Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-16803 · Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524 Series Turbofan Engines
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524 Series Turbofan Engines
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) engine models RB211-524B-02, -524B3-02 engines and RB211-524B2, -524B4, -524C2, and -524D4 series engines with a front combustion liner assembly that incorporates RR Service Bulletin (SB) No. RB.211-72-7221 or RR SB No. RB.211-72-7998, but doesn't incorporate RR SB No. RB.211-72-9670 or RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764, and engine models RB211-524G and -524H series engines with a front combustion liner assembly that doesn't incorporate RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764.
We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the head section and meterpanel assembly of the combustion liner, and replacement if necessary. This new AD requires those same inspections, and replacement. This AD also expands the applicability to include part numbers (P/N) of additional combustion liners. This AD was prompted by an inquiry submitted by an operator, which resulted in RR performing a complete review of the affected front combustion liner part numbers. We are issuing this AD to prevent deterioration of the engine combustion liner, which can result in combustion liner breakup, case burn-through, engine fire, 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.
Engine inspections previously done using RR SB No. RB.211-72-B482, Revision 8, meet the requirements of this AD for the initial and repetitive inspections specified in paragraph (g) and Table 1 of this AD; and paragraph (h) and Table 2 of this AD.
Borescope-inspect combustion liner head sections that have not been previously repaired. Use paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(5) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, and the compliance thresholds in Table 1 of this AD to do the inspections.
| Engine series | Initial inspection | Repetitive inspection | Parts exceeding initial inspection cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB211-524C2, -524D4, -524G, and -524H | Within 1,400 to 1,600 cycles-since-new (CSN) | Within 200 cycles-since-last inspection (CSLI) | Within 100 cycles-in-service (CIS) after the effective date of this AD. |
| RB211-524B-02, -524B2, -524B3-02, and -524B4 | Within 3,000 to 3,200 CSN | Within 200 CSLI | Within 200 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
Borescope-inspect combustion liner head sections previously repaired using RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B. Use paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(5) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, and the compliance thresholds in Table 2 of this AD to do the inspections.
| Engine series | Initial inspection | Repetitive inspection | Parts exceeding initial inspection cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB211-524C2, -524D4, -524G, and -524H | Within 1,800 to 2,200 cycles-since-last repair (CSLR) | Within 400 CSLI | Within 200 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
| RB211-524B-02, -524B2, -524B3-02, and -524B4 | Within 3,000 to 3,200 CSLR | Within 400 CSLI | Within 200 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
Borescope-inspect combustion liner head sections that have been repaired using a method other than RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B. Use paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(5) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, and the compliance thresholds in Table 3 of this AD to do the inspections.
| Engine series | Initial inspection | Repetitive inspection | Parts exceeding initial inspection cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB211-524C2, -524D4, -524G, and -524H | Within 500 to 700 CSLR | Within 200 CSLI | Within 100 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
| RB211-524B-02, -524B2, -524B3-02, and -524B4 | Within 2,000 to 2,200 CSLR | Within 200 CSLI | Within 200 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
(1) For an installed front combustion liner that is subject to RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, if the nicrobraze repair RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367 has been applied to all 18 struts, then that repair is equivalent to compliance with RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B.
(2) Head sections repaired by replacement of all 18 struts using RR Field Repair Scheme FRS6548 are considered as equivalent to fitting a new head section for inspection purposes.
Borescope-inspect meterpanel assemblies that incorporate SB No. RB.211-72-7998, that have not been previously repaired. Use paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(7) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, and the compliance thresholds in Table 4 of this AD to do the inspections.
| Engine series | Initial inspection | Repetitive inspection | Parts exceeding initial inspection cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB211-524D4, -524G, and -524H | Within 1,000 to 1,200 CSN | Within 400 CSLI | Within 50 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
| RB211-524D4, -524G, and -524H that have not used RB211-524H ratings at any time | Within 1,800 to 2,000 CSN | Within 400 CSLI | Within 50 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
Borescope-inspect meterpanel assemblies that incorporate SB No. RB.211-72-7998, that have been previously repaired. Use paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(7) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, and the compliance thresholds in Table 5 of this AD to do the inspections.
| Engine series | Initial inspection | Repetitive inspection | Parts exceeding initial inspection cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB211-524D4, -524G, and -524H. | Within 500 to 700 CSLR | Within 400 CSLI | Within 50 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
Remove from service, parts that exceed the acceptance criteria.
Replace any front combustion liner assembly that has a P/N listed in paragraph (c) of this AD at the next shop visit.
(1) For RB211-524B-02, -524B3-02, -524B4, -524C2 and -524B2, -524B4, -524C2, and -524D4 series engines, replacing the front combustion liner assembly with a front combustion liner assembly that incorporates the modifications in RR SB No. RB.211-72-9670, Original Issue, dated August 27, 1993; or RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764, Revision 3, dated January 16, 1998, constitutes terminating action to the repetitive inspections in paragraphs (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k) of this AD.
(2) For RB211-524G and -524H engines, replacing the front combustion liner assembly with a front combustion liner assembly that incorporates the modifications in RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764, Revision 3, dated January 16, 1998, constitutes terminating action to the repetitive inspections in paragraphs (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) of this AD.
For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit is any time that the 04 module is removed for refurbishment or overhaul.
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.
