SAIB NE-16-15

FAA Aviation Safety

SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Engine Starter SAIB: NE-16-15 Date: April 4, 2016 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners, operators, and certificated repair facilities of airplanes equipped with General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1A1, -80E1A2, -80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B turbofan engines to potential starter failures. At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

Background We have received reports of 6 engine starter failures, one of which resulted in a low-grade fire, on GE CF6-80E1 model engines. Investigations revealed that the failures were the result of horizontal drive shaft (HDS) length being too long. The HDS can cause unintended loading onto the starter bearing, resulting in bearing failure, starter failure, oil leakage, and low-grade fire.

This SAIB provides information on the replacement or rework of the HDS to prevent further starter failures of this type. GE Service Bulletin (SB) CF6-80E1 S/B 72-0532, dated February 10, 2016, was issued to replace or rework the HDS.

Recommendations The FAA recommends that you perform the procedures in GE SB CF6-80E1 S/B 72-0532, dated February 10, 2016 to address engine starter failures.

For Further Information Contact Herman Mak, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts, 08103; email: herman.mak@faa.gov;

phone: 781-238-7147; fax: 781-238-7199.

For Related Service Information Contact General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215;

phone: 513-552-3272; email: aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com.