AD/CT7/7 Amdt 1 - Stage 1 and Stage 2 Gas Generator Turbine Disks

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

 


General Electric Turbine Engines - CT7 Series

 

AD/CT7/7

Amdt 1


Stage 1 and Stage 2 Gas Generator Turbine Disks 7/98

 

Applicability: General Electric CT7-5, -7, and -9 series engines incorporating Gas Generator Turbine (GGT) disks, P/No. 6064T06P01(Stage 1) or 6064T12P01(Stage 2).

 

Requirement: Perform a one time eddy current inspection of affected GGT disks in accordance with General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 dated 13 February 1997.

 

Note 1: Disks inspected per the original issue of this Directive satisfy the intent of this amendment to the Directive.

 

Note 2: FAA AD 97-25-07 also refers.

 

Note 3: FAA AD 97-25-07 supersedes FAA AD 97-05-12.

 

Compliance: Unless previously accomplished:

 

(a)      For Stage 1 GGT disks identified in Table 1 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated 8,500 or more Cycles Since New (CSN) on the effective date of this Directive, inspect at the next GGT module removal or within 3 months of the effective date of this Directive whichever occurs first.

 

(b)     For Stage 1 GGT disks identified in Table 1 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated less than 8,500 CSN, inspect at the next GGT module removal but not to exceed 9,000 CSN.

 

(c)      For Stage 1 GGT disks identified in Table 2 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated 11,500 or more CSN on the effective date of this Directive, inspect at the next GGT module removal or within 3 months of the effective date of this Directive whichever occurs first.

 

(d)     For Stage 1 GGT disks identified in Table 2 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated less than 11,500 CSN, inspect at the next GGT module removal but not to exceed 12,000 CSN.

 

(e)      For Stage 2 GGT disks identified in Table 3 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated 8,500 or more (CSN) on the effective date of this Directive, inspect at the next GGT module removal or within 3 months of the effective date of this Directive whichever occurs first.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

 

(f)      For Stage 2 GGT disks identified in Table 3 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated less than 8,500 CSN, inspect at the next GGT module removal but not to exceed 9,000 CSN.

 

(g)     For Stage 2 GGT disks identified in Table 4 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated 11,500 or more (CSN) on the effective date of this Directive, inspect at the next GGT module removal or within 3 months of the effective date of this Directive whichever occurs first.

 

(h)     For Stage 2 GGT disks identified in Table 4 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated less than 11,500 CSN, inspect at the next GGT module removal but not to exceed 12,000 CSN.

 

(i)       For Stage 1 and Stage 2 GGT disks not identified in Tables 1 through 4 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated 8,500 CSN or more on the effective date of this Directive, inspect at the next GGT module removal or within 3 months of the effective date of this Directive whichever occurs first.

 

(j)       For Stage 1 and Stage 2 GGT disks not identified in Tables 1 through 4 of General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 that have accumulated less than 8,500 CSN, inspect at the next GGT module removal but not to exceed 9,000 CSN.

 

This amendment becomes effective on 18 June 1998.

 

Background:  This Directive is prompted by a report of an uncontained Stage 2 GGT disk failure on take-off. The most likely cause of the failure of the disk was machining damage to a cooling hole during manufacture.

 

GGT disk rupture can result in an uncontained failure that could cause damage to the aircraft.

 

This amendment reflects a revision to the General Electric SB that corrects the respective disk serial numbers in the various tables to avoid confusion where the same serial number appears in more than one table. In addition, the inspection thresholds have been increased and the calendar time intervals decreased to comply with GE’s risk analysis model.

 

The original issue of this Directive became effective on 17 July 1997.

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, include a schedule of airworthiness directives designed to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft operations. Specifically, AD/CT7/7 Amendment 1, which became effective on 18 June 1998, addresses the issue of potential failures in General Electric CT7 series turbine engines. This amendment responds to a reported instance of an uncontained failure of a Stage 2 Gas Generator Turbine (GGT) disk during take-off, likely due to machining damage incurred during manufacturing. The policy objective of this directive is to mandate a one-time eddy current inspection of affected GGT disks, aligning with General Electric's risk analysis model and ensuring compliance with relevant service bulletins, thereby mitigating the risk of catastrophic engine failure in flight.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertains to the safety and airworthiness of General Electric CT7 series turbine engines. This regulation applies to all entities and individuals operating these specific engines, mandating a one-time eddy current inspection of Gas Generator Turbine (GGT) disks. The inspection requirement is detailed in the amendment to the Airworthiness Directive, focusing on Stage 1 and Stage 2 GGT disks with particular part numbers. The directive specifies inspection timelines based on the number of cycles since new (CSN) and whether the disks are identified in specific tables of the referenced General Electric Service Bulletin. Compliance is mandatory unless the inspection has already been completed according to the original directive. The regulation applies nationally across Australia and aligns with international standards, notably the Federal Aviation Administration's directives. Notably, the amendment corrects previous discrepancies and adjusts inspection intervals to mitigate risks identified in General Electric's risk analysis model.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES, addresses the safety of General Electric CT7 Series turbine engines through AD/CT7/7Amdt 1 (Stage 1 and Stage 2 Gas Generator Turbine Disks) issued on 7/98. This directive applies to General Electric CT7-5, -7, and -9 series engines that incorporate Gas Generator Turbine (GGT) disks, specifically P/No. 6064T06P01 (Stage 1) or 6064T12P01 (Stage 2). The primary requirement (section 7/98) is to conduct a one-time eddy current inspection of the affected GGT disks in accordance with General Electric Service Bulletin (CT7-TP series) A72-393 Revision 1 dated 13 February 1997. Notably, disks inspected per the original issue of this directive satisfy the intent of this amendment. The directive references FAA AD 97-25-07, which supersedes FAA AD 97-05-12. The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties governed include performing the specified inspections within defined timeframes based on the number of cycles since new (CSN) the disks have accumulated. For Stage 1 GGT disks with 8,500 or more CSN, the inspection must occur at the next GGT module removal or within three months of the directive's effective date, whichever comes first. For Stage 1 GGT disks with fewer than 8,500 CSN, the inspection must occur at the next GGT module removal but not exceed 9,000 CSN. Similar timelines apply to Stage 2 GGT disks, with specific CSN thresholds and timeframes outlined. The directive aims to ensure timely inspections to mitigate the risk of uncontained GGT disk failures, which could cause significant damage to the aircraft. Failure to comply with the provisions of this directive could result in serious safety implications. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe consequences, including the potential grounding of affected aircraft, enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and, in extreme cases, legal action. The specific penalties for non-compliance would be determined based on the circumstances and severity of the breach but may include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions.

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