EASA AD 2022-0034: Engine — Outer Liner Dilution Tube — Inspection

What to do

Operators of affected engines installed on single-engine aircraft must perform a borescope inspection at the next Type 3 engine inspection or within 25 flight hours after 18 March 2022, whichever is later, and repeat every 300 flight hours thereafter. If cracks or defects are found, corrective actions must be taken as specified in the GE Aviation Czech Alert Service Bulletin. Replacement of the affected outer liner with a non-affected part terminates the inspection requirement. Installation of affected parts is permitted only if they are serviceable and inspections are conducted as required.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0034 is an airworthiness directive addressing the inspection of the outer liner dilution tube on GE Aviation Czech M601 and H-series engines. It applies to multiple engine models including M601D, M601E, M601F, M601Z, H75, H80, and H85 series, which are installed on various aircraft such as the Air Tractor AT-400 and AT-500 series, Grumman G-164 series, and Viking Air DHC-3 Otter among others. The directive mandates repetitive borescope inspections of specific outer liner parts to detect cracks and prevent potential engine power loss.

What changed

This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory repetitive borescope inspections of the dilution tube weld areas on affected outer liner parts of specified GE Aviation Czech engines. It requires corrective actions if cracks or discrepancies are found and allows for terminating action by replacing the affected part with a serviceable one. The directive also clarifies installation conditions for affected parts on single and multi-engine aircraft.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals to prevent engine failure caused by cracks in the dilution tube weld areas, which could lead to loss of engine power and reduced aircraft control. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and safety. The inspections and corrective actions help mitigate risks associated with engine part fatigue and potential in-flight incidents.