Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Engines

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2465-2467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01094]



[[Page 2465]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-1725; Project Identifier AD-2025-00583-E; 
Amendment 39-23244; AD 2026-02-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-19-16 
for all CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model LEAP-1A23, -1A24, -1A24E1, 
-1A26, -1A26E1, -1A26CJ, -1A29, -1A29CJ, -1A30, -1A32, -1A33, -1A33B2, 
and -1A35A engines with certain full authority digital engine control 
(FADEC) and prognostic health monitoring (PHM) software installed. AD 
2018-19-16 required removing certain FADEC and PHM software and 
installing versions eligible for installation. Since the FAA issued AD 
2018-19-16, the manufacturer has developed a new pressure subsystem 
(PSS) with a heater element to evaporate potential moisture on the PSS 
manifold/transducer interface and prevent freezing at low temperature. 
This AD requires replacing certain FADEC and PHM software with new 
versions that are eligible for installation, replacing certain 
harnesses with newly designed harnesses, and replacing the PSS with a 
newly designed heated PSS. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 25, 2026.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-1725; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, any comments received, and other 
information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 
(781) 238-7743; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2018-19-16, Amendment 39-19416 (83 FR 
50818, October 10, 2018) (AD 2018-19-16). AD 2018-19-16 applied to all 
CFM Model LEAP-1A23, -1A24, -1A24E1, -1A26, -1A26E1, -1A26CJ, -1A29, -
1A29CJ, -1A30, -1A32, -1A33, -1A33B2, and -1A35A engines with certain 
FADEC and PHM software installed. AD 2018-19-16 was prompted by aborted 
takeoffs after engines did not advance to the desired takeoff fan speed 
due to icing in the pressure sensor line which, if not addressed, could 
result in loss of engine thrust control and reduced control of the 
airplane. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on August 6, 
2025 (90 FR 37808). The NPRM was prompted when the manufacturer 
developed a new PSS with a heater element to evaporate potential 
moisture on the PSS manifold/transducer interface and prevent freezing 
at low temperature. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing 
certain FADEC and PHM software with new versions that are eligible for 
installation, replacing certain harnesses with newly designed 
harnesses, and replacing the PSS with a newly designed heated PSS. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from three commenters. The commenters 
were Airline Pilots Association International (ALPA), American Airlines 
(AAL), and CFM. ALPA supported the NPRM without change. The following 
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to 
each comment.

Request for Additional Material References

    AAL and CFM requested that the FAA include additional material 
references in the required actions. CFM stated that the material 
referenced in paragraph (g)(1) of the NPRM includes concurrent actions 
and refers to specific material for each of those actions. CFM also 
indicated that the concurrent requirements are necessary to fully 
enable the newly installed PSS heater system. AAL pointed out that 
operators may not be aware that there is additional material which may 
be used to help complete the concurrent actions and that a useful 
method to alert the operators is by including the specific material for 
the concurrent actions in additional notes to the required actions in 
the NPRM.
    The FAA agrees that the actions required by this AD are not 
independent actions, and must all be done concurrently to fully enable 
the newly installed PSS heater system, and that additional material is 
helpful to complete the actions required by this AD. Therefore, the FAA 
has revised this final rule by adding note 2 to paragraphs (g)(2) and 
(3) of this AD and note 3 to paragraph (g)(4) of this AD, with each 
note referring to specific material that may be used as guidance in 
completing the actions required by paragraphs (g)(2), (3), and (4) of 
this AD.

Request for Clarification of the Unsafe Condition

    CFM requested that the FAA revise the unsafe condition statement 
throughout the NPRM to be consistent. CFM noted that in the NPRM, the 
unsafe condition statement is not consistent between the Background 
section and paragraph (e) of the NPRM.
    The FAA agrees for the reasons provided and has revised the wording 
of the unsafe condition in the Background section to be consistent with 
the wording used in paragraph (e) of this AD.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting the AD as 
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, and 
any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed 
in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on 
any operator.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 306 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

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                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Cost per    Cost on U.S.
                  Action                            Labor cost           Parts cost    product       operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Install electronic engine control          1 work-hour x $85 per hour            $0          $85         $26,010
 software.                                  = $85.
Replace PSS with heated PSS..............  1 work-hour x $85 per hour       185,950      186,035      56,926,710
                                            = $85.
Replace HJ6A and HJ6B harnesses..........  1 work-hour x $85 per hour        57,510       57,595      17,624,070
                                            = $85.
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. 
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight 
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive AD 2018-19-16, Amendment 39-19416 
(83 FR 50818, October 10, 2018); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2026-02-08 CFM International, S.A.: Amendment 39-23244; Docket No. 
FAA-2025-1725; Project Identifier AD-2025-00583-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 25, 
2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2018-19-16, Amendment 39-19416 (83 FR 50818, 
October 10, 2018) (AD 2018-19-16).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model LEAP-
1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A26CJ, 
LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-
1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7600, Engine 
Controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by aborted takeoffs after engines did not 
advance to the desired takeoff fan speed due to icing in the 
pressure sensor line. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent icing in 
the pressure sensor lines and inaccurate pressure sensor readings. 
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of 
engine thrust control and reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    At the next engine shop visit after the effective date of this 
AD, do the following actions:
    (1) Install electronic engine control (EEC) full authority 
digital electronic control (FADEC) software having part number (P/N) 
2590M00P13, version L1A0850, or later approved version; and 
prognostic health monitoring (PHM) software having P/N 2784M64P08, 
version PL1A0850, or later approved version.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(1): The software release that includes 
EEC FADEC software P/N 2590M00P13, version L1A0850, and PHM software 
P/N 2784M64P08, version PL1A0850, is commonly referred to as 
``FCS8.5.'' Guidance for replacing the EEC FADEC software and PHM 
software may be found in CFM Service Bulletin LEAP-1A-73-00-0050-
01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00, dated January 03, 2024.
    (2) For engines with an installed HJ6A harness having P/N 362-
085-905-0 (significant item number (SIN) 65004), remove the HJ6A 
harness from service and replace with an HJ6A harness having P/N 
362-085-906-0, or later approved P/N.
    Note 2 to paragraph (g)(2): This note applies to paragraphs 
(g)(2) and (g)(3). Guidance for replacing the HJ6A harness P/N 362-
085-905-0 and the HJ6B harness P/N 362-086-004-0 with an HJ6A 
harness P/N 362-085-906-0 or an HJ6B harness P/N 362-086-005-0, or 
later approved P/N, as applicable, may be found in CFM Service 
Bulletin LEAP-1A-73-00-0042-01A-930A-D, Issue 003-00, dated July 11, 
2024.
    (3) For engines with an installed HJ6B harness having P/N 362-
086-004-0 (SIN 65005), remove the HJ6B harness from service and 
replace with an HJ6B harness having P/N 362-086-005-0, or later 
approved P/N.
    (4) For engines with an installed pressure subsystem (PSS) 
having P/N 2474M65P05 (vendor identification number (VIN) 261811055-
0303), remove the PSS from service and replace with a heated PSS 
having P/N 2474M65P08 (VIN 261811055-0410), or later approved P/N.
    Note 3 to paragraph (g)(4): Guidance for replacing the PSS P/N 
2474M65P05 with a heated PSS P/N 2474M65P08, or later approved P/N 
may be found in CFM Service Bulletin LEAP-1A-73-00-0051-01A-930A-D, 
Issue 002-00, dated January 03, 2024.

(h) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the 
induction of the engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of major mating engine flanges, except for the separation 
of engine flanges solely for the purposes of transportation without 
subsequent engine maintenance.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch, 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19,

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send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety 
Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (j)(1) of this AD and email to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Additional Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, 
WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7743; email: [email protected].
    (2) For material identified in this AD that is not incorporated 
by reference, contact CFM, GE Aviation Fleet Support, 1 Neumann Way, 
M/D Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: (877) 432-3272; email: 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on January 16, 2026.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-01094 Filed 1-20-26; 8:45 am]
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