AD 2022-17-03 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Models named: 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747SR, 747SP series. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the information specified in Boeing 747-100/200/300/SP/SR Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) and Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs), D6-13747-CMR, dated September 2020, except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD. The initial compliance times for the airworthiness limitation instruction (ALI) tasks are within the applicable compliance times for each AWL number specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (8) of this AD: (1) For AWL No. 28-AWL-01, “External Wires Over Center Fuel Tank”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(1)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-01 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 144 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate, or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD: Within 144 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-01 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, or within 144 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-01, whichever occurs later. (2) For 28-AWL-03, “Fuel Quantity Indicating System (FQIS)—Out Tank Wiring Lightning Shield to Ground Termination”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(2)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-03 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 144 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness, or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this AD: Within 144 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-03 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, or within 144 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-03, whichever occurs later. (3) For 28-AWL-09, “Over-Current and Arcing Protection Electrical Design Features Operation—Fault Current Detector for Center Tank Override/Jettison (O/J) Pumps”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(3)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-09 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 18 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this AD: Within 18 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-09 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, or within 18 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-09, whichever occurs later. (4) For AWL No. 28-AWL-13, “Main Tank, Center Wing Tank, Body Tank (if installed), and Auxiliary Tank (if installed) Refuel Valve Installation—Fault Current Bond”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(4)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-13 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 144 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness, or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(4)(i) of this AD: Within 144 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-13 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, or within 144 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-13, whichever occurs later. (5) For AWL No. 28-AWL-22, “Center Tank Override/Jettison Fuel Pump Inlet Protection and Power Failed On Protection System”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(5)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-22 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 12 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(5)(i) of this AD: Within 12 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-22 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, or within 12 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-22, whichever occurs later. (6) For AWL No. 28-AWL-23, “Over-Current and Arcing Protection Electrical Design Features Operation—Main Tank AC Fuel Pump and Center Tank Scavenge AC Fuel Pump Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(6)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-23 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 12 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness, within 12 months since Boeing Service Bulletin 747-28A2261 was incorporated, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs latest. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(6)(i) of this AD: Within 12 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-23 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, or within 12 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-23, whichever occurs later. (7) For AWL No. 28-AWL-25, “Cushion Clamps and Teflon Sleeving Installed on Out-of-Tank Wire Bundles Installed on Brackets that are Mounted Directly on the Fuel Tanks”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(7)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-25 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 144 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness, or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(7)(i) of this AD: Within 144 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-25 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, within 144 months since Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2327 was incorporated, or within 144 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-25, whichever occurs latest. (8) For AWL No. 28-AWL-31, “Reserve Tank Refuel Valve Installation—Lightning Protection Electrical Bond”: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(8)(i) or (ii) of this AD. (i) For airplanes that did not have any version of AWL No. 28-AWL-31 in the existing maintenance or inspection program before the effective date of this AD: Within 72 months since issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness, or within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) For airplanes not identified in paragraph (g)(8)(i) of this AD: Within 72 months since AWL No. 28-AWL-31 was incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, or within 72 months after the most recent inspection was performed as specified in AWL No. 28-AWL-31, whichever occurs later.

This AD was prompted by significant changes, including new or more restrictive requirements, made to the airworthiness limitations (AWLs) related to fuel tank ignition prevention. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

This AD affects the ADs specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (7) of this AD. (1) AD 2008-10-07 R1, Amendment 39-16070 (74 FR 56098, October 30, 2009) (AD 2008-10-07 R1). (2) AD 2008-18-09, Amendment 39-15666 (73 FR 52911, September 12, 2008) (AD 2008-18-09). (3) AD 2010-13-12, Amendment 39-16343 (75 FR 37997, July 1, 2010) (AD 2010-13-12). (4) AD 2010-24-13, Amendment 39-16532 (75 FR 78591, December 16, 2010; corrected May 25, 2011 (76 FR 30253)) (AD 2010-24-13). (5) AD 2011-06-03, Amendment 39-16627 (76 FR 15814, March 22, 2011) (AD 2011-06-03). (6) AD 2014-15-14, Amendment 39-17916 (79 FR 45324, August 5, 2014) (AD 2014-15-14). (7) AD 2016-19-03, Amendment 39-18652 (81 FR 65872, September 26, 2016) (AD 2016-19-03).