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 – CFM56-5B - Radial Drive Shaft (RDS) unbalance condition

AIRCRAFT TYPE: A319,A320,A321

OUR REF.: A72N007-16 Rev 00 dated 03-AUG-2016.

1. AIRCRAFT AFFECTED

A320 fitted with the following CFM56-5B engines S/N :

569162 569411 569962 569110 569384 569649 569449 569985 573257 573588
569166 569425 569988 569198 569396 569815 569540 569993 573258
569234 569430 573180 569250 569428 569831 569600 573102 573266
569270 569453 573184 569269 569438 569947 569616 573109 573283
569288 569541 573189 569276 569460 569991 569692 573174 573353
569294 569642 573222 569287 569480 569994 569704 573182 573442
569316 569691 573244 569315 569485 573225 569757 573226 573443
569330 569758 573255 569327 569504 569220 569799 573231 573478
569376 569952 573476 569328 569543 569389 569835 573248 573498
569403 569954 569106 569347 569553 569406 569937 573252 573500
Table of affected engine

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION

Ref 1: CFM56-5B_SB72-0934R00 - ENGINE - Transfer Gearbox Assembly (72-62-00) - Replacement

of Suspected Batch of Radial Drive Shaft Assembly and Associated Radial Drive Shaft Outer Housing

3. REASON

The purpose of this AOT is to request A320 family CFM56-5B operators to accomplish instructions
provided in paragraph 4 of this AOT and in Ref. 1 VSB.

3.1 FACTS

Recent events of In-Flight Shut-Down (IFSD) on A320 Family powered with CFM56-5B engines have
led to the identification of unbalance Radial Drive Shaft (RDS). Engines which are listed in the above
engine effectivity and in Ref 1 have been delivered since December 2013.

AOT ref: A72N007-16 Rev 00 Page 1 of 2 Date: 03-AUG-2016

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
 ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

3.2 CONSEQUENCES

This unbalance can cause the RDS bearing to fail or to be damaged .This deficiency could lead to oil
traces located on the fan frame between the aft acoustical panel and the V-groove at 6 o’clock and/or
IFSD. Engineering analysis has identified a population of engines with RDS unbalance which is listed
in the above engine effectivity and in Ref 1.

3.3 AIM

The aim of this AOT is to request operators to ensure that two engines which are in the effectivity of
this AOT (as per paragraph 1 and Ref 1) are not installed on the same aircraft until SB Ref 1
embodiment.

Operators are requested to comply with this instruction until the embodiment of VSB Ref 1.

4. SHORT TERM ACTION

Airbus request airlines owner of engines mentioned in paragraph 1, to check that two affected
engines are not installed on the same aircraft. Dual installation of engines with specific RDS
unbalance on the same aircraft is forbidden.

In case of dual installation, Airbus request airline to perform VSB Ref 1 or replace one of the two
engines with an engine not mentioned in paragraph 1 within thirty (30) days.

5. AOT APPROVAL

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

6. REPORTING

Operators are requested to acknowledge receipt of this AOT within 48 hours after receipt to Airbus.

Questions about this AOT and inspection results with or without findings are to be addressed to
Airbus Customer Services through TechRequest on Airbus World, selecting Engineering Domain,
ATA 72-00 and Topic CFM56-5B - Radial Drive Shaft (RDS) unbalance condition.

Best Regards,

Jean-Luc MOUYSSET Gilles DE CEVINS

VICE PRESIDENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT VICE PRESIDENT A320 PROGRAMME
CUSTOMER SERVICES CUSTOMER SERVICES

AOT ref: A72N007-16 Rev 00 Page 2 of 2 Date: 03-AUG-2016

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT