Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11622 · Rolls-Royce plc RB211-524 Series Turbofan Engines
Rolls-Royce plc RB211-524 Series Turbofan Engines
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2002-02-12. Comply with the one in force.
Rolls-Royce plc (R-R) Models RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524H2-19, RB211-524G2-T-19, RB211-524G3-T-19, RB211-524H2-T-19, and RB211-524H-36 turbofan engines, with fan blades, part numbers (P/Ns) UL36245, UL38009, UL38052, or UL38628, installed. These engines are installed on but not limited to Boeing 747-400 series and 767 series airplanes.
Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each engine identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For engines that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Rolls-Royce plc RB211-524 series turbofan engines. This action requires initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections for cracks in fan blade dovetail roots, and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. This action also provides the options of installing improved design fan blades or reworking current fan blades to the improved configuration as terminating action for the inspections. This amendment is prompted by reports of fan blade failures due to dovetail root cracks. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent possible multiple fan blade failures, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the aircraft.
To prevent possible multiple fan blade failures, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the aircraft, accomplish the following:
(a) Ultrasonically inspect the dovetail roots of fan blades, P/Ns UL36245, UL38009, UL38052, and UL38628, for cracks as follows:
(1) Initially inspect at the latest of:
(i) before accumulating 2,050 total fan blade part cycles-since-new.
(ii) 50 fan blade cycles-in-service (CIS) after the effective date of this AD.
(iii) 200 fan blade CIS since last inspection.
(2) Inspect and determine rejection status in accordance with the following paragraphs of R-R Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) RB.211-72-C818, Revision 2, dated October 8, 1999:
(i) Compliance section C, page 2.
(ii) Accomplishment Instructions section, items A through and including B(6), pages 5 and 6.
(iii) Acceptance criteria section, Appendix 1 (4), items A and B, page 9.
(3) Initial inspections accomplished using the original issue of R-R SB RB.211-72-C818, dated August 6, 1999, or Revision 1, dated August 20, 1999, are acceptable.
(4) Thereafter, inspect at intervals not to exceed 200 CIS since last inspection in accordance with R-R Mandatory RB.211-72-C818, Revision 2, dated October 8, 1999.
(5) Prior to further flight, remove from service cracked fan blades and replace with serviceable parts in accordance with R-R Mandatory RB.211-72-C818, Revision 2, dated October 8, 1999.
(b) Accomplishment of either of the following actions constitutes terminating action to the inspections required by paragraph (a) of this AD:
(1) Remove from service fan blades, P/Ns UL36245, UL38009, UL38052, and UL38628, and replace with serviceable fan blades with P/Ns other than P/Ns UL36245, UL38009, UL38052, and UL38628, or
(2) Rework fan blades to the improved configuration and mark the reworked fan blades with P/Ns FW12018, FW12019, FW12020, or FW12021, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of R-R SB RB.211-72-C891, dated February 2, 2000.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
Engines
