Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Engines

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8721-8723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03613]



[[Page 8721]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-1334; Project Identifier AD-2025-01336-E; 
Amendment 39-23269; AD 2026-04-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain General Electric Company (GE) Model GEnx-1B64, GEnx-1B64/P1, 
GEnx-1B64/P2, GEnx-1B67, GEnx-1B67/P1, GEnx-1B67/P2, GEnx-1B70, GEnx-
1B70/75/P1, GEnx-1B70/75/P2, GEnx-1B70/P1, GEnx-1B70/P2, GEnx-1B70C/P1, 
GEnx-1B70C/P2, GEnx-1B74/75/P1, GEnx-1B74/75/P2, GEnx-1B76/P2, Genx-
1B76A/P2, GEnx-2B67, GEnx-2B67/P, and GEnx-2B67B engines. This AD was 
prompted by a report of a quality escape for certain high-pressure 
compressor (HPC) stage 5 blisks manufactured from a single forged ingot 
with a nonconforming indication. This AD requires replacement of 
certain HPC stage 5 blisks with parts eligible for installation. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 11, 2026.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by April 10, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-1334; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Itanza Young, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 
(206) 482-6306; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-1334; Project 
Identifier AD-2025-01336-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The 
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Itanza 
Young, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198. Any commentary 
that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will 
be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA received a report of a quality escape on certain HPC stage 
5 blisks that are installed on certain GE Model GEnx-1B64, GEnx-1B64/
P1, GEnx-1B64/P2, GEnx-1B67, GEnx-1B67/P1, GEnx-1B67/P2, GEnx-1B70, 
GEnx-1B70/75/P1, GEnx-1B70/75/P2, GEnx-1B70/P1, GEnx-1B70/P2, GEnx-
1B70C/P1, GEnx-1B70C/P2, GEnx-1B74/75/P1, GEnx-1B74/75/P2, GEnx-1B76/
P2, Genx-1B76A/P2, GEnx-2B67, GEnx-2B67/P, and GEnx-2B67B engines. A 
manufacturer investigation revealed that a nonconforming indication was 
discovered in a single forged ingot used to manufacture the affected 
parts, potentially making them susceptible to failure earlier than 
previously determined. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent fracture 
and subsequent uncontained release of certain HPC stage 5 blisks. This 
condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained debris 
release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency determined the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other 
products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires replacement of certain HPC stage 5 blisks with 
parts eligible for installation.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment 
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that 
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    The FAA justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of 
this rule because no domestic operators are affected by this AD. It is 
unlikely that the FAA will receive any adverse comments or useful 
information about this AD from any U.S. operator.
    Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
unnecessary, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the 
foregoing reason(s), the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

[[Page 8722]]

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and 
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 0 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Cost on
               Action                        Labor cost               Parts cost          Cost per       U.S.
                                                                                          product     operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace HPC stage 5 blisk  8 work-hours x $85 per   $260,951 (prorated)....     $261,631           $0
                                       hour = $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. 
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight 
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2026-04-09 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-23269; Docket No. 
FAA-2026-1334; Project Identifier AD-2025-01336-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 11, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company Model GEnx-1B64, 
GEnx-1B64/P1, GEnx-1B64/P2, GEnx-1B67, GEnx-1B67/P1, GEnx-1B67/P2, 
GEnx-1B70, GEnx-1B70/75/P1, GEnx-1B70/75/P2, GEnx-1B70/P1, GEnx-
1B70/P2, GEnx-1B70C/P1, GEnx-1B70C/P2, GEnx-1B74/75/P1, GEnx-1B74/
75/P2, GEnx-1B76/P2, Genx-1B76A/P2, GEnx-2B67, GEnx-2B67/P, and 
GEnx-2B67B engines with a high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 5 
blisk having part number (P/N) 2357M35P02 installed and a serial 
number (S/N) referenced in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this AD:

(1) S/N TMT214T8
(2) S/N TMT214T9
(3) S/N TMT218UA

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of certain HPC stage 5 blisks 
manufactured from a single forged ingot with a nonconforming 
indication. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent fracture and 
subsequent uncontained release of certain HPC stage 5 blisks. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained 
debris release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD:
    (1) A part ``eligible for installation'' is any HPC stage 5 
blisk that does not have a P/N and S/N identified in paragraph (c) 
of this AD.
    (2) A ``piece-part exposure'' is when the affected part is 
removed from the engine and completely disassembled.

(h) Required Actions

    At the next piece-part exposure or before exceeding 7,700 cycles 
since new, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this 
AD, remove the affected HPC stage 5 blisk from service and replace 
with a part eligible for installation.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 
39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety 
Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: [email protected]. Before using 
any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or 
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight 
standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Itanza Young, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, 
WA 98198; phone: (206) 482-6306; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.


[[Page 8723]]


    Issued on February 19, 2026.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03613 Filed 2-23-26; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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