Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-15905 · Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A Series Turbofan Engines
Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A Series Turbofan Engines
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2010-19-01. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to RRC AE 3007A series turbofan engines with high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 wheels, part number (P/N) 23065892, 23069116, 23069438, 23069592, 23074462, 23074644, 23075345, 23084520, or 23084781, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S. A. (EMBRAER) EMB-135 and EMB-145 airplanes.
This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2009-08-51 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of RRC AE 3007A series turbofan engines. This AD requires performing an eddy current inspection (ECI) or surface wave ultrasonic test (SWUT) inspection on each affected high-pressure turbine wheel. This AD results from additional reports of cracks in the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 wheels identified from the required inspections in AD 2008-26-06. A revised risk assessment that includes these additional reports indicates we need to require a higher inspection rate. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncontained failure of the HPT stage 2 wheel 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 eddy current inspection (ECI) or surface wave ultrasonic test (SWUT) inspection on each affected wheel by the cycle limit specified in Table 1 of this AD. Use paragraphs 2.A. through 2.C.(4) of RRC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AE 3007A-A-72-367, Revision 1, dated April 7, 2009, or use paragraphs 2.A through 2.M.(8) of RRC Service Bulletin (SB) AE 3007A-72-368, Revision 1, dated April 6, 2009, to perform the inspections.
| For HPT stage 2 wheels with CSN on the effective date of this AD: | Remove or inspect: |
|---|---|
| 17,500 or more | Before the next flight. |
| 15,560 to 17,499 | Within 75 cycles-in-service (CIS). |
| 15,000 to 15,559 | Within 150 CIS. |
| 14,700 to 14,999 | Within 200 CIS. |
| 14,000 to 14,699 | Within 250 CIS. |
| 13,580 to 13,999 | Within 450 CIS. |
| 12,460 to 13,579 | Within 600 CIS. |
After the effective date of this AD, don't return to service, any HPT stage 2 wheel that was installed in any RRC AE 3007A series turbofan engine removed from service as a result of paragraph (f) of this AD unless the HPT stage 2 wheel has passed an inspection specified in RRC ASB AE 3007A-A-72-367, Revision 1, dated April 7, 2009 or RRC SB AE 3007A-72-368, Revision 1, dated April 6, 2009.
After the effective date of this AD, remove from service any HPT stage 2 wheel covered by this AD that has accumulated 22,500 CSN.
(i) After the effective date of this AD, don't install any HPT stage 2 wheel that has 22,500 or more CSN.
HPT stage 2 wheels already inspected and passed using RRC ASB AE 3007A-A-72-367, Revision 1, dated April 7, 2009, or earlier issue; or RRC SB AE 3007A-72-368, Revision 1, dated April 6, 2009, or earlier issue, meet the requirements for the initial inspections specified in paragraph (f) of this AD.
