Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Engines
Key claim: The FAA wants airlines to visually inspect fan blades on all CFM56-7B jet engines and replace any that are not serviceable, after a blade broke off in flight, pierced a fuselage, and forced an emergency descent.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model CFM56-7B engines. This proposed AD was prompted by an event involving a CFM Model CFM56-7B26/3 engine where a fan blade separated and resulted in an engine in-flight shutdown (IFSD) with debris penetrating the fuselage, which caused a loss of pressurization and prompted an emergency descent. This proposed AD would require a visual inspection of the fan blades for findings considered not serviceable and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacement with a serviceable part and additional fan blade inspections. This proposed AD would also require sending the inspection results to CFM if any finding considered not serviceable is found. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Why this matters
The CFM56-7B powers the Boeing 737 Next Generation family, one of the most widely operated airliner engines in service, so a fleet-wide fan-blade inspection order has broad practical reach for U.S. carriers and maintenance providers. The directive follows an uncontained blade-off event that depressurized the cabin, placing it in the same safety lineage as earlier CFM56 fan-blade ADs issued after the 2018 Southwest 1380 fatality.