Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11771 · Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C Series Turbofan Engines
Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C Series Turbofan Engines
Allison Engine Company AE 3007A, AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/2, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A3, AE 3007A1P and AE 3007C series turbofan engines, installed on but not limited to EMBRAER EMB-135 and EMB-145 series and Cessna 750 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; 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), applicable to Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C series turbofan engines. This AD requires revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C Engine Manuals to include required enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. This AD also requires an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate these inspection procedures. Air carriers with an approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program will be allowed to either maintain the records showing the current status of the inspections using the record keeping system specified in the air carrier's maintenance manual or establish an acceptable alternate method of record keeping. This amendment is prompted by an FAA study of in- service events involving uncontained failures of critical rotating engine parts that indicated the need for improved inspections. The improved inspections are needed to identify those critical rotating parts with conditions that, if allowed to continue in service, could result in uncontained failures. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
Required as indicated, unless previously accomplished.
To prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane, accomplish the following:
Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C Engine Manuals, and for air carrier operations revise the approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program, by adding the following:
“ MANDATORY INSPECTIONS
(1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piece-part opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in the applicable manual provisions:
| Part nomenclature | Part No. (P/N) | Inspect per engine manual chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel, Fan | All | 72-21-21 (Task 72-21-21-200-801) |
(2) For the purposes of these mandatory inspections, piece-part opportunity means:
(i) The part is completely disassembled when done in accordance with the disassembly instructions in the engine manufacturer's Heavy Maintenance Manual; and
(ii) The part has accumulated more than 100 cycles in service since the last piece-part opportunity inspection, provided that the part was not damaged or related to the cause for its removal from the engine.”
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD, and notwithstanding contrary provisions in § 43.16 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections shall be performed only in accordance with the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C Engine Manuals.
