Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22723 · Engine
General Electric Company Engines, and Various Restricted Category Rotorcraft
This AD applies to the following products:
(1) General Electric Company (GE) Model CT7-2E1, CT7-2F1, CT7-8A, CT7-8E, and CT7-8F5 engines, with any power turbine (PT) drive shaft assembly part number 5123T91G01, 5123T91G02, 5125T92G01, and 5128T51G01 installed, and the following conditions:
(i) A PT drive shaft assembly with less than 100 hours-time since new (TSN) or 100 hours-time since replacement (TSR) of the torque reference tube, as applicable, as of the effective date of this AD; and
(ii) An engine serial number, PT module serial number, or PT drive shaft assembly serial number listed in GE Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) CT7-2E1 S/B 72-A0034, dated February 26, 2024 (CT7-2E1 S/B 72-A0034); or GE ASB CT7-8 S/B 72-A0118, Revision 01, dated February 26, 2024 (CT7-8 S/B 72-A0118, Revision 01).
(2) Restricted category helicopters specified in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) through (iv) of this AD, with GE Model T700-GE-700, -701A, -701C, -701D/CC, -701D, -401, -401C, CT7-2D or CT7-2D1 engines installed, with a PT drive shaft assembly that was installed in the engine after January 1, 2020, and has less than 100 hours-TSN or 100 hours-TSR, as applicable. PT drive shaft assemblies manufactured or repaired after January 1, 2024, are not affected by this AD.
(i) Model EH-60A helicopters; current type certificate holders include, but are not limited to, Delta Enterprise; Heliqwest International Inc.; Pickering Aviation, Inc.; and Sixtyhawk TC, LLC.
(ii) Model HH-60L helicopters; current type certificate holders include, but are not limited to, Capitol Helicopters Inc.; Central Copters Inc.; and Sixtyhawk TC, LLC.
(iii) Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C(M), S-70C(M1), and S-70M helicopters.
(iv) Model UH-60A helicopters; current type certificate holders include, but are not limited to, ACE Aeronautics LLC; Billings Flying Service, Inc.; Blackhawk Mission Equipment; Capitol Helicopters Inc.; Carson Helicopters; Delta Enterprise; Heliqwest International Inc.; High Performance Helicopters Corp.; Northwest Rotorcraft, LLC; Pickering Aviation, Inc.; PJ Helicopters Inc.; Reeder Flying Service Inc.; Sixtyhawk TC, LLC; Skydance Blackhawk Operations LLC; Timberline Helicopters, Inc.; and Unical Air Inc.
The FAA is superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2024-05- 51, which applied to certain General Electric Company (GE) Model CT7- 2E1, CT7-2F1, CT7-8A, CT7-8E, and CT7-8F5 engines, and various restricted category helicopters with GE Model T700-GE-700, -701A, - 701C, -701D/CC, -701D, -401, -401C, CT7-2D, or CT7-2D1 engines installed. AD 2024-05-51 required a phase array ultrasonic inspection of the torque reference tube magnetic insert braze joint of the power turbine (PT) drive shaft assembly for inadequate braze coverage, and repair or replacement of the PT drive shaft assembly if necessary. This AD was prompted by at least four reports of failures of the torque reference tube magnetic insert braze joint of the PT drive shaft assembly within the last several months. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2024-05-51 and expands the applicability to include a PT drive shaft assembly part number that was inadvertently omitted. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these engines and helicopters and is now issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For GE Model CT7-2E1, CT7-2F1, CT7-8A, CT7-8E, and CT7-8F5 engines: Before further flight, do a phase array ultrasonic inspection of the torque reference tube magnetic insert braze joint of the PT drive shaft assembly for inadequate braze coverage in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.A.(2), of CT7-2E1 S/B 72-A0034, or CT7-8 S/B 72-A0118, Revision 01, as applicable.
(2) For engines installed on the restricted category aircraft specified in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) through (iv) of this AD: Before further flight, do a phase array ultrasonic inspection of the torque reference tube magnetic insert braze joint of the PT drive shaft assembly for inadequate braze coverage in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 3.B. through 3.D., of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation S-70/H-60 Helicopter ASB 70-04-17, dated February 28, 2024 (Sikorsky ASB 70-04-17), or using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA.
(3) If during any inspection required by paragraphs (g)(1) or (2) of this AD, any braze coverage of the torque reference tube magnetic insert braze joint is found to be less than 42 percent, before further flight, repair or replace the PT drive shaft assembly.
Although the service information referenced in Sikorsky ASB 70-04-17 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
Aircraft
Appliances and equipment
