FAA Proposes Mandatory Fix for Boeing 787 Fan Cowl Issue
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a mandatory airworthiness directive to address a potential safety issue with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fan cowl.
## FAA Proposes Mandatory Fix for Boeing 787 Fan Cowl Issue The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a mandatory airworthiness directive to address a potential safety issue with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fan cowl. The proposed directive is in response to a problem discovered by Boeing, where debris from a serious failure of one engine could damage critical components on the other engine and potentially cause both engines to shut down in flight. The proposed airworthiness directive applies to certain Boeing 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The FAA estimates that 22 aircraft on the US registry would be affected by this proposal. ## Problem Centers on Left Fan Cowl of Right Engine The problem centers on the left fan cowl of the aircraft's right engine. Boeing determined that the existing protection does not adequately shield several oil lines from debris that could be released by an uncontained rotor failure in the left engine. This could lead to damage to the right engine and an in-flight dual engine shutdown. ## FAA Proposal Requires Inspection and Modification Under the FAA proposal, operators would have to check maintenance records or inspect the right engine's left fan cowl to determine whether one of three affected part numbers is installed. If an affected fan cowl is found, the aircraft would require modification or replacement of the part. The proposal would also prohibit operators from installing affected fan cowls on aircraft that do not already have them. ## Estimated Costs and Compliance Times The FAA estimates that the initial records check or inspection would require three work hours per aircraft at a cost of $255, or $5,610 for the 22 US-registered aircraft covered by the proposal. The agency did not provide an estimated cost for the subsequent fan cowl modification or replacement. ## Public Comments Accepted The proposed rule stems from a certification issue rather than an accident or incident involving an in-service 787. The concern is whether the aircraft has enough protection if an uncontained failure in one engine sends high-energy debris toward the other. The FAA is accepting public comments through September 21, 2026, before deciding whether to issue a final airworthiness directive.
