The engine manufacturer CFM International indicated yesterday that the number of CFM-56 engines suspected of containing falsely certified documents from UK supplier AOG Technics amounted to 126, including 16 in his own workshops after he inadvertently purchased them indirectly.
This number still represents less than 1% of the 22,600 CFM-56 engines (out of a total of more than 34,000 produced to date) that power the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737NG single-aisle aircraft currently in service worldwide. CFM International, a joint venture between the American General Electric and the French Safran, published this situation report after receiving the documents submitted by AOG Technics on the orders of a British judge, and declared that no operational impact had been reported so far. The engine maker also gave new details on the parts affected, including some low-pressure turbine blades, but clarified that the majority of them were routine, less critical parts, such as nuts and bolts.
“CFM is reviewing documents submitted by AOG Technics as part of its efforts to determine the extent of the sale of parts using fraudulent documents“, declared the engine manufacturer in a press release. “We work collaboratively with operators so they can quickly remove unauthorized parts from their engines, in accordance with recommendations issued by regulatory agencies.” The majority of falsely certified coins are “non-serialized items such as bolts, nuts, washers, shock absorbers, gaskets and bushings“.
CFM56 engines are repaired by third-party networks or at maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities operated by CFM International, which said it discovered four instances where parts from AOG leaked into its own facilities , which had an impact on 16 engines: “One of these cases came through CFM Materials. The other three cases involve indirect purchases from suppliers who sourced from AOG with falsified forms and unknowingly sold them to CFM“.
