Federal Aviation Administration December 2, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive cycling of either the airplane electrical power or the power to the three flight control modules (FCMs). This AD was prompted by a report indicating that all three FCMs might simultaneously reset if continuously powered on for 22 days. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is electronic flight- control-system (EFCS) mode annunciation. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a 13.4-inch crack in the left wing front spar web inboard of pylon number 2 between front spar station inboard (FSSI) 655.75 and FSSI 660, found following a fuel leak. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed, ultrasonic, and high frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the front spar web between FSSI 628 and FSSI 713, and repairs if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.