Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6-80E1 Series Turbofan Engines

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1 series turbofan engines, installed on Airbus Industrie A330 series airplanes. This action requires initial and repetitive pressure testing of the directional pilot valve (DPV) assembly, with replacement of DPV assemblies that fail the pressure test, or, replacing the DPV assembly without performing pressure testing, with a serviceable DPV assembly, or, deactivating the fan reverser for no longer than 10 days until replacement of the DPV assembly is done. This amendment is prompted by a review of thrust reverser safety analyses following a report of inadvertent thrust reverser deployment on another make and model engine. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent inadvertent thrust reverser deployment, which, if it occurred in- flight, could result in loss of control of the airplane.