NTSB Issues Urgent Recommendation to FAA for GEnx Engine Inspections

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued an urgent safety recommendation, designated as A-12-053 and referenced under investigation number DCA12IA114, addressed directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive requires aviation operators to perform repetitive inspections of the fan midshaft within all General Electric GEnx-1B and -2B engines. The scope of this requirement extends to both on-wing units and spare engines. The NSB emphasizes that these inspections must be conducted at a sufficiently short interval to allow for multiple checks. This frequency is necessary to detect any developing cracks before they reach a critical length, which could otherwise lead to the fracture of the fan midshaft. The recommendation aims to prevent potential mechanical failures by ensuring early detection through rigorous and frequent monitoring protocols.