# 2026-16389: FAA Updates Boeing 787 Bolt Checks: Safety as Usual

2026-16389, Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-08-12, effective The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 28, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16389
- As of: 2026-08-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16389
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 52034
- Published: 2026-08-12
- Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 28, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-09-28
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-08-19

## In one line

FAA Updates Boeing 787 Bolt Checks: Safety as Usual

## Summary

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-15-01, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. AD 2022-15-01 requires inspecting certain vertical fin tension bolt holes; reviewing the bolt sealant application installation procedure in the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable; checking maintenance records to determine the replacement status of vertical fin tension bolts; and doing applicable on-condition actions. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-15-01, the FAA has determined that optional sealant types allowed by that AD may not provide sufficient time to complete all bolt installations. The FAA has also received additional reports of corrosion that, in some cases, was more severe than expected. As a result, the FAA has determined that the compliance times for certain actions must be reduced. This proposed AD would, for certain airplanes, continue to require certain actions required by AD 2022-15-01 with reduced compliance times. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require reviewing maintenance records to determine whether a correct sealant application method was used and performing applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Required Inspections and Records Review: cost, high. If you operate Boeing Model 787-8, 787-9, or 787-10 airplanes, the FAA proposes to require detailed inspections of 16 vertical fin tension bolt holes, reviews of maintenance/inspection programs for correct sealant application, and records reviews to determine bolt replacement and sealant method. Th…
- Per-Aircraft Compliance Cost Estimate: cost, high. The FAA estimates the basic inspection, sealant application, and bolt/nut installation will cost $38,260 per airplane (6 work-hours x $85/hour = $510 labor plus $37,750 parts). The FAA estimates this proposed AD would affect 116 U.S.-registered airplanes, giving an aggregate estimated cost on U.S.…
- Potential Additional On-Condition Repairs: cost, high. Based on inspection results, operators may need on-condition actions such as applying sealant and finish, installing new vertical fin tension bolts and barrel nuts, detailed inspections for corrosion and repairs, and other repairs. The FAA provides per-action cost estimates matching the inspection…
- Maintenance Program Revision Burden: cost, medium. The FAA estimates revising an operator's maintenance or inspection program to include the correct sealant application procedure will take an average of 90 work-hours per operator, at $85 per hour, for an estimated average total cost per operator of $7,650. This is a per-operator cost (not per-airpl…

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## Sources
- [2026-16389 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/12/2026-16389/airworthiness-directives-the-boeing-company-airplanes)
- [2026-16389 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-12/pdf/2026-16389.pdf)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16389 (as of 2026-08-19).