Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-19583 · Turbine/turboprop engine
Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines
This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW2037, PW2037D, PW2037M, PW2040, PW2040D, PW2043, PW2143, PW2643, and F117-PW-100 turbofan engines.
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-11-06, for all Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW2037, PW2037D, PW2037M, PW2040, PW2040D, PW2043, PW2143, PW2643, and F117-PW-100 turbofan engine models. AD 2017-11-06 required initial and repetitive on-wing eddy current inspections (ECIs) of affected engines with certain diffuser and high- pressure turbine (HPT) cases installed. AD 2017-11-06 also required a fluorescent-penetrant inspection (FPI) of the diffuser case rear flange and the HPT case front flange. This AD requires an on-wing ECI of all diffuser case M-flange replacement repairs. This AD was prompted by a rupture of the diffuser-to-HPT case flange. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For diffuser case, part number (P/N) 1B7461, serial numbers (S/Ns) DGGUAK1306 and DGGUAK1308, and HPT case, P/N 1B2440, S/N DKLBCS1032:
(i) Within 100 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, perform an eddy current inspection (ECI) of the diffuser case and the HPT case M-flange in accordance with PW Service Bulletin (SB) No. PW2000 72-763, Revision No. 1, dated August 30, 2013.
(ii) [Reserved]
(2) For all diffuser and HPT cases, at the next piece-part opportunity after the effective date of this AD and every piece-part opportunity thereafter, perform a high sensitivity fluorescent-penetrant inspection (FPI) of the entire diffuser case rear flange (M-flange) and bolt holes, and the entire HPT case forward flange (M-flange) and bolt holes.
(3) For all diffuser cases installed on any affected engine model except for F117-PW-100 turbofan engines, that have not incorporated PW SB PW2000-72-364, have incorporated PW SB PW2000-72-700, or have had an M-flange replacement, perform initial and repetitive ECIs of the diffuser case M-flange as follows:
(i) Perform an initial ECI in accordance with the “Last Shop Visit Activity” column and before exceeding the maximum cycles since the last shop visit activity in the “Initial Inspection” column of Table 1 of PW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW2000 A72-765, Revision No. 4, dated January 25, 2018, or within 1,000 cycles from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
(ii) Evaluate the inspection results and perform re-inspections as necessary in accordance with Accomplishment Instructions, “For Engines Installed on the Aircraft,” paragraph 5, or the Accomplishment Instructions, “For Engines Removed from the Aircraft,” paragraph 4, of PW ASB No. PW2000 A72-765, Revision No. 4, dated January 25, 2018, as applicable. If given a cycle range, perform the subsequent inspections before exceeding the maximum number of cycles.
(iii) Inspect the diffuser case M-flange using, as applicable, either the Accomplishment Instructions, “For Engines Installed on the Aircraft,” paragraphs 3.I. through 3.J., or the Accomplishment Instructions, “For Engines Removed from the Aircraft,” paragraphs 3.D. through 3.E., of PW ASB No. PW2000 A72-765, Revision No. 4, dated January 25, 2018.
For the purpose of this AD, a “piece-part opportunity” is defined as when the part is completely disassembled.
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.
