Engine - Lower Fuel Manifold - Inspection

Published: Jul 23, 2021
Effective: Aug 25, 2021
Deadline: Aug 25, 2021

AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.

What to do

Affected operators must perform ultrasonic or fluorescent penetrant inspections of the lower fuel manifold by August 25, 2021. If cracks or leaks are detected, the lower fuel manifold must be replaced with a part eligible for installation. Maintenance teams should use approved inspection probes and may request alternative methods of compliance if needed.

Summary

Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive 2021-13-16 is a final rule addressing certain General Electric Company GEnx-2B67, GEnx-2B67/P, and GEnx-2B67B model turbofan engines. It mandates inspections of the lower fuel manifold due to reported cracks causing fuel leakage. This directive applies to engines installed on aircraft such as the Boeing 747-8.

What changed

This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory ultrasonic or fluorescent penetrant inspections of the lower fuel manifold on affected GE GEnx-2B model engines. Depending on inspection results, it requires replacement of the lower fuel manifold with an approved part. The directive also clarifies approved inspection tools and provides credit for previous inspections performed according to specified service bulletins.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals to prevent fuel leaks caused by cracks in the lower fuel manifold, which pose safety risks. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain engine airworthiness and avoid in-service failures. The inspections and potential replacements help mitigate low-cycle fatigue issues identified in the fuel manifold assembly.

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