EASA AD US-2018-15-04
SUPERSEDED BY FAA AD 2020-20-13
Summary
FAA Airworthiness Directive 2018-15-04 is a final rule addressing certain General Electric Company CF6-80A and CF6-80C2 turbofan engines. It mandates ultrasonic inspections of high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 and 2 disks to prevent uncontained failures that could lead to engine fires. The directive applies to engines with specific HPT disk serial numbers listed in GE Service Bulletins 72-1562 R03 and 72-0869 R01.
What Changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory ultrasonic inspections for HPT stage 1 and 2 disks on affected GE CF6-80A and CF6-80C2 engines. It updates the applicability by including specific serial numbers from the latest GE service bulletins and removes certain engine models from the original proposal. The directive also revises references to service information to reflect the most current data.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a serious safety risk caused by uncontained HPT disk failures that can result in engine fires. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to ensure continued airworthiness and prevent potential catastrophic engine events. Compliance helps maintain fleet safety and regulatory adherence, minimizing operational disruptions and liability.
What To Do
Operators of affected GE CF6-80A and CF6-80C2 engines must perform ultrasonic inspections of the HPT stage 1 and 2 disks as specified in GE Service Bulletins 72-1562 R03 and 72-0869 R01. Compliance with this AD is required by October 2, 2018. Maintenance teams should review the serial numbers listed in the service bulletins to identify affected disks and schedule inspections accordingly.
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