Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2D1F Turbofan Engines

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CF6-80C2D1F turbofan engines, installed on, but not limited to, McDonnell Douglas Corporation MD-11 series airplanes. This AD requires removing previous software versions from the engine electronic control unit (ECU). Engines with new version software will have increased margin to flameout. This AD results from reports of engine flameout events during flight, including reports of events where all engines simultaneously experienced a flameout or other adverse operation. Although the root cause investigation is not yet complete, we believe that exposure to ice crystals during flight is associated with these flameout events. We are issuing this AD to minimize engine flameout caused by ice accretion and shedding during flight.