15–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for The 

Boeing Company Model 787 series 

airplanes powered by Rolls Royce Trent 

1000 engines. This AD was prompted by 

a report of failures of the inner fixed 

structure (IFS) forward upper fire seal 

and damage to thermal insulation 

blankets in the forward upper area of 

the thrust reverser (TR). This AD 

requires an inspection to determine the 

part number of the IFS forward upper 

fire seal, and applicable on-condition 

actions. We are issuing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective August 27, 

2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of August 27, 2018. 

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 referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport 

Standards 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 http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0114. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0114; 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, 

the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The address for Docket 

Operations (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Docket Operations, 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; phone: 206–231–3553; 

email: Takahisa.Kobayashi@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to The Boeing Company Model 

787 series airplanes powered by Rolls 

Royce Trent 1000 engines. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

February 23, 2018 (83 FR 8017). The 

NPRM was prompted by reports of 

failures of the IFS forward upper fire 

seal and damage to thermal insulation 

blankets in the forward upper area of 

the TR. The NPRM proposed to require 

an inspection to determine the part 

number of the IFS forward upper fire 

seal, and applicable on-condition 

actions. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent 

failure of the IFS forward upper fire 

seal, which causes the loss of seal 

pressurization and allows fan bypass air 

to enter the engine core compartment. 

Fan bypass air entering the engine core 

compartment could degrade the ability 

to detect and extinguish an engine fire, 

resulting in an uncontrolled fire. 

Furthermore, fan bypass air entering the 

engine core compartment could cause 

damage to the TR insulation blanket, 

resulting in thermal damage to the TR 

inner wall, the subsequent release of 

engine exhaust components, and 

consequent damage to critical areas of 

the airplane. 

Comments 

We 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. 

Support for the NPRM 

Boeing supported the intent of the 

NPRM. 

Request To Include Additional Action 

An anonymous commenter requested 

that an additional action be included in 

the proposed AD. The commenter 

proposed that Boeing develop an 

inspection of the thermal blankets and 

fire seals to ensure the integrity and safe 

operation of these components. The 

commenter expressed concern that a 

thermal blanket could fail due to 

insufficient sealing by the fire seals that 

have incorporated the modification 

mandated by this AD. The modification 

of the fire seals is specified in Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780033–00, Issue 001, dated 

November 1, 2017 (‘‘BASB B787– 

81205–SB780033–00, Issue 001’’). 

The commenter stated that the postmodification fire seals are still failing. 

The commenter is aware of 30 findings 

of fire seal/thermal blanket damage 

across a fleet size of 16 airplanes. The 

commenter noted that there were 18 

findings prior to incorporation of the 

modification of the fire seals specified 

in BASB B787–81205–SB780033–00, 

Issue 001, and 12 findings after 

incorporation of that modification. The 

commenter is concerned that the unsafe 

condition addressed by this AD could 

still exist after accomplishment of the 

mandatory modification. 

We do not agree with the commenter’s 

request. We do not want to delay the 

publication of this AD by adding a new 

inspection requirement that will require 

additional time for public comment. We 

have determined that the modification 

of the fire seals required by this AD 

addresses the design issue of the fire 

seal end cap that resulted in failure of 

the IFS forward upper fire seal and 

damage to the thermal blanket. We are 

aware of operator reports that damage to 

the IFS forward upper fire seal and 


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34754 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

thermal blanket has been discovered on 

airplanes on which the modification 

specified in BASB B787–81205– 

SB780033–00, Issue 001, has been done. 

The airplane manufacturer is 

investigating the root cause of this 

damage and, when the root cause is 

identified, we may consider further 

rulemaking at that time. We have not 

changed this AD in this regard. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. We have 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. 

Related Service Information Under 

1 CFR Part 51 

Boeing has issued Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin B787–81205– 

SB780033–00, Issue 001, dated 

November 1, 2017. This service 

information describes procedures for an 

inspection to determine the part number 

of the IFS forward upper fire seal and 

applicable on-condition actions. 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 the ADDRESSES section. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 13 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate 

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 

Inspection ................................ 8 work-hours × $85 per hour = $680 ..................................... $0 $680 $8,840 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any necessary on-condition actions that 

will be required. We have no way of 

determining the number of aircraft that 

might need these on-condition actions: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

8 work-hours × $85 per hour = $680 (fire seal replacement, 4 per airplane) ........................................................ $4,532 $5,212 

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. 

We are 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. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to transport category 

airplanes and associated appliances to 

the Director of the System Oversight 

Division. 

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) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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 (AD): 

2018–15–03 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–19335; Docket No. 

FAA–2018–0114; Product Identifier 

2017–NM–167–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective August 27, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 34755 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to The Boeing Company 

Model 787 series airplanes, certificated in 

any category, powered by Rolls Royce Trent 

1000 engines. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 78, Engine Exhaust System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

failures of the inner fixed structure (IFS) 

forward upper fire seal and damage to 

thermal insulation blankets in the forward 

upper area of the thrust reverser (TR). We are 

issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IFS 

forward upper fire seal, which causes the loss 

of seal pressurization and allows fan bypass 

air to enter the engine core compartment. Fan 

bypass air entering the engine core 

compartment could degrade the ability to 

detect and extinguish an engine fire, 

resulting in an uncontrolled fire. 

Furthermore, fan bypass air entering the 

engine core compartment could cause 

damage to the TR insulation blanket, 

resulting in thermal damage to the TR inner 

wall, the subsequent release of engine 

exhaust components, and consequent damage 

to critical areas of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

For Model 787–8 and 787–9 series 

airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin B787–81205–SB780033–00, Issue 

001, dated November 1, 2017 (‘‘BASB B787– 

81205–SB780033–00, Issue 001’’): Within 36 

months after the effective date of this AD, do 

all applicable actions identified as ‘‘RC’’ 

(required for compliance) in, and in 

accordance with, the Accomplishment 

Instructions of BASB B787–81205– 

SB780033–00, Issue 001. 

(h) Parts Installation Prohibition 

For Model 787 series airplanes powered by 

Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines, as of the 

effective date of this AD, no person may 

install a thrust reverser with an IFS forward 

upper fire seal having part number (P/N) 

725Z3171–127 or P/N 725Z3171–128. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO 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 local Flight Standards 

District 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 (j) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district 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 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO 

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) For service information that contains 

steps that are labeled as RC, the provisions 

of paragraphs (i)(4)(i) and (i)(4)(ii) of this AD 

apply. 

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including 

substeps under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done to 

comply with the AD. If a step or substep is 

labeled ‘‘RC Exempt,’’ then the RC 

requirement is removed from that step or 

substep. An AMOC is required for any 

deviations to RC steps, including substeps 

and identified figures. 

(ii) Steps not labeled 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 RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Tak Kobayashi, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

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

WA 98198; phone: 206–231–3553; email: 

Takahisa.Kobayashi@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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787– 

81205–SB780033–00, Issue 001, dated 

November 1, 2017. 

(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, Transport Standards 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, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

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

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on July 

13, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–15535 Filed 7–20–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–1237; Product 

Identifier 2017–NE–43–AD; Amendment 39– 

19333; AD 2018–15–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce 

plc Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Trent 1000–A, 

Trent 1000–C, Trent 1000–D, Trent 

1000–E, Trent 1000–G, Trent 1000–H, 

Trent 1000–A2, Trent 1000–C2, Trent 

1000–D2, Trent 1000–E2, Trent 1000– 

G2, Trent 1000–H2, Trent 1000–J2, 

Trent 1000–K2, and Trent 1000–L2 

engine models. This AD requires certain 

engines susceptible to intermediatepressure turbine (IPT) blade failure not 

be installed on an airplane together with 

other engines with IPT blades of the 

same age. This AD was prompted by 

new operating restrictions for engines 

with IPT blades susceptible to shank 

corrosion and possible blade separation. 

We are issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective August 7, 

2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of August 7, 2018. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by September 6, 2018. 

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 

http://www.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. 


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