Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2024 / Proposed Rules 87317 

Issued on October 28, 2024. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25369 Filed 10–31–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–2417; Project 

Identifier AD–2024–00336–E] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; General 

Electric Company Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2020–20–17 and AD 2021–15–05, which 

apply to all General Electric Company 

(GE) Model GE90–110B1 and GE90– 

115B engines. AD 2020–20–17 prohibits 

dispatch of an airplane if certain status 

messages are displayed on the engine 

indicating and crew alerting system 

(EICAS) and if certain conditions are 

present; and as terminating action, 

requires revision of the existing FAAapproved minimum equipment list 

(MEL) by incorporating the dispatch 

restrictions into the MEL. AD 2021–15– 

05 requires initial and repetitive 

replacement of the full authority digital 

engine control (FADEC) integrated 

circuit (MN4) microprocessor. Since the 

FAA issued AD 2020–20–17 and AD 

2021–15–05, the manufacturer has 

developed a software revision for the 

electronic engine control (EEC) FADEC 

that further mitigates the unsafe 

condition. This proposed AD would 

retain all the actions of AD 2020–20–17 

and AD 2021–15–05, and it would also 

require upgrading the EEC FADEC 

software to an EEC FADEC software 

version eligible for installation as a 

terminating action. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by December 16, 

2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 

for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–2417; 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 NPRM, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations is 

listed above. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For GE material identified in this 

proposed AD, contact GE, 1 Neumann 

Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 

(513) 552–3272; email: 

aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com; website: 

ge.com. 

• You may view this material at the 

FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222– 

5110. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Alexander Thickstun, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, 

Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (202) 

267–8292; email: 

alexander.m.thickstun@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under the ADDRESSES section. Include 

‘‘Docket No. FAA–2024–2417; Project 

Identifier AD–2024–00336–E’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. The most 

helpful comments reference a specific 

portion of the proposal, explain the 

reason for any recommended change, 

and include supporting data. The FAA 

will consider all comments received by 

the closing date and may revise this 

proposal because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to 

regulations.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. The agency 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact received 

about this NPRM. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this NPRM 

contain commercial or financial 

information that is customarily treated 

as private, that you actually treat as 

private, and that is relevant or 

responsive to this NPRM, it is important 

that you clearly designate the submitted 

comments as CBI. Please mark each 

page of your submission containing CBI 

as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such 

marked submissions as confidential 

under the FOIA, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of this 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Alexander Thickstun, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 

South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 

98198. Any commentary that the FAA 

receives which is not specifically 

designated as CBI will be placed in the 

public docket for this rulemaking. 

Background 

The FAA issued AD 2020–20–17, 

Amendment 39–21273 (85 FR 63443, 

October 8, 2020) (‘‘AD 2020–20–17’’) 

and AD 2021–15–05, Amendment 39– 

21652 (86 FR 43409, August 9, 2021) 

(‘‘AD 2021–15–05’’), for all GE Model 

GE90–110B1 and GE90–115B engines. 

AD 2020–20–17 was prompted by an 

in-service occurrence of loss of engine 

thrust control resulting in 

uncommanded high thrust. AD 2020– 

20–17 prohibits dispatch of an airplane 

if certain status messages are displayed 

on the EICAS and if certain conditions 

are present; and as terminating action, 

requires revision of the existing FAAapproved MEL by incorporating the 

dispatch restrictions listed in AD 2020– 

20–17 into the MEL. The agency issued 

AD 2020–20–17 to prevent dispatch of 

the airplane when certain faults caused 

by degradation of the MN4 integrated 

circuit in the FADEC are displayed and 

certain FADEC conditions are present 

which, if not addressed, could result in 

loss of engine thrust control and 

reduced control of the airplane. 

AD 2021–15–05 was also prompted by 

the in-service occurrence of loss of 

engine thrust control resulting in 

uncommanded high thrust. AD 2021– 

15–05 requires initial and repetitive 

replacement of the FADEC MN4 

microprocessor. The agency issued AD 

2021–15–05 to prevent failure of the 

FADEC MN4 microprocessor solder ball 

which, if not addressed, could result in 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
87318 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

loss of engine thrust control and 

reduced control of the airplane. 

Actions Since AD 2020–20–17 and AD 

2021–15–05 Were Issued 

Since the FAA issued AD 2020–20–17 

and AD 2021–15–05, the manufacturer 

has developed a software revision for 

the FADEC. The FAA has determined 

that the software revision for the FADEC 

further mitigates the unsafe conditions 

specified AD 2020–20–17 and AD 2021– 

15–05, and therefore, must be required 

for the affected engines. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this NPRM after 

determining that the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

Under 1 CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed GE GE90–100 

Service Bulletin 73–0117 R01, dated 

August 5, 2020, which the Director of 

the Federal Register approved for 

incorporation by reference as of October 

23, 2020 (85 FR 63443, October 8, 2020). 

This material describes procedures for 

checking for an inbound FADEC EICAS 

‘‘ENG EEC C1’’ status message and 

corresponding conditions. 

The FAA also reviewed GE GE90–100 

Service Bulletin 73–0118, Revision 01, 

dated April 27, 2021, which the Director 

of the Federal Register approved for 

incorporation by reference as of 

September 13, 2021 (86 FR 43409, 

August 9, 2021). This material specifies 

procedures for replacing the FADEC 

MN4 microprocessor. 

This material is reasonably available 

because the interested parties have 

access to it through their normal course 

of business or by the means identified 

in the ADDRESSES section. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would retain all of 

the requirements of AD 2020–20–17 and 

AD 2021–15–05. Furthermore, this 

proposed AD would require upgrading 

the EEC FADEC software to an EEC 

FADEC software version that is eligible 

for installation as a terminating action 

for the retained requirements from AD 

2020–20–17 and AD 2021–15–05. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 330 

engines installed on airplanes of U.S. 

registry. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Revise the existing MEL (Retained action 

from AD 2020–20–17).

1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $28,050 

Remove and replace FADEC (Retained action from AD 2021–15–05).1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. 25,200 25,285 8,344,050 

Upgrade the EEC FADEC software (New Action).1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. 0 85 28,050 

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 

The FAA determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

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

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directives 

2020–20–17, Amendment 39–21273 (85 

FR 63443, October 8, 2020); and 2021– 

15–05, Amendment 39–21652 (86 FR 

43409, August 9, 2021); and 

■ b. Adding the following new 

airworthiness directive: 

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2024–2417; Project Identifier AD–2024– 

00336–E. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by December 16, 

2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2020–20–17, 

Amendment 39–21273 (85 FR 63443, October 

8, 2020) (AD 2020–20–17); and AD 2021–15– 

05, Amendment 39–21652 (86 FR 43409, 

August 9, 2021) (AD 2021–15–05). 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2024 / Proposed Rules 87319 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to General Electric 

Company (GE) Model GE90–110B1 and 

GE90–115B engines. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 7320, Fuel Controlling System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by an in-service 

occurrence of loss of engine thrust control 

resulting in uncommanded high thrust. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to prevent dispatch 

of the airplane when certain faults caused by 

degradation of the MN4 integrated circuit in 

the full authority digital engine control 

(FADEC) are displayed and certain FADEC 

conditions are present, and to prevent failure 

of the electronic engine control (EEC) FADEC 

integrated circuit (MN4) microprocessor 

solder ball. 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) Retained Actions From AD 2020–20–17 

(1) After October 23, 2020 (the effective 

date of AD 2020–20–17), notwithstanding the 

provisions of the operator’s minimum 

equipment list (MEL), dispatch of an airplane 

is prohibited if the engine indicating and 

crew alerting system (EICAS) displays the 

status message ‘‘ENG EEC C1 L’’ or ‘‘ENG 

EEC C1 R’’ and any condition is present that 

is listed in the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraphs 3.A.(2)(f), 3.A.3(a), or 3.A.(4) of 

GE GE90–100 Service Bulletin 73–0117 R01, 

dated August 5, 2020. 

(2) As terminating action for the 

requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, 

within 120 days of October 23, 2020 (the 

effective date of AD 2020–20–17), revise the 

existing FAA-approved MEL by 

incorporating into the MEL the dispatch 

restrictions listed in paragraph (g)(1) of this 

AD as a required operation or maintenance 

procedure. Specific alternative MEL wording 

to accomplish the actions specified in 

paragraph (g)(1) of this AD can be approved 

by the operator’s principal operations or 

maintenance inspector. 

(h) Retained Actions From AD 2021–15–05 

(1) Within the following compliance times 

after September 13, 2021 (the effective date 

of AD 2021–15–05), replace the FADEC MN4 

microprocessor using an approved overhaul 

procedure: 

(i) For a FADEC MN4 microprocessor with 

10,500 or more cycles since new (CSN), 

replace the FADEC MN4 microprocessor 

before accumulating 500 additional cycles on 

the FADEC MN4 microprocessor. 

(ii) For a FADEC MN4 microprocessor with 

5,000 CSN or more, but fewer than 10,500 

CSN, replace the FADEC MN4 

microprocessor at the next FADEC 

component shop visit or before accumulating 

11,000 CSN on the FADEC MN4 

microprocessor, whichever occurs first. 

(2) Thereafter, repeat the replacement of 

the FADEC MN4 microprocessor at the first 

FADEC component shop visit after 

accumulating 5,000 cycles since the last 

replacement but before accumulating 11,000 

cycles since the last replacement. 

(i) Retained Definitions From AD 2021–15– 

05 

For the purpose of this AD: 

(1) An ‘‘approved overhaul procedure’’ is 

one of the following: 

(i) Replacement of the FADEC MN4 

microprocessor using FADEC Internationalapproved maintenance procedures; or 

(ii) Replacement of the FADEC MN4 

microprocessor using the Accomplishment 

Instructions, paragraph 3.A., of GE GE90–100 

Service Bulletin 73–0118, Revision 01, dated 

April 27, 2021. 

(2) A ‘‘FADEC component shop visit’’ is 

the induction of the FADEC into a repair 

facility to perform internal maintenance on 

the FADEC. 

(j) New Required Actions 

Within 180 days after the effective date of 

this AD, replace any EEC FADEC software 

version that is earlier than A.0.8.6 with an 

EEC FADEC software version that is eligible 

for installation. 

(k) Terminating Action 

The actions specified in paragraph (j) of 

this AD constitute terminating action for all 

the requirements of paragraphs (g) and (h) of 

this AD. 

(l) Installation Prohibition 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install on any engine, an EEC 

FADEC software version that is earlier than 

A.0.8.6. 

(m) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD, an ‘‘EEC 

FADEC software version that is eligible for 

installation’’ is any software version that is 

A.0.8.6 or later. 

(n) 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, 

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 (o) of this AD and email to: 

AMOC@faa.gov. 

(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. 

(o) Additional Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Alexander Thickstun, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des 

Moines, WA 98198; phone: (202) 267–8292; 

email: alexander.m.thickstun@faa.gov. 

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the material listed in this paragraph 

under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use this material as 

applicable to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(3) The following material was approved 

for IBR on October 23, 2020 (85 FR 63443, 

October 8, 2020). 

(i) General Electric Company (GE) GE90– 

100 Service Bulletin 73–0117 R01, dated 

August 5, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(4) The following material was approved 

for IBR on September 13, 2021 (86 FR 43409, 

August 9, 2021). 

(i) GE GE90–100 Service Bulletin 73–0118, 

Revision 01, dated April 27, 2021. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(5) For GE material identified in this AD, 

contact GE, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 

45215; phone: (513) 552–3272; email: 

aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com; website: 

ge.com. 

(6) You may view this material at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA 01803. For information on 

the availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (817) 222–5110. 

(7) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on October 25, 2024. 

Suzanne Masterson, 

Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate 

Management Division, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25377 Filed 10–31–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

39 CFR Part 3050 

[Docket No. RM2025–2; Order No. 7831] 

Periodic Reporting 

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The Commission is 

acknowledging a recent Postal Service 

filing requesting the Commission 

initiate a rulemaking proceeding to 

consider changes to analytical 

principles relating to periodic reports. 

This document informs the public of the 

filing, invites public comment, and 

takes other administrative steps. 

DATES: Comments are due: November 

27, 2024. 


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