2024-01-04: Turbine/turboprop engine

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2020-26-08, Amendment 39-21363 (85 FR 83755, December 23, 2020); and b. Adding the following new Airworthiness Directive: 2024-01-04 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22655; Docket No. FAA-2023-1037; Project Identifier AD-2023-00511-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 7, 2024. (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 Rolls-Royce 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 RB, 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 RB, 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 RB, 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 RB, 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 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 [email protected]. (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 Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3553; email [email protected]. (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 March 7, 2024. (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 RB, 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 Street, 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 [email protected]. Issued on January 6, 2024. Caitlin Locke, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2024-01969 Filed 1-31-24; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P