Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-14467 · Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 553-61, 553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, and 560A2-61 Turbofan Engines
Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 553-61, 553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, and 560A2-61 Turbofan Engines
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 553-61, 553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, and 560A2-61 turbofan engines that have not incorporated RR Service Bulletin (SB) No. RB.211-72-E767. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A340-500 and -600 series airplanes.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 553-61, 553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, and 560A2-61 turbofan engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections for missing HPT rear seal plate locking plugs and damaged locking plug retaining wires, and removal of the engine from service if necessary, based on inspection results. This AD results from two reports of missing HPT rear seal plate locking plugs, damage to the HPT disc, and damage to the remaining locking plug retaining wires. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained release of the HPT rear side plate and HPT disc, resulting in 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.
Borescope-inspect for missing HPT rear seal plate locking plugs and damaged locking plug retaining wires, between 500 and 1,000 cycles-since-new (CSN) or cycles-since-overhaul where the locking plug wires were replaced, or within 50 cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
(g) Use paragraphs 3.B.(1)(a) through 3.B.(1)(k)(xi) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-72-AE358, Revision 3, dated July 13, 2005, to do the inspection.
Using the criteria and intervals in the following Table 1, repeat the borescope inspection and remove engines from service to inspect the HPT disc.
| If the number of HPT locking plugs with acceptable locking plug retaining wires installed, determined in paragraph (f) of this AD is: | Then repeat the borescope inspection within: | Remove the engine from service to inspect HPT disc: |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Zero or one. | Not applicable | Before further flight. |
| (2) Two | Not applicable | Within 15 CSLI. |
| (3) Three or four | 100 cycles-since-last-inspection (CSLI) intervals | Before accumulating 1,100 cycles-since-loss of locking plug(s) or 1,100 CSN, or 1,100 cycles-since-last acceptable inspection, whichever occurs later. |
| (4) Five | 1,000 CSLI intervals | Not applicable. |
(i) Use paragraphs 3.B.(1)(a) through 3.B.(1)(k)(xi) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-72-AE358, Revision 3, dated July 13, 2005, to do the inspection.
(j) For Table 1, item (3), if possible, determine when the loss of locking plug(s) occurred by reviewing the engine vibration history. If it is not possible to determine the point of locking plug release, use 1,100 CSN, or 1,100 cycles-since-last acceptable inspection, whichever occurs later.
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.
