The FAA published a directive on October 8 requiring replacement of specified high-pressure turbine interstage seals in Engine Alliance GP7270, GP7272 and GP7277 engines, AeroTime reports. The rule addresses fifteen identified components and takes effect October 23. The most urgent group has a limit of fifty flight cycles or thirty days, whichever occurs first.
An uncontained seal failure, engine shutdown and aborted A380 takeoff prompted the action. The root cause remains under investigation. Applicability depends on identified parts and compliance groups; the directive does not ground every A380 or every GP7200-series engine. Other groups have different deadlines, and the report does not identify the original airline or aircraft registration.
