Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80A1/A3 and CF6-80C2A Series Turbofan Engines, Installed on Airbus Industrie A300-600 and A310 Series Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CF6-80A1/A3 and CF6-80C2A series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires completing one of the following actions before further flight: <bullet> Performing a directional pilot valve (DPV) pressure check for leakage, and, if necessary, replacing the DPV assembly with a serviceable assembly, or <bullet> Replacing the DPV assembly with a serviceable assembly, or <bullet> Deactivating the thrust reverser, and revising the FAA- approved airplane flight manual (AFM) to require applying performance penalties for certain takeoff conditions if a thrust reverser is deactivated. That AD also requires revising the Emergency Procedures Section of the FAA-approved AFM to include a flight crew operational procedure for use in the event of any indication of an in-flight thrust reverser deployment. This AD specifies the same requirements for leak checks, but increases the interval between required checks. This AD also removes the requirement to revise the Limitations Section and the Emergency Procedures Section of the applicable AFM when deactivating one or both thrust reversers. This AD results from Airbus Industrie, the airplane manufacturer, revising the master minimum equipment list (MMEL) to include procedures for operating the airplane with the thrust reversers deactivated, and revising the AFM to include procedures for emergency operation if the thrust reversers deploy while in flight. This AD also results from the engine manufacturer recommending extending the interval between inspecting or replacing the DPV. We are issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent thrust reverser deployment, which, if it occurs in-flight, could result in loss of control of the airplane.