Transport Airplane Directorate

1601 Lind Avenue, S.W.

Renton, Washington 98057-3356

August 5, 2011 Exemption No. 10267A

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2010-1268

Ms. Christine M. Thompson

Lead Program Administrator, Development Projects

The Boeing Company 

PO Box 3707 MC 03-56

Seattle, WA 98124-2207

Dear Ms. Thompson:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition for amendment to 

Exemption No. 10267. It explains the basis for our decision and describes its effect.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated July 15, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of The Boeing Company for an amendment to Exemption No. 10267. That 

exemption from § § 25.1305(c)(6) and 25.1309(c), Amendment 25-120, of Title 14, Code 

of Federal Regulations, provides The Boeing Company temporary relief from the cockpit 

indication requirements for indicating fuel system contamination on Boeing Model 747-8 

and 747-8F airplanes. The amendments you request would improve the inspection 

procedures required as a condition of the exemption so one engine is inspected at a 

specified time rather than inspecting multiple engines at the same time. This is needed to 

reduce the likelihood of a maintenance error causing multiple engine failure. 

It is our understanding that there has been no change in the intent of the conditions and 

reasons relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original 

exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the 

petition in the Federal Register because the requested amendment to the exemption would 

not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to The 

Boeing Company.

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 10267, 

remains valid with respect to this amendment and is in the public interest. Therefore, 
under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition for amendment to Exemption 

No. 10267.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision amends Exemption No. 10267 to clarify the procedures of provision 

number 1. That provision requires the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 

Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to include procedures for inspecting the engine 

fuel strainer located upstream of the engine driven pump for contaminants after the first 

flight following maintenance actions where personnel enter into the center wing fuel 

tank. The amended provisions require inspection of the engine fuel strainer maintenance 

indicators after the first flight, and inspection of engines at specified flight hours intervals 

instead of after a single flight. The amended provision number 1 is as follows: 

1. For Model 747-8/-8F airplanes granted a certificate of airworthiness before June 30, 

2014, the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness must include a limitation that requires operators to verify that 

contaminants have not accumulated on the fuel strainer located upstream of the engine 

driven fuel pump. The limitation must also require an inspection of the fuel cooled oil 

cooler if the fuel strainer has bypassed fuel. The airworthiness limitation must require 

these actions following any maintenance action that resulted in personnel entry into the 

center wing fuel tank:

a. After the first flight following tank entry, access and analyze the messages from the 

engine indication and crew alerting system and central maintenance computer to 

detect any bypass or impending bypass of any of the engine fuel strainers. 

b. Perform a physical inspection of the engine fuel strainer from one engine within 

20 flight hours.

c. Perform a second physical inspection of the engine fuel strainer from a second 

engine within 40 flight hours.

All other conditions and limitations of Exemption No. 10267 remain the same. This 

letter must be attached to, and is a part of, Exemption No. 10267.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Ali Bahrami

Ali Bahrami

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate

Aircraft Certification Service