EASA AD US-2023-11-06
Engine - High-Pressure Turbine Interstage Seals - Replacement
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airworthiness Directive 2023-11-06 addresses certain Engine Alliance Model GP7270, GP7272, and GP7277 engines. It mandates the replacement of specific high-pressure turbine (HPT) interstage seals suspected to contain iron inclusions that could compromise material integrity. This directive aims to prevent potential uncontained failures that could damage the engine and aircraft.
What Changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a mandatory replacement requirement for HPT interstage seals with part number 2047M99P02 and serial numbers BTB71863 or BTB86871. It requires removal and replacement of these seals at the next piece-part exposure or before they exceed 4,200 cycles since new. The directive is issued as an interim action pending further investigation.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because the affected seals may have reduced fatigue life and could fracture prematurely, leading to uncontained engine failures. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain engine safety and prevent costly damage or incidents. Compliance teams need to track affected parts and schedule timely replacements to meet regulatory requirements.
What To Do
Operators of Engine Alliance GP7270, GP7272, and GP7277 engines must remove and replace the affected HPT interstage seals either at the next piece-part exposure or before the seals reach 4,200 cycles since new, whichever occurs first. Replacement parts must be eligible for installation, meaning they do not have the specified part and serial numbers. Compliance with this directive is effective from June 26, 2023.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.