Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13941 · Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 700 Series Turbofan Engines
Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 700 Series Turbofan Engines
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 768-60, Trent 772-60, and Trent 772B-60 turbofan engines with low pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade part numbers FK22580, FK23411, FK25441, and FK25968 installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A330 series airplanes.
The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 768-60, Trent 772-60, and Trent 772B-60 turbofan engines with low pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade part numbers FK22580, FK23411, FK25441, and FK25968 installed. That AD currently requires initial ultrasonic inspections of the fan blade root with blades removed, repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the fan blade root with blades removed or installed, and ultrasonic inspection of the fan blade root to be done with the fan blades removed at least every third inspection. This AD requires the same inspections but at lower thresholds and intervals, and eliminates the requirement for ultrasonic inspection with the fan blades removed at least every third inspection. This AD results from analysis of flight data returned to RR, that shows a need for consistent inspection thresholds for all engine models. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible multiple LPC fan blade failures, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the actions have already been done.
Perform an initial ultrasonic inspection of the LPC fan blade dovetail roots using Method A (paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(8); blades removed from engine) of Accomplishment Instructions of RR Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. RB.211-72-C878, Revision 7, dated December 5, 2003, as follows:
(1) Inspect before accumulating 1,100 cycles-since-new (CSN) on the fan blades; or
(2) For fan blades that have accumulated more than 800 CSN on the effective date of this AD that have not been previously inspected, inspect within 300 cycles-in-service (CIS) from the effective date of this AD or within 2,000 CSN, whichever occurs first.
Perform repetitive inspections of the LPC fan blades using Method A, or Method B (paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(5); blades not removed from the engine) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR MSB No. RB.211-72-C878, Revision 7, dated December 5, 2003, as follows:
(1) Inspect within 300 CIS since-last-inspected with Method A of the SB; or
(2) Inspect within 250 CIS since-last-inspected with Method B of the SB.
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.
