2012-03-12: No. 3 bearing packing

Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. Sec. 39.13 [Amended] 0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): 2012-03-12 General Electric Company (GE): Amendment 39-16954; Docket No. FAA-2011-0982; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-09-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD is effective April 5, 2012. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD is applicable to all GE CF6-80C2 model turbofan engines, including engines marked on the engine data plate as CF6-80C2B7F1. (d) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of a supplier shipping a batch of nonconforming No. 3 bearing packings that had an incorrect size of cooling holes and by several subsequent reports of nonconforming No. 3 bearing packings being installed on engines in service. The nonconformance of No. 3 bearing packings will result in incorrect high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor and low-pressure turbine (LPT) rotor bore cooling and, if not corrected, could result in a reduced parts life of the life-limited rotating parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncontained failure of the HPC rotor or the LPT rotor, or both, which could cause damage to the airplane. (e) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (f) One-Time Inspection and Disposition of the No. 3 Bearing Packing (1) Perform a one-time inspection of the No. 3 bearing packing. Use paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(1)(b) of the Accomplishment Instructions of GE Service Bulletin (SB) No. CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1405, Revision 01, dated December 16, 2011, to do your inspection. Inspect as follows: (i) Before 5,500 engine cycles-in-service (CIS) since the last engine shop visit where the fan was removed from the core, or within 500 CIS from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later; or (ii) At the next shop visit, if the engine passes an optional borescope inspection (BSI) within 500 CIS from the effective date of this AD. (2) Remove the packing from service before further flight if the wrong packing part number (P/N) is found on the engine during the inspection of paragraph (f)(1) of this AD. (g) Optional BSI The optional BSI identified in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this AD must determine an ``ACCEPTABLE FLOW'' packing is installed. Use paragraph 3.A, excluding subparagraphs 3.A.(4)(a)6 through 3.A.(4)(a)9 and 3.A.(4)(b)5, of the Accomplishment Instructions of GE SB CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1427, dated December 16, 2011, to do your BSI. (h) Disposition of Affected Rotating Parts Remove the following rotating parts from service, if they were operated for 5,500 CIS or morewith a packing determined to be an ``UNACCEPTABLE FLOW'' packing using paragraph 3.A.(1)(c) of the Accomplishment Instructions of GE SB CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1405, Revision 01, dated December 16, 2011: (1) HPC rotor stage 10-through-14 spool, any P/N, (2) HPC rotor stage 11-through-14 spool, any P/N, (3) LPT rotor stage 3 disk, P/N 9373M53P05, and (4) LPT rotor stage 4 disk, P/N 9373M54P03. (i) Installation Prohibition After the effective date of this AD, do not install or reinstall in any engine any rotating part that has been removed from service in accordance with paragraph (h) of this AD. (j) Definition For the purposes of this AD, an engine shop visit is the induction of an engine into the shop after the effective date of this AD, where the separation of a major engine flange occurs; except the following maintenance actions, or any combination, are not considered engine shop visits: (1) Induction of an engine into a shop solely for removal of the compressor top or bottom case for airfoil maintenance or variable stator vane bushing replacement. (2) Induction of an engine into a shop solely for replacement of the turbine rear frame. (3) Induction of an engine into a shop solely for replacement of the accessory gearbox or transfer gearbox, or both. (4) Induction of an engine into a shop solely for core vibration trim balance procedure that requires separation of a major engine flange. (k) Credit for Previous Action An inspection of the No. 3 bearing packing performed before the effective date of this AD using GE SB CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1405 satisfies the requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of this AD. (l) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. (m) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Tomasz Rakowski, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7735; fax: 781-238-7199; email: tomasz.rakowski@faa.gov. (2) GE SB CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1405, Revision 01, dated December 16, 2011, and GE SB CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1427, dated December 16, 2011, pertain to the subject of this AD. Contact GE Aviation, M/D Rm. 285, One Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: geae.aoc@ge.com; for a copy of this service information. (n) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) You must use the following service information to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the following service information: (i) General Electric Company (GE) Service Bulletin (SB) CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1405, dated June 30, 2011; (ii) GE SB CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1405, Revision 01, dated December 16, 2011; and (iii) GE SB CF6-80C2 S/B 72-1427, dated December 16, 2011. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact GE Aviation, M/D Rm. 285, One Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: geae.aoc@ge.com. (3) You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. (4) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at an NARA facility, call 202-741- [[Page 12448]] 6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.