Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that certain wing skin outer mold line (OML) penetrating fasteners installed using threaded nuts without cap seals do not provide reliable protection against potential ignition sources when subjected to direct attachment lightning currents. This proposed AD would require inspecting between certain ribs on the left and right wing for wing skin penetrating fasteners with a threaded nut adjacent to the electromagnetic effects (EME) sleeve; inspecting the left and right wing fuel tanks, surge tanks, and dry bays for threaded nuts installed on fasteners that penetrate the upper and lower wing skins; accomplishing the inspection specified in a certain airworthiness limitation (AWL); and applicable on-condition actions. This proposed AD would also require accomplishing concurrent requirements and revising the maintenance program to incorporate the airworthiness limitation task. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This is a factual description of what was issued or decided, not an assessment of it.