Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-19777 · Turbine engine compressor section
Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2021-14-06. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Model PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1525G, PW1521G-3, PW1524G-3, PW1525G-3, PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A model turbofan engines that have accumulated fewer than 300 flight cycles since new (CSN) or that have accumulated fewer than 300 flight cycles since installation of v2.11.7 or v2.11.8 electronic engine control (EEC) software.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-19-11 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. AD 2019-19-11 required 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 requires the same inspection of the LPC R1 for cracks or damage, removes the inspection of the LPC IGV for proper alignment, and expands the applicability to certain additional PW turbofan engines. This AD also reduces the compliance time for these inspections for certain PW turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by recent findings of cracks in the LPC R1 and an additional in-flight failure of the LPC R1. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Except for those engines identified in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, borescope inspect the LPC R1 for damage and cracks at the locations in paragraph (g)(1)(iv) of this AD as follows:
(i) For engines that have accumulated fewer than 300 flight cycles since new (CSN), inspect within 50 flight cycles from September 26, 2019 (the effective date of AD 2019-19-11).
(ii) For engines that have accumulated fewer than 300 flight cycles since installation of v2.11.7 or v2.11.8 electronic engine control (EEC) software, inspect within 50 flight cycles from the effective date of this AD.
(iii) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 50 flight cycles until the engine accumulates 300 flight CSN or accumulates 300 flight cycles since the installation of v2.11.7 or v2.11.8 EEC software, whichever occurs later, repeat this borescope inspection for damage and cracks at the locations in paragraph (g)(1)(iv) of this AD.
(iv) Perform the borescope inspection required by paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD at the following locations:
(A) the blades tips;
(B) the leading edge;
(C) the leading edge fillet to rotor platform radius; and
(D) the airfoil convex side root fillet to rotor platform radius.
(2) For all affected PW model turbofan engines installed as a “zero time spare,” except for PW1519G, PW1521GA and PW1919G model turbofan engines, within 15 flight cycles from the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 15 flight cycles until the engine accumulates 300 flight CSN, perform the borescope inspections required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
(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) there is damage on an LPC R1 that exceeds serviceable limits; or
(ii) 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. 002, dated October 22, 2019, and PW SB PW1000G-A-72-00-0075-00B-930A-D, Issue No. 003, dated October 22, 2019.
For the purpose of this AD, a “zero time spare” is an engine that had zero flight hours time-in-service when it was installed on an airplane after the airplane had entered service.
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.
