Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-15190 · General Electric Company CF6-80E1 Series Turbofan Engines
General Electric Company CF6-80E1 Series Turbofan Engines
This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1A1, CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines with compressor rear frame (CRF) part numbers (P/Ns) 1520M26G03/G06/G08/G11/G12 installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus Industrie A330 series airplanes.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1 series turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) compressor rear frames (CRFs) installed. This AD requires revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) and air carrier's approved Continued Airworthiness Maintenance Programs (CAMP) to include initial and repetitive eddy current inspections (ECIs) or fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the affected CRFs. This AD results from the need to require enhanced inspections of the CF6-80E1 series engine CRFs for cracks. We are issuing this AD to prevent rupture of the CRF, which could result in an under-cowl engine fire.
Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise GE's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness ALS, and for air carrier operations, revise the approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program, by adding the information in Table 1 and in paragraphs (f) through (i) of this AD.
| If CRF P/Ns 1520M26G03/G06/G08/G11/G12 are: | Then initially inspect: | And repetitively inspect: |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Operated at a CF6-80E1A3 or CF6-80E1A4/B engine rating | Before 12,200 cycles-since-new (CSN) | Within every 6,300 cycles-since-last-inspection (CSLI), except that igniter pad holes on CRFs with P/Ns 1520M26G03/G06/G08, must be inspected within every 4,800 CSLI. |
| (2) Operated at a CF6-80E1A4 engine rating | Before 13,700 CSN | Within every 6,300 CSLI, except that igniter pad holes on CRFs with P/Ns 1520M26G03/G06/G08, must be inspected within every 6,100 CSLI. |
| (3) Operated at a CF6-80E1A1 or CF6-80E1A2 engine rating | Before 14,200 CSN | Within every 6,300 CSLI. |
For CRF P/Ns 1520M26G03/G06/G08/G11/G12, at module level:
(1) Clean and eddy current inspect (ECI) the locations numbered 3 through 8.
(2) Information on these locations can be found in figure 801, sheets 2, 3, and 4, of CF6-80E1 Engine Manual No. GEK 99376, Section 05-21-01. The remaining engine manual references in this AD are to No. GEK 99376.
(3) Information on cleaning and ECI can be found in CF6-80E1 Engine Manual, Section 72-00-34, COMPRESSOR REAR FRAME ASSEMBLY—INSPECTION 001, Subtask 72-00-34-250-001.
(4) For CRF P/Ns 1520M26G03/G06/G08, clean and fluorescent penetrant inspect (FPI) the locations numbered 1 and 2.
(5) Information on these locations can be found in figure 801, sheet 1, of CF6-80E1 Engine Manual, Section 05-21-01.
(6) Information on cleaning and FPI can be found in CF6-80E1 Engine Manual, Section 72-00-34, COMPRESSOR REAR FRAME ASSEMBLY—INSPECTION 001, Subtask 72-00-34-230-051.
For CRF P/Ns 1520M26G03/G06/G08/G11/G12, at piece-part level:
(1) Clean and FPI the locations numbered 3 through 8.
(2) Information on these locations can be found in figure 801, sheets 2, 3, and 4, of CF6-80E1 Engine Manual, Section 05-21-01.
(3) Information on cleaning and FPI can be found in CF6-80E1 Engine Manual, Section 72-34-01, COMPRESSOR REAR FRAME—INSPECTION 001, Subtask 72-34-01-200-003.
(4) For CRF P/Ns 1520M26G03/G06/G08, clean and FPI the locations numbered 1 and 2.
(5) Information on these locations can be found in figure 801, sheet 1, of CF6-80E1 Engine Manual, Section 05-21-01.
(6) Information on cleaning and FPI can be found in CF6-80E1 Engine Manual, Section 72-34-01, COMPRESSOR REAR FRAME— INSPECTION 001, Subtask 72-34-01-200-003.
Air carriers and operators must use engine operating records to determine the CSN of the compressor rear frame. If the number of cycles accumulated since new cannot be established, inspect the CRF within 300 cycles-in-service after the effective date of this AD.
(i) For compressor rear frames that have operated in multiple engine models or thrust ratings, information on correct cycle counting can be found in Method 1 or Method 2 of CF6-80E1 Engine Manual No. GEK 99376, Section 05-11-00, LIFE LIMITS OF ENGINE ROTATING PARTS.
For the purposes of this AD, piece-part level means that the CRF is removed and disassembled using the disassembly instructions in GE's engine manual.
