AD 2000-12-02

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:

(a) Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the Time Limits Section of the manufacturer's Engine Manual (EM), Part Numbers (P/Ns) 50A605, 50A443, 51A342, 50A822, 51A751, or 51A345, as applicable, for PW Model PW4050, PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4152, PW4156, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4160, PW4460, PW4462, PW4168, PW4168A, PW4164, PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084, PW4084D, PW4090, PW4090D, PW4090-3 and PW4098 turbofan engines, and for air carrier operations revise the approved mandatory inspections section of the continuous airworthiness maintenance program, to read as follows:

“MANDATORY INSPECTIONS

(1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piece-part opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in the applicable PW4000 series Engine Cleaning, Inspection, and Repair (CIR) Manuals:

For Engine Manual 50A605 only, insert the following table:

For Engine Manual 50A443 only, insert the following table:

For Engine Manual 50A822 only, insert the following table:

For Engine Manual 51A342 only, insert the following table:

For Engine Manual 51A345 only, insert the following table:

For Engine Manual 51A751 only, insert the following table:

(2) For the purpose of these mandatory inspections, piece-part opportunity means:

(i) The part is considered completely disassembled when accomplished in accordance with the disassembly instructions in the manufacturer's engine manuals to either the part detail or part assembly level part numbers for the parts listed in the Tables above; 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 section 43.16 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections shall be performed only in accordance with the Time Limits Section of the manufacturer's EM's.