2026-19956: Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 187 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 61302-61304] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-19956] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2026-11785; Project Identifier AD-2026-00916-T; Amendment 39-23475; AD 2026-20-02] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

Action

Final rule; request for comments. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of the lack of data to substantiate engine operability when an airplane is dispatched under a certain master minimum equipment list (MMEL) item. This AD prohibits dispatching an airplane under the operational procedures of the operator's minimum equipment list item corresponding to a certain MMEL item. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Dates

This AD is effective October 14, 2026. The FAA must receive comments on this AD by November 13, 2026

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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2026-11785; 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, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

For Further Information Contact

Shaan Brar, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3558; email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include Docket No. FAA-2026-11785 and Project Identifier AD-2026-00916-T at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this final rule 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 final rule. 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 AD 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 AD, 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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Shaan Brar, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3558; email: [email protected]. 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 received a report from Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG of the lack of data to substantiate engine operability, including compressor stability, relight capability, surge recovery, and inclement weather capability, when Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes equipped with certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG engines are dispatched under MMEL item 75-33-01. MMEL item 75-33-01 (``Engine Intermediate Pressure (IP) Bleed Valves (RR)'') allows an aircraft to be dispatched for three days with one intermediate pressure bleed valve (IPBV) inoperative on each engine, provided appropriate performance adjustments are applied. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the risk of MMEL dispatch with an inoperative engine IPBV on one or both engines. This condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of engine thrust control and consequent loss of control of the airplane. FAA's Determination The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design. AD Requirements This AD prohibits dispatching an airplane under the operational procedures of the operator's minimum equipment list item corresponding to MMEL item 75-33-01. Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective Date Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, upon a finding of good cause. [[Page 61303]] An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because dispatching an airplane with an inoperative engine IPBV could result in loss of engine thrust control and consequent loss of control of the airplane. The FAA has determined that due to the lack of substantiating data, Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes equipped with certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG engines dispatched with an inoperative IPBV are not assured to provide recovery from surges or flameouts or maintain continued operation under any anticipated operating environment. An airplane dispatched under MMEL item 75-33-01 with an inoperative IPBV on both engines could experience a loss of thrust control on both engines. An airplane dispatched with an inoperative IPBV on a single engine could experience a loss of thrust control on the engine with the inoperative IPBV, which would leave the airplane a single failure away from a catastrophic outcome (loss of the remaining engine due to any cause). Additionally, the compliance time in this AD is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Regulatory Flexibility Act The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment, RFA analysis is not required. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD affects 16 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD: Estimated costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dispatch prohibition...................... 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $0 $85 $1,360 $85. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 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, and (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. 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 0