FAA proposes fuel tube fix for Global 7500, 8000 engines

Two of the most high-profile business jets available today, the Bombardier Global 7500 and Global 8000, powered by General Electric Passport 20 engines, are in the FAA’s crosshairs after a fire warning and in-flight shutdown (IFSD) traced to an eroded fuel tube. A proposed airworthiness directive (AD) would require replacement of the affected tube with a redesigned part.According to the FAA, hot gas leaking at the high-pressure compressor (HPC) case split line eroded a start bleed valve (SBV) fuel tube, allowing fuel to leak into the engine core compartment. The proposed corrective action is to remove the affected fuel tube, part number (P/N) 2721M52G01 and install a redesigned fuel tube, P/N 3179M50G01.An estimated 126 affected engines are installed on U.S.-registered aircraft. Replacement would require 36 labor hours and approximately $1,997 in parts, producing an estimated cost of $5,057 per engine and approximately $637,182 across the affected U.S. fleet. The proposal creates a maintenance action tied to a specific component rather than a fleetwide inspection campaign. Operators with affected engines would need to replace the fuel tube before it reaches the FAA’s flight-hour limit and coordinate the work with scheduled maintenance activity.What operators need to knowShould the AD be implemented, compliance would be tracked against the installed part rather than the airframe or engine as a whole: with replacement of the tube needed before it reaches 2,750 flight hours since new, or within 250 flight hours of the AD’s effective date, whichever is later. With the potential to affect airworthiness and resale transactions, a reminder for operators, buyers and sellers to keep track of developments.Browse used Bombardier Global 7500s and 8000s on GlobalAir.com.