FAA mandates replacement of 15 high‑pressure turbine seals on GP7200 engines

The FAA issued an order on 8 October, effective 23 October, requiring the replacement of 15 high‑pressure turbine interstage seals on Engine Alliance GP7200‑series engines, with urgent replacements to be completed within 50 flight cycles or 30 days, at an estimated cost of $528,150 per affected engine.

The directive follows an uncontained interstage seal failure that caused an Airbus A380 equipped with GP7270 engines to abort takeoff, and a manufacturer investigation identified cracking at the locating features between the seal and shaft, noting clocking as a contributing factor and that seal movement may occur in engines reassembled during overhaul.