CUSTOMER SERVICES DIRECTORATE

1 ROND POINT MAURICE BELLONTE

31707 BLAGNAC CEDEX FRANCE
TELEPHONE + 33 (0)5 61 93 33 33

ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

SUBJECT: ATA 72 – LEAP-1A Engine - One-time inspection of HPC borescope plugs and application of
an increased torque value

AIRCRAFT TYPE: A320,A321

OUR REF.: A72N015-18 Rev 01 dated 29-OCT-2018

OUR PREVIOUS REF.: A72N015-18 Rev 00 dated 14-MAR-2018 29-OCT-2018

***BEG REV***

0. REASON FOR REVISION

This AOT is revised:
 To align with the recommendations and timescale provided in CFM VSB Ref. 5.
 To extend the applicability of the one-time inspection to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th HPC stages
borescope plugs.
 To increase the torque value for the installation of the affected borescope plugs.
 To amend the number of man-hours required to accomplish this AOT.
 To limit the applicability of this AOT.

1. AIRCRAFT AFFECTED
All A320neo family aircraft delivered before the 10-SEP-2018 and fitted with LEAP-1A engine serial
numbers 598-113 through 598-781.

NOTE: All A320neo family aircraft delivered after the 10-SEP-2018 and fitted with LEAP-1A engines
have CFM VSB Ref. 5 embodied before delivery.

***END REV***

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION

2.1 APPENDIX
None.

2.2 REFERENCES

***BEG REV***

Ref. 1: Removed.
Ref. 2: Removed.
Ref. 3: AMM Task 78-36-00-010-806-A, Opening of the Thrust Reverser Cowl Doors.
Ref. 4: AMM Task 78-32-62-210-801-A, General Visual Inspection of Inner Fixed Structure Fire Seals,
Thermal Blanket and TR Fire Shields.
Ref. 5: CFM VSB LEAP-1A-72-00-0247-01A-930A-D, ENGINE - CORE MODULE ASSEMBLY -
(BORESCOPE PLUGS) (72-00-02) - STAGES 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 8 BORESCOPE PLUGS
INSPECTION AND TORQUE INCREASE

AOT ref: A72N015-18 Rev 01 Page 1 of 4 Date: 29-OCT-2018

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
 ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

Ref. 6: AMM Task 72-30-00-290-801-A, Borescope Inspection of the High Pressure Compressor
Section.

***END REV***

3. REASON

3.1 FACTS

***BEG REV***

A320neo family aircraft equipped with LEAP-1A engines experienced occurrences of damage to the
thrust reverser (T/R) thermal blankets due to hot air leaks caused by a missing HPC 5th stage
borescope plug.
Recently two additional cases have been reported to Airbus, which involved the borescope plugs at the
2nd and 4th stage of the HPC. No damage to the T/R thermal blankets has been reported for these
events.

In all of the above mentioned cases neither the engine systems nor the nacelle temperature sensor
detected the absence of the HPC borescope plug.

CFM have determined that the baseline type design torque may not have sufficient margin to cover all
torque-tension variations in the affected joints.

***END REV***

3.2 CONSEQUENCES
Loss of a HPC borescope plug can result in hot air leaks and subsequent damage to the adjacent
engine installations and to the T/R thermal blankets and Inner Fixed Structure (IFS).

3.3 AIM

***BEG REV***

The aim of this AOT is to require all LEAP-1A operators to perform a one-time visual inspection of the
HPC 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th stage borescope plugs for correct installation and to re-torque these plugs
as per the instructions provided within CFM VSB Ref. 5.

***END REV***

4. SHORT TERM ACTION

4.1 PLANNING AND MANPOWER

4.1.1 ACCOMPLISHMENT TIMESCALE

***BEG REV***

Do a one-time visual inspection and increase the torque value of the HPC 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th stage
borescope plugs as per CFM VSB Ref. 5 within 60 days of the date of issue of this AOT revision.

4.1.2 MANPOWER

AOT ref: A72N015-18 Rev 01 Page 2 of 4 Date: 29-OCT-2018

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
 ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

The estimated time to perform the inspection is 4 man-hours per aircraft (2 man-hours per engine).

4.2 DESCRIPTION
Do a one-time visual inspection and increase the torque value of the HPC 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th stage
borescope plugs as per the instructions in section 5.A. of CFM VSB Ref. 5.

NOTE: The new torque values for the HPC 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th stage borescope plugs defined
within CFM VSB Ref. 5 will be included in the next revision of AMM task Ref. 6. Pending the
availability of the revised AMM task, Operators shall ensure that the torque values defined
within CFM VSB Ref. 5 are applied in case of removal/installation of the affected borescope
plugs.

***END REV***

4.2.1 ACCESS
Open the thrust reverser cowl-doors as per Ref. 3.

4.2.2 FINDINGS

***BEG REV***

If a gap exists between the borescope plug and the case boss, or if a borescope plug is missing please
perform below steps:
1. Do a General Visual Inspection of Inner Fixed Structure Fire Seals, Thermal Blanket and TR
Fire Shields as per Ref. 4. If damage is found on the T/R, please fill a Safran Nacelles Nacelle
Damage Description (NDD) form (attached to this AOT for your convenience) and report directly
to Safran Nacelles and Airbus before next flight.
2. Do a General Visual Inspection of the area surrounding the borescope plug for damage and
condition. If damage is found please report directly to CFM and Airbus.
3. DELETED.
4. Please report any finding to CFM and Airbus.

***END REV***

4.3 SPARES AND TOOLING

Borescope plugs may be required. CFM have agreed to provide spare plugs as required to support the
inspections per this AOT.

5. FURTHER INFORMATION

5.1 FOLLOW-UP PLAN

None.

5.2 IMPACTED DOCUMENTATION

None.

6. AOT APPROVAL
The technical content of this document is approved under the authority of DOA nr. EASA.21J.031.

AOT ref: A72N015-18 Rev 01 Page 3 of 4 Date: 29-OCT-2018

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
 ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

7. REPORTING
Questions about this AOT are to be addressed to Airbus Customer Services through TechRequest on
Airbus World, selecting Maintenance & Engineering Domain, Engineering Support Section and ATA 72-
30.
As per latest reporting policy (Ref to OIT 999.0018/16), inspection results (with or without findings) are to
be addressed to Airbus Customer Services through the generic e-mail address:
inspection.results@airbus.com.

Best Regards,

Jean-Luc MOUYSSET Jean-Pierre GOMEZ

VICE PRESIDENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT VICE PRESIDENT A320FAM PROGRAM SUPPORT
CUSTOMER SERVICES CUSTOMER SERVICES

AOT ref: A72N015-18 Rev 01 Page 4 of 4 Date: 29-OCT-2018

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT