Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-19747 · Turbine engine compressor section
Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2019-21-11. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Models PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1525G, PW1521G-3, PW1524G-3, PW1525G-3, PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A turbofan engines that have accumulated fewer than 300 flight cycles.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1525G, PW1521G-3, PW1524G-3, PW1525G-3, PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A model turbofan engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) inlet guide vane (IGV) and the LPC rotor 1 (R1) and, depending on the results of the inspections, possible replacement of the LPC. This AD was prompted by two recent in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) that occurred as the result of failures of the LPC R1. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Within 50 flight cycles from the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 flight cycles until the engine accumulates 300 flight cycles, borescope inspect each LPC inlet guide vane (IGV) stem for proper alignment.
(2) Within 50 flight cycles from the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 flight cycles until the engine accumulates 300 flight cycles, borescope inspect the LPC R1 for damage and cracks at the following locations:
(i) The blades tips;
(ii) the leading edge;
(iii) the leading edge fillet to rotor platform radius; and
(iv) the airfoil convex side root fillet to rotor platform radius.
(3) As the result of the inspections required by paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD, before further flight, remove and replace the LPC if:
(i) An IGV is misaligned; or
(ii) there is damage on an LPC R1 that exceeds serviceable limits; or
(iii) there is any crack in the LPC R1.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance on determining serviceable limits can be found in PW Service Bulletin (SB) PW1000G-A-72-00-0125-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 001, dated September 23, 2019, and PW SB PW1000G-A-72-00-0075-00B-930A-D, Issue No. 001, dated September 23, 2019.
For the purpose of this AD, a misaligned IGV is an IGV that is rotated about its radial axis at a different angle than the remainder of the IGVs in the circumferential set.
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.
