AD 2026-02-08

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.

Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7743; email: mehdi.lamnyi@faa.gov.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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

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

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive AD 2018-19-16, Amendment 39-19416 (83 FR 50818, October 10, 2018); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: