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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 4, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8914-8915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02069]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1884; Project Identifier AD-2023-00948-T]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-08-04, 
which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 
787-10 airplanes. The NPRM was prompted by reports of a loss of water 
pressure during flight and water leaks that affected multiple pieces of 
electronic equipment, and by the discovery that some clamshell 
couplings did not have the required safety strap. The NPRM would have 
required inspecting all door 1 and door 3 lavatory and galley potable 
water systems for missing or incorrectly installed clamshell couplings, 
inspecting all clamshell couplings for the presence and correct 
installation of safety straps at door 1 and door 3 lavatories and 
galleys with a potable water system, and performing applicable on-
condition actions. The NPRM would have also prohibited the installation 
of affected parts at inspection locations and removed Model 787-10 
airplanes from the applicability. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA 
has determined that the identified service information may not 
adequately address the unsafe condition on one of the galleys, and 
Model 787-10 airplanes should be included in the applicability. 
Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

DATES: As of February 4, 2025, the proposed rule, which was published 
in the Federal Register on July 15, 2024 (89 FR 57374), is withdrawn.

ADDRESSES:  AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2024-1884; 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 AD action, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

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:

Background

    The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 
2023-08-04, Amendment 39-22419 (88 FR 33823, May 25, 2023) (AD 2023-08-
04). AD 2023-08-04 applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 
787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on July 15, 2024 (89 FR 57374). The NPRM was prompted by 
reports of a loss of water pressure during flight and water leaks that 
affected multiple pieces of electronic equipment. The NPRM was further 
prompted by the discovery that some clamshell couplings did not have 
the required safety strap and by the development of a design solution 
that replaces the strapless clamshell couplings with clamshell 
couplings that have safety straps to address the unsafe condition. In 
the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require inspecting all door 1 
and door 3 lavatory and galley potable water systems for missing or 
incorrectly installed clamshell couplings, and performing applicable 
on-condition actions. The NPRM also proposed to require inspecting all 
clamshell couplings for the presence and correct installation of safety 
straps at door 1 and door 3 lavatories and galleys with a potable water 
system, and performing applicable on-condition actions. The NPRM would 
have also prohibited the installation of affected parts at inspection 
locations and removed Model 787-10 airplanes from the applicability.
    The proposed actions were intended to address water leaks and water 
migration to critical flight equipment, which may affect the continued 
safe flight and landing of the airplane.

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since issuance of the NPRM, Boeing advised the FAA that an 
inspection area is missing from Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB, Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023(as specified 
in paragraph (j) of the proposed AD). As a result, the NPRM may not 
adequately address the unsafe condition on one of the galleys. 
Specifically, Task 3, Figure 10, needs to be updated to add an 
inspection area to the FWD galley located at Door 1. According to 
Boeing, the current figure specifies inspection of only Detail K, the 
area above the galley carts, so Detail L will be added in a revised 
requirements bulletin to specify an inspection of the area behind all 
of the galley carts. Boeing anticipates release of the revised bulletin 
in the middle of 2025.
    Since the NPRM does not address the unsafe condition and the unsafe 
condition still exists, the FAA is withdrawing the NPRM and considering 
additional rulemaking to require the revised service information. The 
FAA has determined that any new AD will be issued within the timeframe 
established by the safety assessment.
    Withdrawal of the NPRM constitutes only such action and does not 
preclude the FAA from further rulemaking on this issue, nor does it 
commit the FAA to any course of action in the future.

Comments

    The FAA received comments from United Airlines, the Air Line Pilots 
Association, International (ALPA), and an individual, who supported the 
NPRM without change.
    The FAA also received a comment from The Boeing Company. The 
following presents the comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's 
response to the comment.

Request To Include Model 787-10 Airplanes

    Boeing noted that some Model 787-10 airplanes could be in storage 
or are otherwise inactive and requested that

[[Page 8915]]

the proposed AD clarify that those airplanes that have not yet met the 
requirements of AD 2023-08-04 must still meet the inspection 
requirements of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB380021-
00 RB, Issue 001, dated August 12, 2022.
    The FAA agrees that the applicability of the NPRM did not include 
Model 787-10 airplanes. Those airplanes had been removed from the 
applicability of the proposed AD because Boeing had originally stated 
that Model 787-10 airplanes were delivered with safety-strap clamshell 
couplings on affected potable water lines, so those airplanes were not 
included in Boeing Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB250299-00 RB, 
Issue 001, dated July 31, 2023 (the service information specified in 
paragraph (j) of the proposed AD). Accordingly, the NPRM stated that 
Model 787-10 airplanes were no longer subject to the unsafe condition 
and therefore not included in the applicability. However, as Boeing 
stated, there is a possibility that some Model 787-10 airplanes may 
have been in storage and not inspected as required by AD 2023-08-04 
(and restated in retained paragraph (g) of the proposed AD). Therefore, 
if appropriate, those airplanes will be included in future rulemaking 
that addresses the unsafe condition. Because the NPRM is withdrawn, no 
further action is necessary for this NPRM.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that the NPRM 
would not adequately address the identified unsafe condition. 
Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn. AD 2023-08-04 remains in effect 
unless it is later superseded.

Regulatory Findings

    Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed 
nor a final rule. This action therefore is not covered under Executive 
Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Withdrawal

0
Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking (Docket No. FAA-2024-
1884), which was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2024 (89 
FR 57374), is withdrawn.

    Issued on January 28, 2025.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02069 Filed 2-3-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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