Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-14-04, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. AD 2016-14-04 requires replacing the potable waterline couplings above the forward and aft electronics equipment (EE) bays with new, improved couplings. AD 2016-14-04 also requires sealing the main cabin floor areas above the aft EE bay, installing drip shields and foam blocks, and rerouting the wire bundles near the drip shields above the equipment in the aft EE bay. Since the FAA issued AD 2016-14- 04, it was determined that sealant, moisture barrier tape and tape dam requirements above the EE bays may not have been installed on production airplanes. This proposed AD continues to require the actions in AD 2016-14-04 and would require an inspection of seat tracks above the EE bays for missing, damaged, or deteriorated sealant, moisture barrier tape, or tape dams, as applicable, and applicable on-condition actions. This proposed AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.