The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive for all CFM Leap 1-A engines. This is currently only used on machines from the Airbus A320neo series.

The supervisory authority is reacting to the realization that some parts of the drives are made of materials that can have reduced properties due to iron inclusions. Specific areas affected include certain Stage 1 high pressure turbine rotor disks and Stage 6-10 front outer seals and compressor rotor spools.

The defect was reported by the manufacturer, CFM International. The company emphasizes that the iron inclusions in the three HPT rotor disks are not related to the Leap-1-A engine. Research would have shown that these are due to defects in the manufacturing process. Other parts that could potentially be affected have been found and reported to the regulator. To fix the problem, the FAA has directed operators to replace the three affected parts. 38 engines installed in US-registered aircraft are affected.

The FAA warned that the reduced material properties of the HPT stage 1 discs, forward outer seals and spools of compressor rotor stages 6-10 could have reduced fatigue life due to iron inclusions, "resulting in premature fracture and subsequent uncontrolled failure" of the components can. The AD will formally come into effect on June 23, 2023.